From dipping in ice water to using hairspray and baby oil-there are so many DIY techniques to speed up the nail polish drying process. Even though some of these techniques are a bit out there, there is some truth to them. For example, if you live in a cooler place, you’re in luck, because in general, cold air can help nail polish dry faster. But these techniques don’t make your mani enjoyable or mindful. Your at-home mani is supposed to be a relaxing process and a moment of self-care. Because we want you to enjoy your at-home mani, we thought we would share some of our tips to make your nail polish dry faster (mindfully).

First, how long does it take for polish to dry?

Nail polish takes longer to dry than people think. The first layer of base coat will take 1-2 minutes to completely dry. But your first layer of nail polish will take even up to 10 minutes to dry. Certain factors can also affect the drying time, including the color of your polish (darker colors could take longer because of the pigment), and the polish layers being too thick. Make sure to allow 10 minutes for your second layer to dry. If you are really short on time, use a quick-dry oil (sundays QD.01) or quick dry top coat (sundays T.02) to speed up the process. Keep in mind that the layers might not be completely dry and you will need to be mindful of your actions when drying hands. Don’t open that can of soda if you got your manicure done 20 minutes prior.

Effective polish drying tips

• Go with thin polish layers

Apply a thin layer of nail polish and don’t worry if the first layer doesn’t apply evenly. Your second thin layer will cover it up. By doing that, you will save you a lot of drying time and prevent nail polish from getting dented.

• Use a small fan

Using a small hand fan can help your drying time. You don’t want a super powerful fan to dry out your nails along with the cuticle area, plus the noise will be distracting while you dry. We know it’s tempting to reach for the blow dryer but it can dry out your cuticle area, which you would have spent a lot of time nourishing during a manicure.

• Use a quick dry oil or a quick dry top coat

We recommend you try out our quick dry oil (QD.01). These drops will cut drying time in half! The formula is also designed to prevent your nails from getting dented while keeping them shiny and moisturized with coconut and avocado oil. So, your cuticles will look moisturized when you finish drying. Oil also makes the surface smooth so your manicure won’t get dented or leave any marks.

Not a fan of quick-dry oil? A quick dry top coat is another fast and effective way to dry your nails.

Quick Dry Oil

Fast Drying Top Coat

We know life gets busy and we often have to rush through our moments of self-care. We hope you will take the time to enjoy your mani even if you’re rushing and have to speed up the drying process.

Let us know in the comments below if you’ve tried out any of these techniques yourself!