How to quickly dry nail polish - drying methods without a lamp and with it at home

Types of nail coatings and drying speed

Among the wide variety of nail coatings, the following main types of varnishes can be distinguished:

Liquid nail polish is the simplest type of polish and the most common type of coating. An ideal option for those who like to experiment. The liquid consistency allows you to adjust the coating, apply patterns and add decorative elements while drying. It takes 5 to 10 minutes to dry completely and stays on the nails for several days. The advantage of this type is its availability and rich palette.

Quick-drying coatings - drying speed is about 1-2 minutes, a very convenient option, it prevents damage to the coating while waiting for the varnish to dry completely. In terms of visual characteristics and durability, such varnishes do not differ from ordinary ones. The positive qualities of quick-drying varnishes include the speed of the procedure and the variety of color palettes. The negative ones are the middle price segment, the appearance of a yellow tint on the coating and the inability to adjust the manicure while drying.

Basic colorless coatings are the basis for colored varnish, provide a more uniform coverage of the main tone, protect the nail plate from the effects of colored pigments of the decorative coating, and eliminate the appearance of a yellow tint on the nails. There are moisturizing, leveling and color-correcting base coats. Universal coatings are also popular.

It is important not to forget to apply the base before each manicure.

Gel polish is the most practical option. When creating gel polish, the production technologies of gel for nail extensions and regular polish were combined. To dry completely, you only need 2 minutes in a special lamp powered by ultraviolet rays. The coating is strong and lasts up to four weeks, maintaining its original appearance - the main feature and advantage of this varnish. Does not have a negative effect on nails.

Hard coating - represented by special stickers that are attached to the nail plate using heat and do not require the use of brushes. A new word in manicure has a wide range of colors and a variety of coating options: French manicure, flower designs and much more. The advantage of this option is ease of use, safety and harmlessness to nails. Ideal when you need a quick manicure at home.
Fixer is a varnish that is used to improve the quality of the coating, helps to preserve the manicure in its original form for a longer period of time, and provides a deeper tone with a glossy shine. The benefits also include protecting the nail plate from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation and other environmental influences.

General recommendations for applying varnishes for accelerated drying

You can learn how to quickly dry nail polish from the tips and basic recommendations of nail art specialists, with the help of which you can significantly speed up the drying process.

They are as follows:

The coating should be applied in as thin a layer as possible. The thicker the varnish layer, the longer it will take to dry. If you need to cover your nails in several layers, it is recommended to completely dry one coat and only then apply the next one.
On a smooth nail surface, the polish dries faster. Therefore, the nails are first cleaned of the old coating and polished. It is also important to degrease your nails before starting work. Special means are used for this. If this is not the case, you can simply wash your hands with soap.
It is recommended to give preference only to high-quality, quick-drying coating. Many modern nail polish manufacturers have series with accelerated drying. Performing a manicure with this varnish requires an increased level of skill; you need to be able to apply the coating quickly and accurately the first time.
The lower the concentration of color pigment in the varnish, the faster it dries. The ideal option if time for manicure is limited is a colorless or translucent coating.
Varnishes with a thick consistency require more drying time. Do not use old thickened varnishes if you do not have enough time.
It is not recommended to apply varnish to wet nails moistened with cream or oils.
Using a professional drying product can reduce the time it takes for nail polish to dry to 2-5 minutes.

Application tricks for quick drying

How to quickly dry nail polish? To begin with, you should know that a competent procedure for applying it helps a lot to speed up the drying of nail polish.

Nails must be processed carefully, old varnish must be removed without any residue.
The varnish is applied after degreasing, on dry nails, in thin layers, no more than two.

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Dry each layer for at least 3 minutes.
Keep in mind that old varnishes take a long time to dry, so if you suddenly feel overwhelmed and want to use something from the “reserves”, leave it until another time.
Before use, keep fresh varnish in the refrigerator for 10-20 minutes, then at room temperature it will dry faster.
It is also worth knowing that thick varnishes generally take longer to dry. You can buy a new bottle without paying attention to the thickness, and then suffer: if the varnish was stored incorrectly in a warehouse or store, it thickens and even curls.
Varnishes of saturated colors, even of normal quality, also dry more slowly: if you need a quick result, take translucent shades.
Do not use any creams or oils on your hands and nails before applying polish.

However, even if you observe all this, you may not get a 100% result: we have different nail structures, we use different varnishes - there are reasons.

Cold water

Cold temperatures speed up the drying process of nail polish. One of the most common methods is using cold water. This method is more comfortable to use in the warm season.

How to quickly dry nail polish? The easiest way is to use cold water.

