In this fast world, everyone wants to get things done quickly and on the go. Patience has become a rare quality among humans and we cannot deny why. We have no time to wait for things to get done as we have multiple things on our to-do lists every day. In such an era, waiting for your nail polish to dry is the last thing you’ll prefer. But the question is how long do you need to wait for your nails to dry and you to get back to work?
While some brands claim that their polishes need only 60 seconds to dry, multiple factors affect the air-drying time for your polish. Follow this detailed guide to understand all these factors. Here’s everything you need to understand how long does it take for nail polish to dry? We have also shared some ways to make it dry faster.
How Long Does it Take for Nail Polish to Dry? Ways to Make it Dry Faster
We all love painting our nails and decorating them. Doing your own manicures is such a therapeutic feeling, especially if you are a nail lover. But the real test starts after you apply your polish and need to wait for it to dry. You can get really anxious about ruining your nails after a flawless application. You start wondering how will you use your phone, reply to emails, or get to your laptop to finish your ever-pending work. Doing chores or even makeup touchups becomes a risky business when your nails are still wet.
But the anxiety is for real as it can get really tricky to handle a wet manicure. When you get a professional mani-pedi, the manicurist will ensure your polish is dry before you leave the salon. She might even use some hacks or maybe some polish-drying products to save time. But how long does it take for your nail polish to air-dry in your nails in your DIY manicures and what can you do to speed up the process? Here’s all that you need to know.
How Long Does Nail Polish Take to Dry?
You’ll be surprised to know that the ideal time for your nail polish is over 2 hours! Yes, you read it right. It takes nearly 1-2 hours for your nail polish to dry completely. If you’re using a brand that ensures a quick-drying formula, it may take approximately 30-60 minutes to completely dry.
But, thankfully, you can start using your hands after about 20 minutes for light tasks like using your phone. This ensures the topmost layer of your polish is ‘almost’ dry. However, avoid brushing your fingers through your hair or unbuttoning your jeans before that or you may smear it as it won’t be 100% dry.
Depending on your nail polish color and opacity, you need to apply 2-3 coats for a smooth manicure. You additionally need to consider the base and top coat drying time. Several factors need to be considered to estimate the drying time:
1) Waiting between coats
Allow the polish to dry for at least 2 minutes before you apply the next coat. This is also applicable to the base coat as it forms a sticky layer when it dries well.
2) Layers of coats
Thicker coats take longer to dry as there is more product in the layer. Always apply thinner coats of polish for quicker drying and smoother look. Similarly, if there are more coats, it will take more time to dry with each layer.
3) Polish color
Surprisingly, it takes more time for darker colored nail polishes to dry because of their richer pigment. That’s why your nude polishes dry quicker than your reds and blacks. Accordingly, you need to wait.
Now how do you think you’re gonna know that your polish has dried? We know it seems scary to touch and without that you can only trust your guesswork.
Well, the easiest hack to know whether it must have dried is to wait for the standard 1-hour mark. Once you wait for an hour keeping your hands steady and comfortable, you can gently tap your fingers together without pressure. If it feels sticky, it is still not completely dry and you need to wait more.
Hacks to Dry Nail Polish Fast
Now that you know the wait time for air-drying your nails, not everyone can have the patience for that time. You might to carry on with your everyday activities like changing your clothes or opening car doors without risking your freshly-painted nails. While there are some crazy hacks to speed things up, there are some unique quick drying products.
Let’s learn how you can airdry your nail polish quickly:
1) Number of coats
If you’re short on time, opt for fewer coats of polish to cut down the wait time between coats. The hack is to apply one thin and smooth coat of color on top of a base coat and finish it off with a top coat to add shine and strength. Give yourself at least 10 minutes for painting one hand as you need to wait at least 2 minutes between these coats.
2) Good prep
Prepping your nails well and removing any oil or moisture not just makes your manicures last long but also speeds up the drying time.
3) Quick-dry products
Invest in products like quick-drying topcoats or quick-dry drops to help speed up your time with flash drying. These help if you indulge in DIY manicures regularly and are always running late. These add a protective layer thereby accelerating drying time. Apply these after waiting a few minutes for the polish to partially dry. You can also try a dedicated quick-drying nail spray.
4) Choose the right color
We know some colors are for some looks and occasions. But when you’re on a rush, opt for nude colors, sheer paints, or metallic tones. These dry faster than darker and glitter polishes and you can never go wrong with these subtle shades.
5) Cool it down
Temperature plays a role in drying your polish. Professional gel polishes require drying under a nail lamp as they need heat to harden. But regular polishes require lower temperatures to dry better and faster. So just as your nail tech uses a UV/LED lamp to cure nail gels, similarly you can run your hands under cold water or dunk them in an ice bath to dry your polish quickly. You can alternatively hold your hands in the freezer for a few minutes.
6) Hair dryer
Blast dry your hair nails with a blow dryer to harden the polish faster. When you’re running late, run a cool shot from your hair dryer on freshly painted nails continuously till they are completely dry. You can even use mini fans at a high speed if you fear accidently using hot air from the dryer which can melt your polish.
7) Hairspray
Seems all hair products work magically on your nail paints! Spraying a quick spritz of hair spray on your top coat will dry the polish faster and hold it for long.
8) Try oils
Cuticle oils don’t just hydrate your cuticles but also speed up polish drying time. Another bizarre idea is using cooking spray for quick drying.
How to Prevent Nails From Smudging?
Nothing worse than spending hours creating the flawless French tip nails only to have them smeared at the end of the day! Well, even if it feels dry to touch, it can still be vulnerable for at least a day and this may lead to smudges and dents. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you have to wait the whole day for it to dry completely.
The primary cause of smudging is when you mistakenly assume that all the layers have dried. Using a quick-drying top coat doesn’t mean it will dry the layers underneath quickly! This might create a false impression that the nails have dried by may lead to smudging and smearing which you won’t be able to fix. To prevent this, you need allow sufficient time for all the layers to dry completely before applying the top coat.
The best way is to have some free time at hand while watching a Netflix show or listening to a podcast and applying your polish dedicatedly. The key remains in applying thin, smooth coats in fewer layers and waiting for each layer to dry well.
To Sum Up Nail Polish Drying Time
So, how long does it take for nail polish to dry? The answer can vary based on the type of polish and your environment, but with the tips and tricks shared here, you’re well-equipped to speed up the process. Whether you’re a fan of air drying, quick-dry top coats, or fun hacks like ice bath, there’s a method to fit your lifestyle and patience level.
The next time you paint your nails, you’ll not only know the science behind the drying time but also have the strategies to speed it up. Remember, perfect nails require a bit of time and care, but with these insights, you can enjoy your stunning manicure without the long wait.
