Nail Care

How To Make Nails Dry Faster

You’ve successfully applied two coats of polish without a smudge in sight. Now all you’ve got to do is sit still long enough for your nail polish to dry.

But when there are emails to write, kids to retrieve, and the need to get up and go, you can’t afford to be hands-free for long. This is why we’ve rounded up our experts to share how to make nails dry faster, no chips allowed.

SHOP ALL QUICK DRY TOP COATS AND DROPS

Choose the right shade

Did you know that some shades dry faster than others? If you’re in the market for a super quick manicure, Glitter Shades have the shortest drying time, whereas yellow nail polish will take the longest as the pigment particle size is larger than it is for other shades.

Try OPI Drip Dry Nail Lacquer Drying Drops

Give your nails a few minutes post mani, then apply one to two drops of OPI Drip Dry Nail Lacquer Drying Drops to each nail. Within five minutes, you'll have a perfect mani that won't smudge with nourished cuticles to match.

Cooking oil can help make nail polish dry faster

Head to the kitchen

Did you know that you can use cooking spray to dry your nails? This kitchen essential provides a protective layer of silicone to your manicure and moisturizes your skin and cuticles at the same time. Simply apply a layer of cooking spray on top of your nails and leave for a minute or two.

This essentially works by soaking into the nail and thinning out the polish. Once you see it starting to bead at the top of your nail, you can gently wipe it off with a tissue and find strong, dry polish underneath.

Try using hairspray or a hairdryer to help nail polish dry faster

Try hairspray or a hair dryer

Not just made for blow drying your hair, you can grab a hairdryer, pop it on the cool setting, and quickly blow dry your nails. Just wait 30 seconds before doing this to prevent any smudges.

Alternatively, grab a can of hairspray and coat your nails with a good spray. Warning: we only recommend this technique for nail lacquer unless you are looking for a matte look.

Invest in a quick dry top coat

Try OPI RapiDry Top Coat to speed up the drying process of your nails as well as strengthen them and offer them protection. Expect your nails to develop a long-lasting, non-yellowing, high-gloss shine.

Try ice water to help make nail polish dry faster

Time to freeze

It’s been proven that cold air can harden polish, so why not employ the same cool principle with water? Leave your nails to dry for a minute before dunking them into a bowl of freezing ice water. You may get cold hands, but a two-minute dip should dry your nails enough for you to carry on with your day.

Try three thin coats of nail polish for best application and faster dry time

Get the right coat

To get your nails to dry faster it’s all about painting them the right way. We recommend painting 3 thin coats of nail polish rather than 2 thick and to allow plenty of time between applications. Waiting between coats also helps prevent any air bubbles for a smoother bubble-free finish.