How to quickly dry nail polish using cold water:

you need to place your hands in a container of cold water;
to ensure the manicure dries completely, just wait about four minutes; you can add ice cubes to the water to enhance the effect;
It is not recommended to hold your hands under the tap; there is a possibility of damaging the coating with water pressure.

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Video

The video lessons more clearly show how you can quickly dry varnish using standard coatings, using various lifehacks and using specialized equipment.

You can quickly dry the polish in various ways, but you must take into account the requirements set by the manufacturer of the product - durable coatings (such as shellac, gel polish and biogel) will not dry quickly if the nails are immersed in cold water or a stream of air from a hair dryer is directed at them, and the UV lamp is not intended for use when using regular varnish. In addition, you should not get carried away with improvised means to quickly dry your nails; many of them can negatively affect the condition of the nail plates or the skin of your hands. You should resort to them only in case of urgent need, and if possible, replace them with professional nail cosmetics specifically designed for this purpose.

Freezer

The use of the freezer comes in several variations. Before applying the coating, place the varnish in the freezer for 5 minutes. Due to the temperature contrast, the drying time is halved. Cold polish dries in a matter of minutes on a warm nail plate.

After completing the manicure, you can keep your hands in the freezer for a couple of minutes, this way drying your nails will not take much time.

How to quickly dry your nails at home

Don’t have the money or the opportunity to purchase modern special products like a top coat, a fixative or a special spray, which will make the varnish dry quickly? There are many tricks, methods and effective ways that help dry your nails quickly. So what can help?

Hair dryer or fan

A hair dryer is one of the most effective methods for accelerating the drying of nails. You just need to set it to the lowest temperature setting. Too hot air will soften the polish, which will ruin your entire manicure.

In addition to a hairdryer, you can also use a fan. Place your hands near the fan and turn it on to medium power. Under air currents, your manicure will become durable in just two to three minutes.

Ice water or freezer

The varnish has one property: it dries quickly in the cold. Therefore, cold water will help speed up drying.

The water must be prepared before the painting process begins. Take a plate, fill it with cold water, and then add ice (about 3-4 cubes). When you're done painting your nails, soak your fingers in water for three minutes.

Similarly, you can place your fingers in the freezer to help your polish dry quickly. After a couple of minutes, when you feel that the varnish has stopped sticking and has dried, you can take out your hands.

What is better - a freezer or ice water? No difference. The result is the same, the time required is the same. The only negative is that it is unpleasant for the hands, because the cold penetrates deep into the skin. The main thing is not to get sick this way.

Olive and essential oils

This is an effective, useful and enjoyable way. After you've finished your manicure, wait until the finish dries slightly and then use a dropper to apply a drop of olive oil to each nail. Wait five minutes and rinse off the oil under cold water. Oils will not only quickly dry the nail polish, but also vitaminize the skin around the nails.

Cooking spray

It sounds confusing, but these aerosols are great for drying nails. It also contains olive oil. After painting your nails and applying top coat, carefully spray your fingers with the spray. Then wait 2-3 minutes and rinse off the product under water to avoid stains on clothes.

Sunflower oil

Pour a little sunflower oil (7-8 milliliters) into a cup. Dip your painted nails in there for 1 second. Then rinse your fingers thoroughly.

Cooking spray

Typically, cooking spray contains olive oil, which has qualities that help nail polish dry faster.

How to quickly dry nail polish using cooking spray:

It is recommended to distribute the oil using a spray on freshly painted nails;
the waiting time until the varnish is completely dry is approximately 5 minutes;
Wash your hands well to remove any remaining oil on the skin.

This method reduces the drying time of the coating by half.

Handy methods

Professionals will say, “to quickly dry nail polish, use special products,” and they will be right, but such products are not always available, and you need to dry nail polish quickly and now.

By the way, a professional way to quickly dry nail polish, available to everyone at home, is a manicure fan (vacuum cleaner). The device is very compact, inexpensive - 1-2 thousand rubles, besides, you only need to buy it once and use it comfortably. There's no such thing? You can also take a hairdryer - you certainly have one in your home beauty kit - use cold drying. You shouldn’t dry your nails often with a hair dryer - the life of the varnish will be shortened: this option is for emergency situations. It is proposed to dry nail polish even faster using a PC cleaner - a can of compressed gas, but this is also an “exotic” method: when there is nothing else “at hand”.

Vegetable oil

To quickly dry your manicure at home, you can use any type of oil available in the kitchen. Most often this is olive or sunflower oil.

