We know there’s nothing more frustrating than waiting for your fresh manicure to dry. Nail prep, color and finishing touches: follow our guide to express drying without a hitch.
Choose the right polish
You've just finished your at-home manicure, but after applying the last coat of polish you're wondering how long it will take to dry…
Polish drying depends on a number of factors including polish formulation which plays an important role. For an express air-drying manicure without UV lamps, we can only recommend the Manucurist Green™ polish: the plant-based alternative to classic polish with ultra-pigmented color, lamp-free gel-effect shine and up to 7-day hold.
Up to 84% plant-based, this polish is vegan, cruelty-free and free from 9 toxic ingredients found in most traditional polishes.
KEY STEP: Nail Prep
Reducing drying time starts with proper preparation of the nail surface prior to color application. If the nail plate is not completely dry and smooth, the polish will not adhere evenly and drying time may increase.
Use a degreaser to prep the nail plate and remove all traces of grease and/or dirt. Using a cotton pad soaked in Manucurist Nail Prep solution, degrease the nail plate, focusing on the top edge to increase hold of the Green™ polish.
Increase the hold of your Green™ Nail Polish with Manucurist Nail Prep for impeccable nail cleaning before color application.
Manucurist Nail Prep has a delicate floral fragrance and is 94.5% plant-based. Apply like a nail polish remover with a cotton pad soaked in the product, for perfectly clean nails in a single stroke! PRO TIP: the degreaser can also be used to clean brushes and tools!
Base Coat
The application of a Base Coat is essential before any color application: it's what makes the color adhere and last over time. Without a base coat, the polish “slides” over the nail plate, complicating drying and increasing the risk of snags.
Manucurist's 78.5% plant-based Base Coat protects the nail, sets the color and prolongs the hold of Green™ polish. It is enriched with hexanal for fortifying and protective action: a patented active ingredient that works by promoting the formation of bonds between keratin proteins. The result: strengthened, more break-resistant nails, plus extended polish hold.
Apply a thin layer of Fortifying Base Coat to each nail to boost the adhesion and hold of your Nail Polish Green™.
Apply a thin layer of Base Coat to each nail, starting from the nail bed and working up to the top edge, then trim the nail tip. Very important: the Base Coat must remain tacky to adhere the Green™ polish.
Color Coat
This is the crucial moment that largely determines the drying time of classic nail polish. The color should be applied in thin coats, starting from the nail bed and working up to the edge, and in no more than 3 brushstrokes if possible.
Going over areas that were already polished will thicken the layer and increase drying time.
Instead, use the 4-stroke technique: a central stroke from the nail bed to the nail edge, the same on the left and right sides of the nail, and a final stroke down the center to smooth the brush stroke before edging the nail tip.
Apply 2 coats of Varnish Green™ for ultra-pigmented color, fast drying and hold for up to 7 days.
Make sure the first coat of color is completely dry before applying the second using the same technique.
Fancy changing polish colors regularly? The Green™ polish range consists of over 90 ultra-pigmented colors. Neutrals, classic reds or pop colors: choice is yours!
Each nail polish has a professional brush with a rounded tip that adapts perfectly to the shape of the nail for easy at-home polish application.
Top Coat
The Top Coat is the finishing touch to your manicure, sealing in color and adding extra shine. It is indispensable for preserving the hold of your polish.
Seal your Nail Polish Green™ with a thin coat of Sunshine Top Coat at the end of your manicure for shiny, lamp-free gel-effect nails.
For accelerated drying, opt for Manucurist Sunshine Top Coat. Its unique 70% plant-based formula contains photoinitiators that react to natural light for express drying and gel-effect shine without the need for lamps.
Top Coat Sunshine is applied in a single coat, using the same 3-stroke technique, making sure to line the tips of each nail.
Accelerate dry time with Dry Drops
A real revolution, the dry drops speed up polish drying time and minimize the risk of snags: enough to take our pain in patience during those last few minutes of waiting.
Manucurist Dry Drops cut Green™ polish drying time in half (51%). Enriched with ceramides, they leave the nail contour perfectly nourished. They apply easily and precisely thanks to their dedicated push-button: a single drop is all you need per nail for express drying.
To save time, use Drying Drops to speed up the drying of your Green™ Polish.
Although drops speed up drying time, it's not as instantaneous as with gel polish: remember not to touch your nails for a few minutes after application.
The complete Green™ routine
Fancy taking your manicure to the next level? Opt for the complete Green™ routine inspired by the pros for a fast, easy and long-lasting manicure.
Result: express air-drying, ultra-pigmented color, lamp-free gel effect, hold and shine for up to 7 days.
For express air-drying without UV lamps, opt for the Manicure Green™ routine discovery kit.
Achieve your complete manicure at home in 3 simple steps with 5 products: prepare the nail with Nail Prep, apply Base Coat, Green™ Color and Top Coat Sunshine then dry and nourish with Dry Drops.
