It’s true, there really is nothing more boring than watching nail paint dry. We’ve all made the mistake of giving up a bit too soon, then realised the error when there are dents and fingermarks in our not-so-shiny new manicure.
Trying to speed up the tedious process of a DIY manicure generally involves fanning your hands furiously and blowing on fingertips. However, it's not clear if this actually does anything, or if you’d be better off waiting patiently for your nail polish to set.
It's made us wonder: is there anything that really can make your nail polish dry faster and claw back some precious time? To find out, we turned to celebrity manicurist Michelle Humphrey for answers – because who else would be better informed than the woman who has perfected the nails of everyone from Madonna and Cate Blanchett to Julianne Moore and Michelle Dockery?
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The short answer is: yes, but you might be surprised to realise some 'shortcuts' to a speedy manicure can have the opposite effect. Here's what you need to know, according to Michelle.
The cold water hack
It’s true: plunging your hands into a sink or bowl of chilled water actually works. ‘Yes, you can speed up your drying time by submerging your nails in cold water,’ confirms Michelle.
‘Simply fill a bowl, dip your nails, and wait 3-5 minutes – or however long you can spare! You can even add a few ice cubes to make the temperature cooler. But be sure to take care when drying your hands and nails afterwards as they may still get marked.’
The hairdryer trick
This one works too, but probably not how you think. ‘My top tip for drying your nails at speed at home is to use the hairdryer on the COLD setting and give them a good blast,' says Michelle. 'Avoid shaking your arms around to dry your polish, as this can end up in disaster if you bump them.’
The right painting technique
You might think you’re saving time by doing a single, thicker coat of polish but actually this can scupper the final result. If you want your nail polish to dry better, Michelle says it’s vital to work in thin layers.
‘Apply polish THINLY so it will dry more quickly and evenly,’ she says. ‘Sometimes we load it on if it’s looking a bit streaky, but this will take far longer to dry, and is a guaranteed way to get smudges.’
Also, be picky about your polish. ‘Make sure the consistency of your nail polish is correct. If it’s going gloopy, thick or lumpy, it’s time to throw it out and invest in some new colours!’ she says
The speedy finishing touch
This one is good for your nails and your drying time. ‘Apply cuticle oil to your manicure to help speed up drying and protect the polish,’ advises Michelle. ‘My favourite is Solar Oil by CND.’
And why blowing on your hands won’t work…
Save your breath! ‘Blowing on your nails doesn’t speed up drying time,’ says Michelle. ‘As you breathe on them, the humidity of your breath will prevent the polish drying any faster. Polish dries faster when it’s cooler.’
