Unique ways to quickly dry nail polish. A thin layer dries faster. The most common mistakes: what not to do

How to quickly dry nail polish? Surely in the life of each of us there have been such situations when a full-fledged manicure had to be abandoned precisely because of the lack of time to dry the varnish properly.

Or the reverse situation - a spoiled perfect varnish coating due to too much long period drying. Common situation? Then read our simple tips about how to quickly dry the varnish without ruining a fresh manicure.

You don't have to follow all the recommendations to dry your nails quickly. Use the ones that you find the most convenient to use.

How to quickly dry nail polish at home

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  • Degrease your nails before applying polish.

Nail plates must be absolutely dry and fat-free. Use a special nail degreaser for this.

  • Apply varnish in a thinner layer.

If you are used to painting your nails with one or two thick layers of varnish, this can greatly increase the drying time. Instead, try applying 3 or more thin coats to your nails, allowing each to dry for at least 3 minutes. And although it may seem that such a method only delays the process, in fact, you will go where less time to dry your nails properly.

  • Purchase a nail dryer.

Such a device can be purchased at any specialized store or online. On average, it takes 7 to 10 minutes to dry the nails with the device on one hand.

  • Use a nail dryer.

Such products are not in vain widely popular - they really help the varnish dry much faster. Therefore, if you complete your manicure with such a coating, it will not only shorten your wait, but also protect the varnish from chips and scratches longer.

Nail polish dries very quickly at low temperatures, so try dipping your nails in ice cold water. Before applying varnish, prepare a bowl of cold water. Add a few ice cubes to it. Immediately after painting your nails, soak them in a bowl for 2-3 minutes.

  • Put the varnish in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.

As an alternative to the previous method, you can cool the varnish itself before applying it directly. The principle is the same low temperature will dry it out faster.

  • Use a hair dryer.

If a hair dryer is great for drying your hair, why not use it on your nails too? Switch the hair dryer to the “cold air” mode and direct it at the nail plates. Each hand takes about 3-5 minutes. Never use warm and hot modes. So you will only delay the drying process, and if you use too high a temperature regime, you will completely ruin the manicure.

  • Use olive oil.

Although this method may seem a little strange, it is actually very effective. After a couple of minutes after painting your nails, apply a little olive oil to them. Leave on for 3-5 minutes and then rinse with water (preferably cold, of course). This method is also good because the oil perfectly softens the cuticle.

Following such simple tricks, you will be surprised how much less time you will spend on such a routine procedure as painting your nails, and enjoy your manicure without fear of ruining it with any careless movement due to the fact that the varnish has not completely dried out.

Beautiful manicure and well-groomed hands- the same important detail perfect image modern woman like hair and makeup. Sometimes there are times when you need to immediately go somewhere on business, and a freshly made manicure dries for a very long time. To not waste precious time pending, use the following actionable recommendations how to dry nail polish fast using folk methods or special means.

How to dry your nails fast

Many girls prefer to do a manicure without resorting to the services of a master. It often happens that there are no special dryers at home. There are many ways to dry your nails faster. Here are the most effective ones:

  1. Ice water or freezer. Before dyeing, prepare a small bowl of chilled water and a few ice cubes. Upon completion of the procedure, dip your fingers for 3-5 minutes in ice water. The varnish can also dry quickly if you place your hand in the refrigerator for 2-3 minutes.
  2. Electric hair dryer. Choose the lowest temperature regime or drying with cold air (available in modern models) and point the hair dryer at your fingers for 5 minutes. It is not recommended to use hot air for drying: it softens the varnish coating.
  3. Manual gun for cleaning and blowing parts with a jet of air. The device perfectly replaces the device for drying nail polish. The main thing is to make sure that the air flow is not too large, otherwise there is a risk of spoiling the manicure.
  4. cooking spray or olive oil. Take a pipette and put 2-3 drops of oil on each painted plate, wait 5 minutes. Then wash off the oil with cold running water.

Types of express dryers for nails

Masters in beauty salons use various professional tools. Anyone can buy them in cosmetics stores. The drugs include:

  • Drying spray for nails. The product comes in a small spray bottle. The liquid in it is made on the basis of oil. A freshly made manicure must be sprayed with a spray and wait 5-7 minutes.
  • Oil drying for nails. The tool is a small bottle with a pipette cap. Apply 1 drop of oil from a pipette to each painted surface. The tool spreads well over the entire nail plate. It takes 3-5 minutes for complete hardening.
  • Drying fan. One of the options for how to quickly dry nail polish is to purchase a small device in which a hand is placed and blown by a fan.
  • Lacquer drying for nails. It's just a clear lacquer. It should be applied in one layer 2 minutes after staining with colored varnish. The coating dries completely in 3-4 minutes. Such drying for nails at home prolongs the durability of manicure for several days.