The oil is poured into a container, into which hands are lowered one by one. It is also very convenient to use a pipette for this purpose. It turns out to be more economical in oil consumption and you don’t have to completely smear your hands. One drop on each nail is enough to get the desired result.

Many manufacturers produce special fixing oils with a similar principle of action.

Spray drying

Anyone can purchase spray drying. The components in the product are specially selected and ensure quick drying of any nail polish. It is necessary to spray the product on the nails immediately after completing the manicure.

The main feature of spray drying is the beneficial substances included in the composition. The active ingredients of the product have a positive effect on the condition of the nail plate, providing the nails with additional nutrition and care.

Features of applying varnish

In part, the drying speed of the varnish coating depends on how it was applied. Painting your nails correctly is not as difficult as it might seem. You need to follow a few simple rules:

Before applying decorative colored varnish, be sure to cover the nail plate with a layer of base or colorless varnish. This will prevent pigments from being absorbed into the nail (especially if the varnish is of poor quality).
You need to apply the product no earlier than the previous layer has dried, otherwise you won’t be able to paint your nails evenly.
You cannot coat the nail plate too thickly, as the polish will take a long time to dry or even begin to flow down to the edges of the nail.

If you don’t often beautify your hands yourself, it’s better to choose a product that’s not too bright, pastel or nude; mistakes made when applying nail polish will be less visible. A bright red, black or dark blue composition will require the perfect painting technique.

When the varnish has a translucent texture, you should first paint your nails with a white or beige composition, and apply a colored layer on top of it (after drying).

Clear nail polish

How to quickly dry nail polish using a clear nail polish dryer:

a special coating is applied to the completed color manicure;
The coating dries completely within 5 minutes;
the product has fixing functions, the manicure lasts longer and has additional shine;
You should not apply more than one layer of this type of drying.

Transparent drying varnish is widely used by both professionals in salons and home manicure lovers.

How to quickly dry varnish using folk remedies

“Purely homemade” methods for quickly drying nail polish involve water, ice and vegetable oil. Why not try it?

Ice water or ice

By dipping your newly painted nails into a bowl of ice water for 10-15 seconds, you can get the desired result in 2-3 minutes. Add ice from the freezer to the water - it won't hurt.

You can add 1 tbsp to the same water. table vinegar - it will turn out even faster.

The advice to keep your fingers in the freezer is not very inspiring - a somewhat “draconian” method, but this can also be done. Hold on for a few minutes, and after another 2-3 minutes, already at room temperature, the varnish will dry.

Vegetable oil

Want to know how to quickly dry nail polish using vegetable oil? Dip your fingers into it for a few minutes or drip some oil onto each nail - one drop is enough. Take any oil: olive oil is considered the best, but sunflower oil will also work, although almond or peach oil is more pleasant to use. “Inventive housewives” have adapted a can of cooking oil spray for drying varnish. Very convenient: spray, wait a little - and you're done. You can choose any method, but remove any remaining oil with a lint-free cosmetic wipe.

Hairspray - it can't be?!

Here's a way to quickly dry nail polish without oil. If you have a “strong” hairspray, spray a little on your nails: the polish will dry quickly and last longer.

Manicure fan

Fan drying is one of the most convenient ways to dry varnish. Presented as an easy-to-use, small-sized device. It can work both from the mains and using regular batteries. There are various types of fans: compact dryers for alternate use for each hand or designed for drying two hands at the same time.

The application procedure is very simple. After applying the varnish, you need to place your hands in a dryer and turn on the air supply. The coating dries completely in just a few minutes. An important advantage of this device is its low cost. Therefore, it is worth considering purchasing it for use at home.

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How to quickly dry nail polish at home?

Drying varnish at home

Depending on the quality and thickness of the layer, the varnish can dry from 5-30 minutes. Many women do not want to wait that long and try to speed up this process as much as possible. And while this can be done in a beauty salon using special products, problems usually arise with this procedure at home.

To be more precise, women in a hurry make mistakes that lead to the fact that the varnish does not dry evenly and begins to break off in large pieces. If you want to avoid such problems, then at least properly prepare the nail plate. After all, how long the coating will take to dry depends on this part of the manicure.

Therefore, before you start doing a manicure, be sure to thoroughly degrease the nail plate and only then start applying varnish. It is also worth remembering that a manicure done at home cannot consist of ten layers of decorative coating.

Since you don’t have professional salon products in your arsenal, you are unlikely to be able to dry your nails evenly, much less speed up their drying. Therefore, if you want your nails to dry as quickly as possible, then apply no more than one layer of varnish to them.

