6 Best Ways To Dry Your Nail Polish Faster
Because life is definitely too short to keep waiting around for a nail polish to dry!
Expertise: Makeup & Beauty
Experience: 3 years
Esha Saxena is a writer and journalist with over 3 years of experience. She holds a master’s degree in media and mass communication and firmly believes that makeup is nothing less than art. Combinin... more
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If you love painting your nails but hate waiting for your polish to dry, this article is for you. Let’s face it – there’s nothing more frustrating than going to bed with freshly painted nails and waking up to find your hard work smudged and ruined. The same applies for the times you’re running late for that dinner or meeting, but your polish just won’t dry. Need to know how to dry your nail polish faster? We have put together a bunch of easy and effective methods that will help you speed up the painstakingly boring process.
Moreover, you’ll find most of the stuff needed for it right at home!
Nail polishes, once used, may invite polish buildup on the surface of the bottles, allowing air to enter them, and making the contents sticky and clumpy. To avoid this, you can wipe away the buildup using acetone.
In This Article
6 Foolproof Ways To Speed Up Your Nail Polish Drying Time
1. Freeze It Out
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Dipping your fingernails in ice-cold water is perhaps the most efficient technique to dry your polish faster. It’s also insanely simple!
What You Need
- A bowl of cold water
- Ice cubes
Step-By-Step Tutorial
- Before you begin painting your nails, fill up a bowl with cold tap water, add a couple of ice cubes, and set it aside.
- Once you’re done painting your nails, wait about 2 to 3 minutes to allow the polish to set before dipping your nails into the bowl.
- Keep them in there for about 3 to 5 minutes.
- When you remove your hands from the bowl, you will see water beading on the surface of your nails. This is a telltale sign that your polish is completely dry.
You can also use fast-drying nail polish to have a hassle-free manicure experience. But ensure that the bottle is sealed and stored well after application as these products tend to dry up quickly.
2. Use A Blow Dryer
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The cool-setting is what we’re looking for!
What You Need
- A hair dryer with adjustable settings
Step-By-Step Tutorial
- Plug in your hair dryer and pop it on its coldest setting.
- Once you finish painting your nails, swirl the dryer around your nails in small, circular motions for 2 to 3 minutes. Just make sure that you don’t use too much force or hold it too close to your nails as it will blow ripples into your polish.
3. Spray On Some Cooking Oil Or Hairspray
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A spritz of non-stick cooking oil is a great way to cut down on nail polish drying time. Alternatively, you can also use a little hairspray if you are out of cooking oil.
What You Need
- PAM Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
Step By Step Tutorial
- Paint your nails and spritz a little cooking spray on your yet-to-dry manicure.
- Hold the can about 30 centimeters away from your hand. This ensures that the force of the aerosol does not smudge the wet polish.
- Wait a few minutes and before rinsing your hands with cold water.
4. Buy Yourself A Drying Spray Or Drops
Using a commercial nail polish drying spray or drops will cut your wait time in half. These products not only help dry the paint faster but also make your nails look super shiny. They also nourish and condition the skin around your cuticles.
5. Thin It Out
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As opposed to thick coats, applying several thin coats of nail polish gives your nails time to dry quickly in between applications. It also leaves you with a more even finish. Although it might seem like your manicure is taking forever, it really isn’t. You’re actually cutting the overall drying time way shorter.
6. Add A Quick-Dry Top Coat
Investing in a clear coat of nail polish that’s specially formulated to speed up your nail polish drying time is perhaps the easiest way to dry nails faster. Besides, some of the formulas even claim to add a glossy sheen to your nails, prevent chipping, and make your manicure look fresh for longer. Here’s the best part – you can find some insanely great drugstore formulas for very low prices.
Infographic: Tips To Cut Drying Time Of Your Nail Polish
If you are in a rush, waiting for your nail polish to dry can feel like forever. On an average, nail polishes may take 10-30 minutes to dry completely. However, you can cut down this drying time with some simple tips. Click on the infographic below to learn what you can do to make your nail polish dry fast. Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
Save the high-quality PDF version on your device now.
Download Infographic 
Let go of those tough days when you had to think a zillion times before painting your nails last minute. With this guide on how to dry your nail polish faster, you do not have to worry; only flaunt some beautiful nails. So, the next time you need to go out for brunch or attend a party and your nails are not done, you can paint those pretty nails and use our tips to dry them quickly. Whether you freeze it out or spray some cooking oil, your nail paint will dry out almost instantly, and you will be party-ready in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I dry acrylic nails faster?
Acrylics are a combination of a liquid monomer and a powder polymer that creates a hard, protective shell over your natural nail. It’s always a good idea to get acrylics done by a professional at your local nail salon. Ideally, you need to cure (dry) the nails for two minutes under a UV lamp or for a minute under an LED lamp.
Can I use olive oil to dry my nail polish faster?
Yes! Soaking your freshly coated nails for about two minutes in extra virgin olive oil can actually help dry the polish faster. You can also use sunflower oil, extra virgin coconut oil, or baby oil as alternatives.
Does an LED or UV lamp dry regular nail polish?
No, your regular nail polish requires air drying while gel nail polish must be cured by an LED or UV lamp.
Does hand sanitizer dry nail polish?
No, hand sanitizer cannot dry nail polish. The rich alcohol content removes or breaks down the nail polish by dissolving the pigment.
Does rubbing alcohol dry nail polish?
No, rubbing alcohol does not dry nail polish. Like an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, it softens and removes the polish.
Does showering ruin nail polish?
Avoid showering if your nails are wet as the water will wash off unset nail polish.
Key Takeaways
- Soaking nails in chilled water after applying polish can help reduce drying time.
- A spray of some cooking oil is another great way to speed up the drying process.
- Apply a thin layer of polish instead of a thick one to reduce drying time.
- After painting the nails, swirl a blow dryer around your nails for quick drying.