How to dry gel polish

Many girls want their manicure to last a long time. Standard lacquer lasts no more than a week, and even less if the handles are in frequent contact with water. We often have to update the manicure, waste time. To solve the problem, manufacturers of nail products came up with gel polish. It lasts up to 2-4 weeks, protects the surface from damage. Depending on the type of gel polish (photosensitive and insensitive to light), the methods of drying it also differ.

Lamp for drying nails at home

Most gel polishes contain a special polymer that polymerizes only under the influence of ultraviolet rays. Therefore, in order for the coating to quickly and efficiently harden, sunlight won't be enough. Special lamps are required. They are of several types:

  • LED lamp. The coating dries in 30-40 seconds.
  • UV lamp 9 Watt - dryer for nails at home. For curing clear gel polish it takes 1.5-2 minutes, color - up to 5 minutes.
  • UV lamp 36 watts. professional machine used in beauty salons. Drying is carried out in 40-60 seconds.

The drying process is simple:

  1. Apply the gel to the surface.
  2. Immerse your hand in the dryer, indicate on the timer (if any) the duration of the procedure and press the start button.
  3. After the time has elapsed (for each gel polish it is different), turn off the device.

without lamp

For home use light-resistant gel polishes have been invented that do not need an ultraviolet lamp to cure. To harden the gel, a special catalyst is used, which is applied in a thin layer over the manicure. Recently, another type of gel polish has been invented, to fix which you need to immerse your fingers for 10 minutes in cold water.

Video: how to dry nail polish faster

To learn how to dry your nail polish as quickly as possible using essential oil We recommend watching the following video. You will be able to compare your experience and tips from experienced people, other ways to dry the varnish. For example, in order for the varnish to set quickly, you should adhere to these and other simple rules:

  • remove completely before the procedure old varnish;
  • grind nail plate soft buff to make it smooth;
  • degrease the surface of the nail thoroughly with ordinary alcohol.

If earlier the use of gel polish was possible only in professional salons beauty, now many women of fashion are trying to manage on their own. It is quite possible if you master basic principles manicure, however, requires a certain set of tools, the most expensive of which is an ultraviolet lamp designed to fix the nail coating. How to dry gel polish without a special lamp is a question that torments many girls. To deal with this, you need to understand the nature of the coverage in question.

Gel polish: advantages and disadvantages

There is not a single woman who would not be familiar with gel manicure. This modern coating for nails - a kind of synthesis of gel and varnish.

It includes several components at once:

  • base;
  • color base;
  • upper layer.

Thanks to the extensive color palette with this coating, you can make a manicure of various designs that satisfies any taste.

In addition, there are a number of positive features gel polish:

  1. Strengthening and protection of the nail plates, possible due to the thick hard shell created by the gel polish. Even brittle nails, covered with such a layer, do not break, do not exfoliate.
  2. Long wear time. Such a manicure may well last for about a month (on average - three weeks), if done correctly. This is well suited for women who, for whatever reason, cannot visit the master often.
  3. Possibility to combine with extensions. Many girls love long nails, but not everyone is able to grow them without first strengthening with a gel. Gel polish coating allows the first time to increase the length of the nail artificially.

TO negative qualities gel coating includes:

  1. The method of processing the nail plate before applying such a tool requires removing the top layer with a special nail file. As a result, the nail becomes thinner, and its integrity is broken.
  2. The obligatory use of a UV lamp that fixes a manicure negatively affects the skin of the hands and accelerates its aging process. However, this problem can be easily fixed with special cream with UV protection or plain sunscreen lotion.
  3. It is necessary to remove gel polish only with the means intended for this, and even better - in the cabin. Often women simply tear off pieces of the coating, not thinking that the nail is destroyed along with them.
  4. It is considered that regularly held without interruptions gel manicure weakens the nail plate, makes it brittle, leads to delamination.

Features of drying gel polish at home

It is not always possible to quickly dry gel polish without the use of ultraviolet rays. It depends on what type of coating was chosen for the manicure.