If we talk about an emergency measure that will help speed up the drying process of acrylic manicure as quickly as possible, then in this case the best option would be the freezer

The low temperature will dry your nails in literally 2-3 minutes (provided you have applied only one layer of decorative coating) and you can safely go to work or visit

Lamps

Professional lamps for drying manicures are a closed type design with a hole for the hand. The coating is exposed to several lamps with ultraviolet rays, which are located inside the device. Lamps are often equipped with a timer to help control drying time.

Drying lamps have rich functionality, are convenient and easy to use, even for home use. They are considered the first assistants for coating with gel polish, fixing regular polish and for the final stage of nail extension.

What are the main types of lamps used to quickly dry nail polish:

Lamps using ultraviolet rays are the most practical lamps. Affordable, easy to use and maintain. They do not require large energy costs and are very durable. The main thing is to ensure that the lamp does not overheat and protect it from power surges. It is also important not to use the drying lamp in a room with a temperature below 10 degrees.
Gas-light drying lamps - the operating principle is based on the light properties of gas. Thanks to the normalized temperature regime, the possibility of burning the varnish is eliminated. They do not have a negative effect on the skin and are economical lamps with low energy consumption.
Ice lamps for drying manicures are compact in size with a curved shape. Working on the basis of LEDs will speed up the process of completing a manicure significantly. The small size of the lamp allows you to move the device freely and takes up virtually no space. They are famous for their durability and resistance to overheating. Using such a lamp it is impossible to get a burn or any other damage to the skin or eyes. The disadvantage may be the rather high cost of the lamp.
Hybrid lamps are dryers that combine the best qualities of other models. They are safe to use, small in size and provide instant results.

How to dry a thick layer of varnish

In order to dry regular varnish, you must use the following products:

Ice water;

Vegetable oil;

Cold varnishes.

A properly done manicure is the key to the beauty of a woman’s hands and a source of pride for their owner. No matter what color or type of polish you use, it still needs to dry. If you decide to dry a thick layer of nail polish using ice water, after applying it, you need to dip your nails in cold water for a few minutes and dry them as usual.

To dry the varnish with vegetable oil, just paint your nails with the desired color of varnish, and after 3 - 4 minutes apply vegetable oil to their surface. Then dry your nails for a couple of minutes, rinse them under running cold water and blot with napkins.

Using cold polish guarantees a spectacular and durable manicure for a long time. To obtain it, you will need to put the bottle of varnish in the refrigerator for 15 - 20 minutes before painting. Cold polish dries on your nails in a matter of seconds and lasts for a long time.

What not to do before applying a manicure and during the drying process

Basic tips for a successful manicure and faster drying process:

It is not recommended to apply moisturizer to your hands and nails before a manicure. If necessary, you can moisturize the skin several hours before the procedure.
While the coating on your nails is drying, there is no need to wave your hands. In this way, it is impossible to speed up the drying process; on the contrary, the uniformity of drying can be disrupted and the coating can be deformed.
You cannot continue working with a drying lamp if discomfort and burning sensations appear on the surface of the skin. There is a risk of injury or burns.

To quickly dry nail polish, you need to choose which method will be the most acceptable and convenient. The abundance of available tools will allow you to complete your manicure with your own hands efficiently and effectively, without involving specialists or carrying out expensive procedures.

Article design: Oleg Lozinsky

Coating tricks

It is extremely unpleasant when such a fresh and neat coating is smeared due to careless movement. No one is immune from this, but every girl can minimize the risks. We will tell you about several secrets of performing a manicure, thanks to which the drying time of nail polish is reduced:

Prepare everything you need in advance. With painted nails it is very inconvenient to get the necessary accessories.
Treat your nails thoroughly. Make a high-quality manicure by removing cuticles and pterygium from the surface of the plates. Be sure to remove the old coating.
Place the coating in the refrigerator 10 minutes before application. The cooled varnish hardens quickly enough in the air.
Immediately before applying the coating, degrease the nail.
Don't do more than two layers. Firstly, the manicure will look sloppy. Secondly, the coating will take a long time to harden.
Apply the varnish in as thin a layer as possible. After each one, take a break for at least three minutes.
Use quick-drying coatings.

All this needs to be done so that the manicure is ready as soon as possible. But here is what is strictly prohibited for those who want to dry their nails quickly:

Use cuticle cream before applying color and top coat.
Before manicure, apply cream to the skin of your hands.
Paint wet nails.
Apply varnish to the old coating.

Using the tricks given here, you can do a manicure so that you don’t have to dry your nails for a long time. Under natural conditions, ordinary varnish hardens within 2-3 minutes. If you use a special coating, the drying time is reduced to 60 seconds.