5 easy ways to quickly dry your nail polish when you're in a time crunch

Whether you're short on time before you have to head out the door or simply don't have the patience to sit painfully still (like us), many of us know the struggle of smudging and denting your freshly painted talons. Thankfully, we've found five ways to speed up your at-home manicure routine.

Chances are, if you're someone who often treats themselves to an at-home manicure then at some point you will have messed up a paint job because it wasn't quite dry yet - we've all been there. While investing in one of the best at-home gel nail kits or taking a trip to the salon to recreate 2025 nail trends would instantly eliminate the fuss of drying time, nothing beats the simplicity and efficiency of a traditional nail polish.

Still, we don't want to spend our time painting our talons just for us to ruin it with smudges five minutes later, so what can be done? Naturally, time and patience are the best tricks in the book, but the are some nifty methods that will speed things along when the occasion demands. These are the ones we've tried, tested and that truly work.

Five easy methods to quickly dry your nail polish at-home

1. Use a quick dry product

This may sound obvious, but using a quick dry product is undoubtedly the most effective tip on this list. Most nail polish includes solvents (which help the polish mix uniformly, then evaporate) and film-formers (which help it to dry as a smooth, even surface on the nail) Quick-dry products contain a higher proportion of solvents, so evaporate more quickly into a set painted nail. You can either opt for fast dry nail polish or top your favourite varnish with a quick dry top coat, either way both will save you a good 10 minutes of waiting around. Beware of false promises of 60-second drying times though - that almost certainly means touch dry, not fully set.

2. Give your nails a cold plunge

If you ask any pro how to dry nail polish fast, this is probably the first tip they'll give you. This trick involves painting on your nail colour of choice, whether that be beige nails or purple nails, waiting a minute then dipping your fingers in a bowl of iced water or holding your hands in the freezer for a few minutes. Cold temperatures thicken the top layer of polish rather than drying it, which is useful as it helps your nail designs resist smudging, so you can get on with your day a little quicker. Just remember that the paint underneath the top layer won't be completely dry, so you'll still need to be careful.

3. Blow cool air onto the nails

If you've ever sat in a nail salon with your hands under a drying machine and wondered if it actually speeds things up, the answer is yes, a little bit. Exposing the surface of freshly-painted nails to cool temperatures can help the top layer of the polish thicken up, while also evaporating solvents, which helps polish to set in place. You can use one of the best hair dryers on a cool heat and low power setting for this, just remember to be gentle as too much power can push little wrinkles into the polish.

4. Apply nail polish in layers

The most common mistake made when it comes to wanting to dry nail polish fast is loading on one heavy coat instead of three thin ones. While this may seem effective in theory, it can often lead it to smudging, bubbling and what feels like never-ending drying time. Layering thin coats gives each polish application a bit of drying time before you apply the next one, allowing the solvents to begin evaporating and film formers to start setting for an overall reduction in drying time. If you have applied several light layers, a little knock may only affect the top one, so it's easier to smooth out with a little polish remover on a skinny brush - such as an option from the Mylee Artiste Nail Brush Kit.

5. Oil them up

Finishing your mani with a layer of oil isn't just a smart nail care trick (one that'll make your on-trend square nails look salon-caliber), but it can also help prevent smudging too. Received wisdom suggests that the oil actually helps the polish dry, although this has been debated by experts. What it will definitely do, however, is create a lubricating barrier on the nail's surface. This means when you're slipping on your coat or rummaging in your handbag anything your nails come into contact with is less likely to drag or pull at the polish. Oil also keeps the nail and cuticle supple, which will prevent flaking and dehydration thus prolonging your manicure.