There are only two of them:


  1. Varnishes susceptible to UV rays. These are just the varnishes that manicure masters use in salons. There are only two ways to dry these products. The first - quick - the use of a special lamp. The second is suitable for those who nevertheless decided to do without the help of technology and at the same time have great patience - drying in direct sunlight. Takes enough long time, But this process can be easily combined with a stay on the beach - then it will not cause much difficulty. Some resourceful girls offer a third way - drying under the so-called blue lamp, designed to warm up for various diseases.
  1. Light-resistant varnishes. It's over modern look gel coating, common on store shelves. It is very convenient for use at home, because it does not require the mandatory use of an ultraviolet lamp. However, by itself, it also dries for a long time, so you should pay attention to little tricks that will help you dry gel polish without a lamp quickly.

If it was decided to carry out a manicure on your own, it is better to choose a gel coating that is immune to light. In order not to confuse and purchase it, you need to pay attention to the packaging of the varnish: there is always a mark “NO-light gel”.

How to dry NO-light gel

Drying such a coating can be done in several ways:


  1. In a natural way: after application, you can simply wait a while (usually up to an hour), without doing anything with your hands. This is the longest method, but the easiest at home, when no additional funds not at hand.
  2. The use of a catalyst - a special liquid that accelerates the drying of nails. It is available in several forms: spray, cream, and also in the form of varnish. It is applied about a minute or two after the gel coating.
  3. With the help of water. This method is one of the oldest ways accelerate the drying of nails. To do this, you need to fill a small basin with water so that you can easily lower the fingers of both hands. The contents of the basin should be cold, you can add ice cubes. You need to keep your nails under water from ten minutes to a quarter of an hour.
  4. Cold varnish. There is another interesting way dry the gel coat quickly. Before doing a manicure, you need to put the varnish in the refrigerator (not in the freezer!) For about twenty minutes. After this time, you can apply it on the nails.

It is important to remember that before using any product for nails, it is necessary to bring them into proper form: trim the cuticles, give nice shape. Even the most unusual varnish on untreated hands looks ridiculous.

Is it possible to dry gel polish with a hair dryer

Faced with the problem of the lack of equipment used for manicure, women begin to wonder: how can you quickly dry gel polish if there is no lamp? And, of course, many will remember such a tool available to everyone at home as a hair dryer. However, it is possible to speak about its effectiveness only with big reservations.

To dry gel polish with a hairdryer, the device itself must have special characteristics, namely:

  • high power;
  • the presence of a cold regime.

In this case, the coating of the nail should be done with only one layer, otherwise it will not be possible to dry it. Even with seeming success, the lower layers will remain raw, which means that with any careless movement, the manicure will be damaged.


There is another major drawback this method drying: a stream of air, even cold, greatly changes the color of the gel polish, making it dull. If we take into account that it is applied in one layer and because of this it does not have saturation, then the use of a hair dryer completely destroys the beauty of the manicure. That is why trying to quickly dry the varnish with a hair dryer is hardly a good idea.

The modern lifestyle often does not leave time for long-term care of your body. Therefore, women are looking for ways that simplify such procedures. This also applies to manicure, because nail polish dries for a long time, taking valuable minutes. For this, developed special drying for varnish: electric or cosmetic. If we talk about manicure with gel polishes, then a nail dryer becomes simply necessary, because such a coating polymerizes only under ultraviolet or LED rays.

All electric manicure dryers consist of a housing, lamps or a fan and a control panel. They may differ in the presence additional features and systems: retractable bottom, touch screen, cooling system, timer and others.

Among the main distinctive features dryers for nails can be distinguished as follows:

  1. Drying principle:
    • UV lamp for drying the gel coating;
    • LED lamp for some types of gel polish;
    • fan for cosmetic varnish;
    • gaslight dryers (rarely used);
    • hybrid lamps: LED and CCFL (ultraviolet waves).
  2. Stationary or portable devices powered by batteries.
  3. Different power of fluorescent or led-lamps.
  4. Working space size: for one or more fingers, one or two hands.

When choosing a nail dryer, you should pay attention to the listed features. For example, a professional manicure specialist needs a dryer with high power, capable of working with different types coverings and having a spacious working field.

If at the same time he goes home, then portable models will be an excellent choice. For a girl who uses exclusively ordinary cosmetic varnishes, drying with a fan is necessary. And for those who prefer to do extensions and long-term manicure with gel polishes, you should choose manicure lamps with UV or LED lighting.

