Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Kristin Pulaski and by How.com.vn staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Kristin Pulaski is a Professional Nail Artist and the Founder of Paintbucket, a self-owned and operated nail salon based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She has over five years of experience running Paintbucket and is licensed as a nail technician. Paintbucket offers nail art manicures, pedicures, and soft gel extensions along with customized packages for wedding and bridal parties. She holds a BA in Managerial Science from Manhattan College.
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You love painting your nails, but the 2 hours it takes for your manicure to dry just isn’t worth it. What if we told you there was a way to cut the drying time in half? From ice water to baby oil, these quick-drying hacks are perfect for when you’re in a rush. So, if you want to dry that top layer of polish fast while giving your manicure a beautiful shine, keep reading.
Things You Should Know
- Submerge your nails in ice cold water for 3 minutes to harden the top layer of polish.
- Blow your nails dry with a hairdryer or compressed air to cut the drying time in half.
- Use nail-drying products like drying drops or nail-drying spray to moisturize and dry your nails.
Steps
Expert Q&A
- QuestionMy nail polish never seems to dry, no matter how long I wait. It can be 2 hours, and it's still tacky and can easily be scraped off, no polish remover needed. What do I do?
Laura MartinLaura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Licensed CosmetologistThere are 2 reasons this could be happening. It's possible that you're using old nail polish. If so, then you should switch to a new bottle. Throw away polish that seems too thick or streaky or that is hard to open. If your polish isn't old, then you're likely applying coats that are too heavy or not waiting for each coat to dry before applying more polish. Apply thinner layers of polish and give each layer more time to dry. - QuestionCan you put your nails in front of an air condition, instead of a freezer?Laura MartinLaura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Licensed CosmetologistYes, this will help dry your nails. Anything that cools them faster will help your nails harden more quickly. - QuestionWhy is my nail polish not drying?
Kristin PulaskiKristin Pulaski is a Professional Nail Artist and the Founder of Paintbucket, a self-owned and operated nail salon based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She has over five years of experience running Paintbucket and is licensed as a nail technician. Paintbucket offers nail art manicures, pedicures, and soft gel extensions along with customized packages for wedding and bridal parties. She holds a BA in Managerial Science from Manhattan College.
Salon Owner & Nail SpecialistIf your nail polish is not drying quickly, you've likely just painted on too thick of a layer. You should only be applying thin layers at a time and let each one dry before applying another.
Video
Tips
- Newly purchased nail polish tends to dry faster than old polish.Thanks
- To check how dry your nails are, dab the outer corner of 1 nail with the top of your finger. If you see an impression in the polish, it’s still wet.Thanks
Warnings
- These hacks won’t completely dry your nails, but they will help set the top layer and prevent large smudges.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/zemrFUsohFU?t=46
- ↑ https://www.popsugar.com.au/beauty/5-Ways-Make-Your-Nail-Polish-Dry-Quickly-23880798
- ↑ https://youtu.be/ITByzI-QNKU?t=200
- ↑ https://youtu.be/ITByzI-QNKU?t=252
- ↑ https://youtu.be/ITByzI-QNKU?t=117
- ↑ https://youtu.be/ITByzI-QNKU?t=156
- ↑ Kristin Pulaski. Salon Owner & Nail Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.
- ↑ Kristin Pulaski. Salon Owner & Nail Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.
- ↑ https://www.glamour.com/story/backstage-beauty-tip-exactly-h
About This Article
To dry nail polish quickly, submerge your nails in ice water for a few minutes after you've let them dry for 60 seconds. You can also use the cool setting on a blow dryer to make your nails dry faster. To help your nails dry faster in the future, remember to apply light, thin layers of nail polish. Applying a quick-drying clear topcoat can also speed up the drying process! To learn how to use quick-drying nail polish, scroll down!
Reader Success Stories
"It helped me to know other way of drying my nails. I hate when I have to wait a long time for my nails to dry, especially when I want to do a design, so thank you for this article. It was very helpful. This website is really cool, it helps me a lot."..." more
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