How to Dry Your Painted Nails Quickly

Co-authored by Mia Rubie

Last Updated: October 10, 2022 References

There is nothing worse for your pretty manicure then when you smudge it. Luckily, there are a number of tried-and-true methods to dry painted nails quickly. This will help maintain your beautiful nails and often prevent chips and damage.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using an Ice Bath

1
Pick the right clean bowl. You want a deep enough, and large enough, bowl that you can submerge the entire nail into the bowl. Ideally, you want a bowl large enough to dip all of your nails at once.
- Pick a bowl that can stand up to freezing or chilling. Metal bowls will hold in the cold and be cold to the touch. Plastic will insulate the water but may be easier to handle.
- Consider dedicating a bowl just for beauty regiments. You probably do not want to accidentally get nail polish on your favorite mixing bowl.
2
Fill a bowl with cold water. After you’ve picked the right vessel, fill it with cold water. You want the coldest water possible without freezing everything in the bowl. This will help the ice not to melt so quickly.

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3
Add a cup of ice to the water. You want to add a cup of ice (cubes, not crushed) to the bowl. This will create cold enough water to help instantly dry your nails. Once you’ve added the ice, return the bowl to the fridge if you intend to paint your nails right away.^{[1]
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- If you think you it will take at least an hour for your manicure, consider returning the bowl to the freezer so the ice does not melt. Be warned, wait too long and the entire bowl will freeze.
4
Paint your nails. Once the bowl is chilling, now it is time to put on your favorite manicure. You can use whatever type polish you would like. Paint your nails as you normally would.
5
Take out the ice bowl. Remove the bowl from the fridge or freezer, carefully. Be careful not to smudge your wet nails doing this! If you can, have someone assist you with this.
- Place the bowl on a flat surface. If you are putting the bowl on wood, place a towel or trivet underneath the bowl. This will prevent water rings on the surface.
6
Dip your hands in the bowl. You can place both hands at once, being careful that your fingers do not touch each other. Or, you can place one hand at a time.
- You will want to submerge your hands slowly as not to cause the water to ripple and damage your nails.
7
Wait 2-3 minutes. This is going to be cold. It might be a little bit painful. But, the longer your nails are submerged, the drier your nails will become.
- Once your hands have been successfully submerged, remove them from the water and place them on a towel.
- You can test the dryness of the nail polish by lightly touching your nail. It should be hard to the touch. As odd as it sounds, after removing your hands from the water, your nails should appear dry.
8
Pat hand with towel or paper towel. Cold water can damage your hands, so pat down your hands to dry them.
- Consider applying your favorite lotion to your skin, after your nails are successfully dry of course, to stop skin damage.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Applying Household Products

1
Use air duster. Air dusters are not just for cleaning keyboards! Applying air dusters, or canned air, will use compressed cold air to dry your wet nails quickly.^{[2]
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- Be careful when using canned air and hold the can about 12 inches (30 cm) away from your hand. The chemicals and extreme cold can damage your skin, otherwise.
2
Blow dry your nails. Moving air currents are very effective when drying nails. Use your handy blow dryer to get a faster dry time on your manicure.
- Do not put your blow dryer on high or high heat. This may smudge your nails. The high heat may also damage your skin.^{[4]
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3
Spray your nails with a cooking spray. Use an olive-oil based cooking spray and spritz it on your still-wet manicure. It will help seal your nail polish and dry it faster.^{[5]
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- Hold the can about 12 inc (30 cm) away from your hand as to not smudge the wet paint with the force of the aerosol.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Considering Commercial Products

1
Place your hands under a UV or LED Light. They are generally what you use when getting your nails professionally done. UV lights use ultra-violent waves to dry your polish quickly and into a solid coat.^{[6]
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- These lights are often recommended for gel coats.
2
Use quick dry polishes. Instead of using a product to quickly dry your nails, there are polishes out there that advertise quick drying times. Use these polishes to get a quick manicure.^{[7]
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3
Dry with drying drops. Nail polishes add thickeners to properly stay consistent. You can make your polish thinner, and thus easier to evaporate and dry, by adding a commercial drying drop to the polish after application.^{[8]
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- Your favorite polish brands may carry dry drops specifically designed for their polishes. Look at your local retailer for more information.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Drying Nails Naturally

1
Use thin coats. The thinner coats on your nails will dry faster than a thick one. Thin coats will evaporate faster. Instead of applying one thick coat, try to apply a thin coat and wait for a minute or two for it to dry. Then add another coat and repeat until you reach your desired manicure.
2
Clean your nails. If you start with clean nail beds and cuticles, your nail polish will adhere better and dry faster. Start your manicure with healthy hands and your manicure will look more stunning.
3
Use a top coat. While it may not help your nails dry quicker, it will help your manicure last longer. Use a thin top coat to dry quicker, and your beautiful manicure will last longer than if you hadn’t.^{[9]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

How do you keep nail polish from drying out in the bottle?

Mia Rubie
Nail Artist
Mia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. She has over eight years of nail artist and management experience and is known for her push-the-envelope designs and artistic eye for colors. Her clients include Sephora, Target, and Vogue. Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and StyleCaster. She holds a BBA focusing on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from San Francisco State University. You can find her work on her Instagram account @superflynails.

Mia Rubie

Nail Artist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Tighten your bottles really, really tight. Keep them out of sunlight, too. I like to keep my polishes in zippered bags in a case in my closet. I even close them while my hands are drying!
Question

Do I put my nails in the cold water when they are not dried yet?

Community Answer

Yes, the cold water will help dry your nails. Let them air dry for a minute, then place them in cold water for three or four.
Question

Can I dry my nails with cold air or does it have to be hot like a hair dryer?

Community Answer

Hot air may make your polish bubble. Use cold air or run your nails under cold water.

Things You’ll Need

Sturdy large bowl
Ice cubes
Cold water
Cooking spray
Nail drying drops
Hair dryer
UV or LED light
Petroleum Jelly
Canned air
Top coat
Nail polish
Lotion

Warnings

UV light can cause skin damage so always take care when using them. Consult your dermatologist if you notice any skin irregularities.

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