How to Dry Your Nails Fast - 3 Quick Ways That Work

So...  you have just completed your best manicure yet.  Stroked an awesome color on those beautiful nails, thought they were dry, and then stuck your hand in your hair or in your purse, only to then see a huge smudge! 

Been there done that... over and over.  But I have found 3 awesome ways to dry your nails fast, this will cut at least 30 minutes or more out of the drying process.

(If a smudge has already occurred, then check the bottom of this post for a video on how to fix smudged nails without removing polish and starting again.) 

1.  HAIR DRYER

Yes, if you place your hair dryer on the cool setting, this is just as good as those nail salon drying stations.  Keeping it on the cool setting is the secret for just a few minutes.

2.  ICE WATER

Before you use any nail polish, get a bowl of ice and add a some water.  Complete your nails and then place your fingers in the ice water for as long as you can stand it.  This will harden the varnish quickly.

3.  TOP COAT WITH FAST DRYING BRAND

If you use a clear top coat over your color, this will not only protect your manicure for longer, but if you purchase the "fast drying type" such as Sally Hansen Dries Instantly top coat.

By using a instantly drying top coat you will protect your varnish underneath while it naturally hardens.  The top coats are something I just started to use.

They are clear and really do protect your manicure.  Just make sure you cover the entire nail.

How to Dry Nails Fast?

Follow the above 3 ways and you will be amazed.  I personally have used all 3 and they work.  Saving you a lot of natural air drying time. 

How to Dry My Nails Fast if I Don't Have Any of the Above??

If you don't have access to a hair dryer, or top coat or even ice, simply run them under gentle running cold water from the tap.  This works too.  Don't have the water running with too much pressure, but I have found placing your fingers with your palm facing down and letting the cold tap water flow onto your nails helps too.

So if you have put off nail polish for an event or an outing because you didn't think it would dry in time, now you have 3 ways to speed that time up.

What if I Have Smudged My Nails??  Do I Have to Remove it??

I found this video super helpful about what to do once a smudge has occurred and you don't have the time to redo it.  Check it out:

There you have it.  Hopefully I have given you some great ideas for one of the most common nail polish issues.  NOT ENOUGH TIME!

In the perfect world, we would do our nails well in advance of the event, and sit around and stare into space while they dry.  But that is not the way it works.  Usually we are all multi-tasking, and if there are ways to get the nails done quickly and still look nice, then we need to be informed and armed with supplies!  Have a wonderful day out there!