14 Ways to Make Nail Polish Dry Faster, From Nail Techs

Paint Light, Thin Layers

“To ensure that nail polish dries quickly, avoid applying too thick of a layer,” says Oung, who recommends applying as thin of a layer as possible and letting the first layer dry for about a minute before applying a second.

She adds: “If you use a polish that does not require a top coat or base coat, like ORLY’s Breathable lacquers, you are eliminating two layers from your manicure, which helps speed up the drying process.”

Gibson Tuttle concurs: “Painting your nails using thinner layers will help them dry faster—even if you have to do another coat to get the opaqueness you want.” To paint your thinnest layer, be conscious of how much polish is on your brush. Your best bet is to swirl it around the opening of the bottle to remove any excess lacquer before applying polish to your nails.