UV lamps.

The undoubted leader in sales manicure dryers for nails are UV lamps. They are built mainly according to the same type, with a slight difference in functionality. The main distinguishing feature of the device is the power of the lamp. It varies from 9 to 54 W, while the difference between them is a multiple of nine.

The drying time of the nails in the lamp is determined by its power. If the lamp power is low, then the coating hardens for a long time (the main layer - up to 5 minutes). In the event that the gel layer is not dried, the coating begins to bubble, acquire an unnatural color and peel off. In addition, exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the skin should not exceed ten minutes. Since the gel coating is carried out in several layers, the cumulative UV exposure time must be considered. When exceeding sanitary norms, hand skin and nail plates may be harmed.

Recommended for home use average power - 18-36 watts. As a rule, such a lamp is enough for a full-fledged manicure with gel polish, without exceeding the recommended time range for drying nails. Nail dryer ultraviolet, 54 W power is often used in prestigious nail salons. The gel drying speed in these lamps is maximum, and the built-in fan does not allow the device to overheat, eliminating finger burns and extending the life of fluorescent lamps.

Advantages of UV lamps:

  • relatively low price of the device;
  • availability various models dryers - you can buy even in small towns or order on the Internet;
  • simplicity and versatility of devices - they can be used by both professionals and amateurs.

Disadvantages of ultraviolet dryers:

  • fluorescent lamps quickly fail, requiring replacement every six months or a year, depending on the frequency of use;
  • during the polymerization of the gel, a burning sensation may be felt;
  • lamps require careful handling and disposal, as they release harmful substances when broken.

Is UV lamp harmful?

Many women are interested in the safety of using UV lamps. After numerous studies of ultraviolet dryers, significant evidence of their harm has not been found. However, the topic is often raised that ultraviolet radiation is harmful to the skin and can cause a cancerous tumor.

This controversy arose from the discussion of the dangers of UV radiation used in tanning beds. Experts say that the more powerful the lamp and the longer the exposure to radiation, the higher the risk dangerous consequences. If a woman is afraid of such a spectrum of light, then you can protect the skin of your hands with lotion from sunburn or use special gloves with open fingertips.

LED lamps.

The innovative gel polish nail dryer with LED lighting has a number of advantages over the device with ultraviolet radiation. Unlike the usual UV dryers, these devices do not need to change the lamps, as the LEDs are durable.

Another important feature is that they are absolutely safe for health and environment. For the rest, appearance, the functionality and principle of operation of the device with LED lamps is similar to the ultraviolet dryer.

Advantages of LED lamps:

  • high polymerization rate of the gel coating (3 minutes of UV radiation equals 20-30 seconds of LED);
  • safe for nails and hands;
  • no pulsation of the light flux, safe for eyesight;
  • do not contain harmful chemical substances, are disposed of in the usual way;
  • long term lamp service.

Disadvantages of LED lamps:

  • polymerizes not all compositions of gel polishes (you should choose shellac and gels marked with LED);
  • high price of the device.

Drying for ordinary varnish.

A nail dryer with a manicure using ordinary cosmetic varnishes works on the principle of a hair dryer. Conventional varnishes are composed of resins, film formers and pigments mixed in a solvent. When the latter evaporates in air, a hard coating remains.

However, drying takes time, and given that the varnish is often applied in several layers, the process becomes lengthy. In order not to wait for each layer to dry, you can use special dryers, which, with the help of cold or warm air, accelerate the process of weathering the solvent. A dryer designed for ordinary varnishes is not suitable for drying shellac or gel.

How to use dryer for nails at home

Read the instructions carefully before using the UV or LED lamp. Often the device requires the connection of components. The lamps and the connecting cord must be carefully inserted into the appropriate sockets on the dryer.

Before picking up ultraviolet lamp they must be washed thoroughly with soap. Fat on the hands partially remains on the glass bulb of the lamp, which further contributes to its overheating and failure. After connecting the nail dryer to the network, you need to turn on or make the appropriate settings for the functionality, for example, the timer.

