One of the most frustrating things when painting your own nails is messing them up right after you finish! There’s always that stage where I think my nail polish has dried, and when I try to run errands I find that I only ruined two or three of my nails. Here are five ways to help your nails dry quicker to avoid those annoying dents and fingerprint marks.
1. Cooking spray It sounds strange but cooking spray will actually help your nails to dry more quickly — not to mention, also help moisturize your fingers!
2. Ice water Dip your fingers into an ice bath. The cool temperature of the water will act like a top coat and set your nail color.
3. Air duster Air duster instantly helps to dry your nails since the liquid inside is endothermic (meaning it absorbs heat) and emits a cooling spray . Simply spray it across your fingers after you’re done painting.
4. Hair dryer Rather than constantly blowing on nails to dry, using a hair dryer will help your breath and time. Just remember to use your blow dyer on its coolest setting and not too close to your nails.
5. Freezer This may seem drastic, but it does work! If you’re really in a rush, you could simply place your hands into your freezer for a couple of seconds and the low temperature will help your nails dry more quickly.
I have tried out all these solutions myself and they actually work so I hope they help you with your nail predicaments!
What do you do to help your nails come out perfectly?
orchid / 155 posts
2 works really well with me! I discovered it after I did my nails, I went for a bath. I came out of the bath, and it was like my varnish had been on for ages. It sets it perfectly!
daisy / 506 posts
Air duster, of course!
guest
I’ve been using the ice water trick for years. It is a never fail, as long as you wait at least a few moments after painting your nails. The freezer idea sounds good too. I don’t know how I feel about the hair dryer and the cooking spray.
Especially the cooking spray. That one makes me cringe a little.
dahlia / 2103 posts
Might have to try ice water, although I already have problems with cold hands and that would make it worse. Not so much on the cooking spray…I got the wal-mart brand “butter” cooking spray, and it literally smells like ass. Not even kidding.
magnolia / 1369 posts
I’ll try the ice water next time.
This is definitely a first-world problem that plagues me. It’s rare for me to come out with perfect nails. I ALWAYS ruin them. Thanks for the tips.
guest
I can vouch for the cooking spray working. It made my fingers soft afterwards too.
orchid / 242 posts
Cool ideas! I might have to try the ice water, though the lack of ice in my dorm room means it’ll just be cold water. Still, anything will be better than the messy nails I end up with now!
daffodil / 1525 posts
#4 is so sick.
guest
@ConfessionsOfAWhore@xanga - so after you put the nail polish on, you dip your nails in ice water? the water won’t like wash it away or anything?
rose / 795 posts
I’ve never heard of any of these! I’m very excited to try them now. I think I might go with the freezer.
guest
@darci - Even running your fingers under cold water faucets will do it if you give your nails a couple minutes to pre-dry.
@MiSS__NARA@xanga - Nope. It depends of course. If you put three layers of Orly on, for instance, you need to let them air dry for at least two full minutes before you dip them in. The thicker the polish layer, the longer you should let it air dry first. I just found that with slow drying polishes like Orly and OPI, the ice water works best at finishing the job.
guest
@Ashley Nicole Anders@facebook - I don’t think these tips are so much for hardening the top coat as much as getting your nails to dry so you can open a bag of skittles without going “aww fuckk!”
I am, however, looking for a top coat that does just what you described yours to do, so I’ll definitely be trying it out.
guest
The blow dryer idea sounds awful.
Unless you like your nail polish to develop bubbles in it.
@Ashley Nicole Anders@facebook - I hate waking up with dents. >.<
guest
i dont know what i thinkabout putting cooking spray on my fingers.
but will definitely try the dip in cold water !
guest
seche vite dries mine pretty darn quick. so i’ll pass on these
guest
seche vite base coat AND top coat works wonders =]
guest
I usually put my fingers in ice water. Works pretty well.
guest
i’ve tried everything and it doesn’t work for me. after i use polish, i just don’t do anything after that.
guest
nice ideas! I used the blow dryer before, it works–just dont go too close like the writer says and use cold air
guest
Try applying a drop of cuticle oil over the polish. Nifty trick I picked up at beauty school
daffodil / 1579 posts
I will try the ice water trick. Thanks
rose / 944 posts
I love my Orly top coat. Freakin’ boss.
But I also only do my nails when I sit myself down for a movie to be sure I won’t accidentally do anything.
peony / 1 posts
I always use nail polish thinner, which lets me get thinner coats, which dry faster. Also Seche Vite Dry Fast top coat drys super fast, smooth, and hard.
peony / 1 posts
UNLIKE EVERYONE I TRIED COOKING OIL IT WORKED LIKE MAGIC AND IT ALSO MOISTURIZED MY NAILS AND HANDS. CMON THE WRITER DIDNT SAY DONT WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER SPRAYING!!! DUH?! …… TO THOSE WHO SAID EWWEE… ARE NOT THINKING… @_@
peony / 1 posts
the cold water is MAGIC
peony / 1 posts
Cooking spray worked for me. I tried letting the polish dry for 10 minutes, but it still felt a little tacky. The spray made the top smooth and slick, so nothing could nick it. Thanks! What freaks me out more than cooking spray is the mink oil some nail places use. Cooking spray touches our food, so why is everyone freaking out about it touching their hands?
guest
Wow.! Freezer worked like a charm. I was sort of iffy but it worked…and my hands didn’t freeze off either