Hi! You found our guide to nail polish drying time.

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 manicure 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).

This post includes:

• Nail polish dry time
• Tips to dry nail polish faster

So, let’s get to it!

How long does nail polish take 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 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.

In summary:

• The first layer of base coat will take up to 2 minutes to dry.
• The first layer of nail polish will take up to 10 minutes to dry.
• The second layer of nail polish will take up to 20 minutes to dry completely.

The time to dry between coats is influenced by color, temperature, and other factors.

How to dry nail polish fast

Here are a few quick tips to make your polish dry faster.

1. 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 up any inconsistencies. By doing thin coats, you will save you a lot of drying time and prevent your nail polish from denting.

2. Use a small fan

Using a small hand fan can help reduce your polish 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.

3. Use a quick dry oil

We recommend you try our quick dry oil (QD.01). These drops will cut drying time in half! The formula also prevents your nails from denting, and keeps them shiny and moisturized with coconut and avocado oil. So, your cuticles will look moisturized when you finish drying. Oil also makes the surface of your polish smooth, so that your manicure won’t dent or leave any marks.

 

4. Use a quick dry top coat

If a quick dry oil (QD.01) isn’t for you, we recommend you try a fast drying top coat ( T.02) These drops will significantly cut your drying time down as well! Our non-toxic fast drying top coat is also long -lasting and protects your nails from UV rays.

5. Dip your nails in cold water

It sounds strange, but it is true! After you’ve completed your mani or pedi let it sit from a few minutes so that the nail polish can settle after application, then put your nails into a bowl or container of ice water and leave them in the water for around 4-5 minutes. This will surprisingly cut down your dry time down, although may leave you a bit chilly.

6. Hair dryer on cool

Once you are done with your nails let them settle for a few minutes just as you would for the cold water option. Next, take your hair dryer and put it on its lowest setting on cool air (using cool air is vital to this working as warm air will have the opposite of the desired effect here). Hold the hair dryer away from your nails and let the cool air do its magic.

 

Final thoughts

Sometimes it feels like it takes hours for nail polish to dry completely. However, if you know the time to wait between coats, and a few quick tips to dry nail polish fast, then you can speed up the timeline. 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 manicure even if you are rushing and need to speed up the drying process.

Next, check out our guide on how to file your nails and learn about 10 free nail polish.