Featured in Who What Wear UK – Soap Nails Expert Advice
By Radina Ignatova | March 2026 | Category: Nail Business & Career
What Are Soap Nails and Why Were You Featured?
I was featured in Who What Wear UK as a nail expert and educator to share professional advice on achieving soap nails correctly. Soap nails are a clean, glossy manicure designed to look fresh, minimal, and naturally polished—giving the impression of freshly washed hands.
Why this feature matters: Being quoted in a high-authority publication like Who What Wear UK demonstrates professional expertise and positions me as a trusted source for nail education. This article explains what I contributed and expands on the professional insight behind achieving clean, glossy results.
Learn more: My No-File BIAB Dual Forms course teaches you how to create clean, natural-looking nail extensions with structure and professional finish—the foundation behind trends like soap nails.
Why I Was Featured in Who What Wear UK
I am honoured to have been featured in Who What Wear UK, where I shared professional advice on the soap nails trend as a Professional Nail Expert and Educator.
This feature is the result of a proactive quoted pitch—an approach that demonstrates how positioning yourself as an expert in your field can open doors to media recognition. Being quoted in high-authority publications not only builds credibility but also positions you as a trusted source in the nail industry.
This article explains what I contributed to the feature and expands on the professional insight that helps you achieve clean, glossy results with correct technique.
What I Shared in the Who What Wear UK Feature
In the article, I was quoted explaining what soap nails are, why they are becoming popular, and how to achieve a clean, glossy result safely. My contribution focused on professional step-by-step advice for achieving the look at home whilst maintaining nail health and integrity.
My Exact Quote from the Article
Here is what I shared with Who What Wear UK:
“Soap nails are a clean, glossy manicure that gives the impression of freshly washed hands. They are usually done in sheer pinks or soft nudes with a smooth, glass-like shine.”
I also provided professional guidance on how to achieve the look correctly:
- Nail preparation: “Start by shaping the nails into a soft square or rounded nail shape. Then, gently push back the cuticles and lightly buff the nail surface so it is smooth.”
- Application technique: “Apply one to two thin coats of a sheer, pale nail polish, keeping the layers light rather than thick. Finish with a glossy topcoat for that reflective shine.”
- Optional finishing touches: Cuticle oil application to enhance the clean, polished finish.
These quotes emphasise the importance of correct preparation and technique—principles that apply across all nail services, not just trends.
Why Correct Technique Matters for Soap Nails
Whilst the Who What Wear UK article provides an excellent introduction to soap nails for general readers, I want to expand on the professional insight behind achieving this look correctly—because trends are only successful when they are built on solid technique.
Why Structure Matters
The soap nails trend relies on achieving a clean, uniform appearance across all ten nails. This requires more than just polish application—it requires correct nail structure.
When nails are uneven in shape, have visible ridges, or lack symmetry, even the most perfect polish application will not achieve the clean, minimalist look that defines soap nails. This is why I emphasise buffing the nail surface and ensuring consistent nail shape before polish application.
Why Preparation Matters
Correct cuticle work is essential for achieving the clean, polished aesthetic of soap nails. Overgrown or uneven cuticles disrupt the smooth, glass-like finish that makes this trend so appealing.
However, cuticle work must be performed gently and correctly to avoid damage. Pushing back cuticles should never involve force or aggressive scraping, which can cause trauma to the eponychium and lead to infection or inflammation.
⚠️ Important Safety Note
Never cut living tissue. The cuticle (the thin layer of tissue that seals the nail plate to the eponychium) should be gently softened and pushed back, not cut or removed. Incorrect cuticle work is one of the most common causes of nail damage in both professional and at-home manicures.
Common Mistakes Technicians Make
Even experienced technicians can make mistakes when working with sheer polish finishes like soap nails. Here are the most common issues I see:
- Thick polish layers: Applying thick coats of sheer polish creates a milky, uneven finish instead of the glass-like shine that defines soap nails. Thin layers are essential.
- Skipping the base coat: A structured base coat creates a smooth, uniform surface and prevents staining from pigmented polishes. Without it, the finish will never look truly polished.
- Inconsistent nail shape: If nail shapes are inconsistent across all ten nails, the overall look appears unbalanced—even if the polish application is perfect.
- Poor topcoat application: The glossy topcoat is what creates the reflective, glass-like finish. Skipping this step or applying it incorrectly eliminates the defining feature of soap nails.
Learn Clean, Natural Nail Extension Techniques
My No-File BIAB Dual Forms course teaches you how to create clean, glossy, natural-looking nail extensions with correct structure and professional finish—the foundation behind every minimalist nail trend.
Why This Feature Matters for Professional Nail Technicians
Being featured in a high-authority publication like Who What Wear UK is not just about personal recognition—it demonstrates the importance of positioning yourself as an expert in your field.
Media features like this build credibility, increase visibility, and position you as a trusted source of professional advice. This is particularly valuable for nail technicians who want to grow their businesses, attract higher-quality clients, or establish themselves as educators.
How You Can Build Your Own Authority
Whilst not every technician needs or wants to be featured in publications, the same principles that earned this feature apply to building authority in your local market:
- Demonstrate expertise consistently: Share educational content that solves real problems for your clients and colleagues.
- Position yourself as a problem-solver: Be the technician who explains why techniques work, not just how to perform them.
- Build trust through honesty: Show real results, real challenges, and real corrections—not just perfect demonstrations.
- Stay current with trends: Understand what clients are asking for and be able to explain how to achieve it correctly.
These are the principles I apply in my own training and the foundation of my educational philosophy: honest education that shows real salon challenges, not just perfect outcomes.
Read the Full Who What Wear UK Feature
The complete article, Soap Nails Are the Minimalist Manicure of My Dreams—Here’s How to Get the Look, is available on the Who What Wear UK website. It includes additional expert advice from nail artist Koti Sixxx, product recommendations, and step-by-step guidance for achieving soap nails at home.
Read the full feature on Who What Wear UK here →
Build Your Nail Enhancement Skills with Professional Training
Whether you are learning BIAB, mastering e-file technique, or building a successful nail business, my courses teach you correct technique, professional standards, and real-world application—not just theory.
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only. Nail services should be performed by trained professionals following current hygiene and safety regulations. Always carry out a full client consultation and check for contraindications before performing any nail service.
Radina Ignatova
Professional Nail Expert | International Nail Educator
I am Radina Ignatova, a Professional Nail Expert since 2014 and International Nail Educator, based in Scotland, UK. I am the Founder of Artistic Touch Nail Training Academy and TheNailWiki.
At Artistic Touch Nail Training Academy, I provide structured professional online nail courses specialising in dual forms, gel systems, polygel application, advanced nail structure, e-file work and Russian manicure, with a strong focus on professional salon safety. I continue to work actively in salon practice, ensuring that all education reflects real client scenarios and current industry standards.
My teaching philosophy is simple: I show real salon challenges, real mistakes and real performance testing, not just perfect demonstrations. This is how you develop genuine technical competence and become a confident, capable nail professional.
Every Artistic Touch course includes lifetime access, a certificate of completion and access to a dedicated student support group, where I provide ongoing guidance and professional feedback.
Featured in: Who What Wear UK
About Artistic Touch Nail Training Academy
Artistic Touch Nail Training Academy delivers structured professional online nail education focused on practical skill development, professional standards and safe salon practice. All courses are available online worldwide.
Note: This article expands on my contribution to the Who What Wear UK feature on soap nails. All professional advice shared here reflects my expertise as a nail educator and practitioner with over 10 years of experience in the nail industry.
