After getting a brand-new manicure or pedicure, there are few things more annoying than smudging your nail polish.
Regardless of who or what you unintentionally graze your nails against, the sinking sensation that follows is common. We all know the sinking sensation that comes from underestimating the polish’s drying time and unintentionally ruining our freshly painted nails.
Getting a manicure should be a joyful act of self-care. Give that lacquer enough time to dry if you want your nails to appear their best after a manicure. What is the actual duration of this process?
Most people are unaware that there are numerous influencing variables, such as the kind of nail polish used and whether the manicure was performed in a salon or at home. Continue reading to learn all there is to know about curing your nails and avoiding the dreaded smudging.
How Long Does It Actually Take Nail Polish To Dry?
Nail polish can cure in as little as 15 minutes, and the majority of applications should be completely dry in under an hour. Salons have UV-lit fan dryers, which can shorten the drying time. The number of layers you apply, the thickness of each coat, and the polish you select are all factors that affect drying time.
However, there are a variety of topcoats and quick-dry nail paint formulas available for air-drying nail polish. But it can take up to two hours total for nails to completely air dry, based on how many coats of nail polish are used, the more coats you use, the longer it will take to dry.
Professionals suggest waiting this long for your polish to cure before going to bed if you get your nails or feet done in the evening, just to be safe. The polish takes the same amount of time to dry on pedicures, but even when it feels dry to the skin, I advise waiting an hour before putting on closed-toe shoes or socks.
It’s best to wear flip-flops after getting your nails done because even if the paint doesn’t smudge, it will frequently get smudged with the imprint of your sock. Even if you delayed the advised period of time, mistakes still happen.
If you accidentally smudge your nail polish, try to remove it by dipping your finger in a nail polish remover, then paint on a light layer of polish. Remove all of the paint from that nail and reapply if the smudge cannot be removed.
How To Speed Up Nail Polish Drying Time
Always begin by adding a base coat, then two layers of nail polish, and finally a topcoat for the best outcomes, here is an in-depth tutorial on how to give yourself an at-home manicure or pedicure. But it cant be salon-worthy if we smudge it, so let’s see how we can speed up drying time:
1. Apply Thin Layers Of Nail Polish
Polish application is super important when it comes to fast drying times. Technique matters a lot. Use the fewest possible strokes when applying polish and avoid overworking it. This has a tendency to happen, particularly with lighter nail hues in an effort to make them look more even.
Even if the first layer appears a little streaky, be sure to paint it on thinly and have faith that the second coat will even out the color.
Instead of two thick coats, she says to opt for three thin ones as thinner layers dry faster than thicker ones
2. Wait Between Coats
While engaging in an enjoyable activity, like catching up on your favorite Netflix show, paint your nails while waiting two-three minutes between each coat of polish to pass the time.
When you allow the nail polish to adequately dry between coats, it avoids having a thick layer of coats that are wet and take much longer to dry. This way, you only have to wait for thin layers of polish to dry at a time.
3. Use A Hair Dryer To Dry The Nail Polish
Using a cool setting, as a higher temperature may cause the polish to bubble, and holding the dryer’s nozzle a few pinches away from your hands, direct the airflow at your nails for a few seconds at a time until they feel dry, is a surprising way to speed up the drying process for nail polish.
4. Use Quick Dry Top Coats Or Drops
Apply rapid dry drops or spray after the nails have cured for five minutes to speed up the drying process, as many salon professionals do. Try to avoid moving around too much in the meantime. The top coat’s ability to cure quickly really aids in reducing drying time.
A topcoat like Excuse Me Quick Dry Fast Drying Super Shiny Nail Polish Top Coat or Butter LONDON P.D. Quick Dry Conditioning Drops are two great recommendations.
It is best to avoid the process of running your nails under cold water because it is a common practice that actually doesn’t accomplish much. I don’t advise running underwater because you’ll have to shift and there’s a chance your polish will get dinged or smudged. You would still want to exercise caution because it would primarily only work on the top layers and the lower layers would be wet.
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