How Long Does It Take For Nail Polish To Dry?

Have you ever spent hours carefully creating a flawless French tip just to unintentionally smear your work of art? While your nail lacquer is drying, you need to be careful not to smudge your design.

However, not all of us have bottomless bounds of patience to wait it out. So, it's a good idea to know exactly how long it takes for nail polish to dry. 💅

At a Glance

• It takes between one to two hours for nail polish to completely dry.
• You can usually use your fingers after 20 minutes, as long as you take care not to be too handsy.
• Thinner layers dry faster, and you should always wait at least two minutes between coats.
• Use quick-drying products to help speed up the drying process.

Keep reading to learn more!

See Related: 12 Summer Pedicure Colors You'll Want To Try

The Nail Polish Drying Process

Getting a manicure is the best way to pamper yourself. But you don't need to take a trip to the nail salon just to indulge. Why not fix up your fingertips at home with a DIY nail art session?

However, if you want your at-home manicure to turn out the way you envision, you need more than some creative inspiration. You also need to know the technical side of nail art. To start with, you should be familiar with how long it takes for nail lacquer to dry completely.

The worst thing you can do is underestimate how long the drying process takes. To ensure your mani looks its best, you need to give it ample time to dry completely.

How Long Does Nail Polish Take to Dry?

In general, it takes between one to two hours for nail polish to completely dry. However, you can usually start using your hands again before then.

It might take around 20 minutes for your polish to dry enough that you can gingerly use your hands for trivial tasks. This will give the uppermost layer some time to dry. Some quick-dry formulas, however, can completely dry in as little as 30 minutes to an hour.

Factors That Affect Drying Times

Not all manicures are created equally. There are some key factors that can have a big impact on how fast your nail polish dries. Here are just a few:

• Thick coats of product will take longer to dry.
• More coats of polish will also increase drying time.
• Some brands of nail polish dry faster than others.
• Dark-colored polish takes longer to dry than lighter colors because of the additional pigmentation.
• Formaldehyde-free polishes take more time to dry.

Bonus: 8 Pretty Pink Nail Ideas For Your Next Manicure

How to Know if Your Nail Polish Is Dry

There's nothing worse than thinking your polish is dry only to look at your fingertips five minutes later and see a murky mess. In general, it's better to wait too long than not enough. But, of course, not everyone can wait around all day for their lacquer to dry.

Once you reach the one-hour mark, it can be really hard to tell the difference between totally dry and slightly wet polish.

One way to check is by gently tapping your fingernails against each other. Be sure not to press them to each other too hard. If they slightly stick to each other, you now know they need some more time to dry.

Ways to Make Your Nail Polish Dry Faster

It's time to speed things up. Let's review a few expert tips that can help your polish dry much faster!

#1. Wait Between Coats

The more coats of polish you apply, the longer it will take to dry. One coat will dry much faster than three or four. If you're really pressed for time, you can try cutting back on the number of coats you apply. However, in general, we don't recommend going without a base coat and top coat.

It's a good idea to wait at least two minutes between coats. Try painting your nails as you watch your newest Netflix obsession. That will surely make time fly!

#2. Apply Thin Coats

Whether you're a gel girlie or a nail-stamping fanatic, you should always apply thin coats of nail polish. It's far better to apply three thin layers than two thicker coats. Thin layers of polish dry much faster than thicker ones.

#3. Use Fast-Drying Products

Fast-drying products will help cut down on the time your mani needs to dry. You should never go without a quick-dry top coat like our Speed-Dry Top Coat. You can also try quick-dry oil or drops like these Flash-Dry Drops from ORLY.

Here are a few other quick tips you can try to dry nails faster.

• Use a blow dryer at high heat.
• Submerge your nails in ice water or run them under cold water.
• A little bit of baby oil or olive oil may also help.

Final Thoughts

Be patient with your nails - it'll pay off in the long run! Your cute and chic Halloween-inspired nails need some time to dry, and then you'll be able to show off your DIY creations without worries.

Keep Reading: 9 White Nail Ideas To Try This Summer

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At Maniology, we believe your nails are opportunities for adventure, fun, and unrestrained artistic expression. Our nail stamping plates and nail accessories are here to help foster your self-expression in the hopes of building a community of individuality. For more nail tutorials, subscription box updates, and designs, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.