We love our nails to look and feel wonderful. A regular manicure will keep our cuticles healthy, moisturized, and beautiful. There are many nail polish types on the market today. Brands on the retail market feature traditional polishes, strengthening polishes, fast drying polishes, and brands that boast they are as shiny and long-lasting as acrylic, gel, dip powder, and silk nail wrap. Whether you opt to polish your nails at home or visit your friendly nail salon for a professional manicure, the question remains:
Does UV light dry regular nail polish?
The answer just might surprise you. After all, if it works for one polish why wouldn’t it work for them all? It’s science. Let’s take a look to nail that answer:
There is a big difference between regular nail polish and special nail polish that is created to dry using a UV Light. Regular nail polish requires natural air and evaporation to dry, so you can place your hands underneath a UV light if you like, but the bottom line is that it will not dry any quicker if you do.
The right answer to does UV light dry regular nail polish is, no, regular nail polish shouldn’t be dried underneath a UV Light because it doesn’t speed up the drying process. It’s important to note that Ultra Violet rays, just like the sun’s rays are known to have skin aging properties and can cause skin damage so if you don’t have to put your beautiful hands underneath one, don’t. If you do, wear a hand lotion with SPF to protect your hands.
So, now that you know that a UV light is not going to speed things up for you, how do you dry your nail polish? The answer is the good old fashion way. Air dry your beautiful polish with time and patience. Regular nail polish needs to evaporate so ti could take about one hour or more to completely dry. We recommend reading a good book, finding a sappy rom-com, binging on a popular tv series, or even taking a beauty nap. If you do fall asleep, be careful to keep your hands away from blankets or furniture to prevent ruining the nail polish. That said, here are some ideas that can speed along the nail polish drying process of regular nail polish,
- Hair dryer: Using the lowest heat setting and medium fan speed, double-duty your hair dryer and give your nails a breath of fresh blow dryer air.
- Nail fan: You can find nail fans in department stores and online. Some of battery-operated, and some use electricity, but both will create a breeze to assist your polish to dry.
- Quick Dry Spray: Nail polish quick dry spray is a combination of special ingredients that you spray directly on your wet nails to hasten the drying process. You might want to use this and a hair dryer or nail fan for more progress. Always read the instructions on the label to get the best results.
- Hairspray: Yes, that’s right! Good old fashion hairspray sprayed between seven and ten inches from your wet nails and then soaked in cold water will help your nails dry beautifully.
- Ice Water Hand Bath: Before you paint your nails, soak your hands in cold ice water for three or four minutes, completely dry your hands and then paint your nails right away. This will help your polish dry faster. Or after your nails are painted for five or ten minutes, allow cold water to flow over them. This too will help speed things along.
- Oil: This works as a dynamic duo for your manicure. Drip small amounts of oil, like olive, Argan or Coconut oil on top of your polished fingernails. This will help your polish dry faster and nourish your cuticles and hands.
What are some more tips for beautiful and quicker drying regular nail polish?
Before your start your manicure, have all the necessary tools and polish within reach,
Prepping Nails Is Important: Before applying any base coat or nail polish, prep your nails. Make sure your hands and fingernails are clean and totally dry. Cut and file your nails so they are all the same length and shape. You may even use a buffer to remove any irregularities on the nail, so your nail polish application is smooth and will dry evenly.
Use Base Coat First: A clear base coat applied before the colored nail polish will provide a canvas for your colored polish and provide a longer-lasting manicure. Make sure the base coat is totally dry before applying color.
Apply Two Coats: After your base coat and first nail polish color is totally dry, apply a second coat of nail polish. This will provide a stronger manicure to prevent any possible polish chips, and breaks helping your manicure last longer.
A Top Coat Seals And Strengthens: After your nail polish is almost dry, apply a clear top coat to seal the nail polish together. Apply every two to three days to strengthen your nails and make your manicure last even longer.
Remember Your Cuticles: After your nail polish is dry, apply lotion and oil to your cuticles to keep them soft and nourished. This is an important part of a beautiful manicure. Use hand lotion after you wash your hands to keep your hands moisturized, soft, and healthy.
Conclusion
Now that we nailed the question, does UV light dry regular nail polish and shared some helpful tips for a beautiful manicure, take some time to devote to a beautiful, enjoyable manicure. But you must consider all this information to ensure a long-lasting manicure. Sure enough, it will be worth your time and money.