The question of how long does it take nail polish to dry is something that must be in everyone’s mind, especially women. They do love painting their nails but when they like to do it on their own, sometimes they have no idea how long it takes to dry. If you have this problem, too, the answer will be shown down below.

There will be several methods shown down below to dry out nail polish, starting from the natural way to the infamous cold water bath method. They are all working pretty well to dry out your nail polish and it will give you the perfect result. All you need to know is just the exact method and the information about how long it takes for the nail polish to dry out.

So, if you really want to know the answer of how long does it take nail polish to dry, you need to figure them out down below. Read this information carefully and then you will no longer need professional help to get your nail done. You will find out everything about it, including the time needed for the drying in the information down below.

 

How Long Does It Take Nail Polish to Dry Naturally?

The best way to dry out your polished nail is to do that naturally. It means that you do not use any tools or any other methods rather than let the air naturally and slowly dry the polish. Here is the full information about how long does it take nail polish to dry naturally so that you can measure the time needed for the whole process.

  • One-Layer Nail Polish

The term one-layer here means that this is the basic polish application. It begins with the base coat, followed by the main coat and then finished by the top coat. Even though technically it takes three layers, the one being counted is the color, so it is just one. For this case, it will actually take 20 to 30 minutes to dry naturally.

  • Nail Polish Art

Nail polish art is multi-layered applications on it. It will start with base coat and end with top coat. However, in between those coats, there will be more than three or four applications of colors and some of them are really thick. It is not suggestible to dry out naturally as it will take more than an hour for it to completely done.

how long does it take nail polish to dry

Harden Nail Polish Using Cold Water

If you want the nail polish to dry quicker, you can try this cold water bath method. It will surely help cut the time short and let it dries quicker. It is definitely needed by those who do not have that much time to do their nail. The method is simple and it does not need any special tool. Read the information about how long does it take nail polish to dry using cold water bath over here.

  • How to Do That?

You need to prepare a large bowl filled with ice-cold water. Before applying anything, submerge your fingertips into the bowl. Then, dry them out. After polishing process is done, immediately re-submerge your fingertips there and make sure that is all under the ice-cold water. Let them be there for at least 3 minutes.

Harden Nail Polish Using Cold Water

  • The Needed Drying Time

After three minutes, it should be completely dried out. Take out the fingers out of the water and carefully wipe the water out using soft fabric. The process is very quick and it takes no longer than 3 minutes to make the entire coat done.

 

Harden Nail Polish Using UV Nail Lamps

UV nail lamp is one of the mandatory tools to own when you do the nails in daily basis. However, it is not in everyone’s cup of tea to buy the tool. If you happen to own the tool, use it because it will really help drying so easily and so rapidly. Here is the answer for how long does it take nail polish to dry using UV nail lamps.

nail polish uv lamp

  • How to Do That?

UV light is easy to use. All you have to do is plugging the lamp to the socket. Then, the blue lamp will shine and you need to place your freshly-painted there. If the lamp works properly, you do not have to wait for a long time for the nail polish to dry.

  • The Needed Drying Time

The performance of the UV lamps will heavily depend on the brand. However, in average, the drying time using this tool is around 1 to 2 minutes. It depends on how thick the coat as well.

 

Harden Nail Polish Using Hair Dryer

When you do not have that much time to wait the nail polish to dry naturally but you do not like ice water bath and you do not own UV night lamp, then the only choice you have is to use hair dryer. Yes, it sounds really odd but it works perfectly. Here is the answer of how long does it take nail polish to dry using hair dryer.

  • How to Do That?

It is easy to do as you just have to set the hair dryer to its cool setting. Then, hold the hair dryer in one hand and point it to the freshly-painted fingers. Keep them steady for a while and let the nail polish dries. It won’t take a long time at all.

  • The Needed Drying Time

Because hair dryer has the ability to produce breezing, drying air so constantly, it won’t take a long time to dry out the nail polish. The answer of how long does it take nail polish to dry using hair dryer on its cool setting is no longer than 3-4 minutes. Make sure you hold the hairdryer in constant state to fasten the drying process.