Step-by-step guide to drying gel polish in a lamp:

  1. Before applying gel polish, you should prepare your nails for manicure:
    • remove or push back the cuticle that has grown on the nail;
    • give the free edge of the nails the selected shape;
    • lightly sand the nail plates for better adhesion with the gel;
    • degrease nails.
  2. The first base coat is applied in a thin layer. Dries with 18W ultraviolet for 1-2 minutes, LED dryer for 10-20 seconds.
  3. The second layer of colored gel polish is applied more thickly. Drying in a UV lamp takes 3-4 minutes, LED dryer - 30-40 seconds.
  4. The third layer of colored varnish is applied similarly to the previous one.
  5. A thick top layer should be applied not only to the nail plate, but also to the ends of the nail, sealing them.
  6. Dry the coating for at least 4 minutes in a UV lamp and 40 seconds in a LED lamp.
  7. If necessary (depending on the gel polish), the sticky layer should be removed.
  8. The manicure is completed by lubricating the cuticles with therapeutic cosmetic oil.

Drying for nails with ordinary varnish.

This device works very simply. After the nails are painted, the dryer turns on, which directs cold or hot air to the surface of the nail plate. Thus, you can save up to 5-10 precious minutes for each layer. Prices for dryers for nails can vary significantly. On average, the cost of manicure UV lamps and dryers with a fan is at the level of 1000-1500 rubles, and the price of an LED lamp starts at 2000 rubles.

How to quickly dry nail polish at home?

Except electrical appliances you can use cosmetic or improvised means and methods that will reduce the drying time of the varnish.

Quick dry coatings. Available in the form of sprays, smart enamel or special varnishes.

Apply to nails as a top coat.

Cosmetic dryers for nails not only speed up the hardening time of the varnish, but also give the painted nails a beautiful shine. If you are allergic to such cosmetics, then you can use folk methods.

Olive oil. Famous home method reducing the drying time of the varnish. With the help of a pipette, droplets of oil are placed on painted nails. In addition to fast curing decorative coating, olive oil helps to saturate nails and cuticles beneficial substances and vitamins.

Hair dryer. As an alternative to a special device for drying nails, you can use a regular hair dryer, which every woman must have. When working with varnishes, you should choose the mode of operation with cold or warm air.

Cold water. This method was used by our grandmothers. To quickly harden the varnish, you need to put your hand in a container of cold water for 3-4 minutes.

Increasingly, women began to resort to the use of shellac. It happens that there is no UV lamp at hand or it is broken, what should I do? How to dry nails if gel polish is applied? You can do without a lamp at home.

Ways to dry gel polish without a lamp

Method number 1. water drying

This method is suitable if shellac is not photosensitive. After applying the composition to the nail plate, dip your hands in cold, even ice water for 10-20 minutes.

The allotted time is quite enough for the varnish to finally take hold. This type gel coating is considered the safest in its composition.

Method number 2. Catalyst

For such a coating, there are 3 types of catalyst, which are available in the form:

  • ointments;
  • gel;
  • spray.

In order to dry the composition, it is necessary to apply a catalyst. One small drop will be enough. The main thing is that the catalyst is evenly applied to the entire surface of the nail plate, otherwise the fixing of the varnish will occur unevenly. The catalyst should be applied 1-2 minutes after gel coating.

Method number 3. Sun rays

How to dry gel polish with a photosensitive composition? For fixing without a lamp, it is necessary to keep your hands under the influence of direct sun rays. It is necessary that the sun evenly warms the entire nail plate. It will take much longer to dry the product at home than when exposed to a UV lamp.

Method number 4. hair dryer

You can dry the gel coating with a regular hair dryer. It must have the following characteristics:

  • high power;
  • possibility to dry with cold air.

In this case, the composition should be applied in one thin layer. This method is inefficient and takes a long time.

Method number 5. Cold gel polish

Before doing a manicure, place a tube of varnish in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. After that, immediately start applying it to your nails. Drying time will be drastically reduced.

Method number 6. Ice

This method has something in common with the water method, only to speed up the drying effect, ice cubes must be added to the water. It will take about 8-10 minutes to fix the coating.

Method number 7. manicure fan

A professional fixture can be purchased at specialized stores quite inexpensively. The fan has a kind of hole where you need to put your fingers. There is a device for one hand, as well as for two. It can be used to dry non-photosensitive coatings.

Method number 8. blue lamp

Medical blue lamp, which is used for heating, can also be useful for drying the gel. Only time it will take much more than when exposed to a professional device.

There are a lot of methods on how to dry gel polish. You can do without a lamp. Be smart at home.Choose the most convenient way for you and make a beautiful manicure!