How to quickly dry a coating - how long does it take nail polish to dry?

Experts recommend varnishing in several layers, with each subsequent layer applied only after the previous coating has completely dried. If the paint material takes a long time to dry, it will slow down the repair process and cause some inconvenience. In order for the varnished coating to be of the highest quality and the finish to last for a long time, you need to know exactly how long the varnish used for the coating dries. This article will discuss the main types of popular varnish compositions, their properties and drying period.

Different categories of drying periods

There are 3 main categories of drying periods for the varnish layer:

1. Touch dry. This period implies a period of time after which debris and dust will no longer stick to the varnished surface. Different types of varnish dry touch differently, some dry in 10 minutes and some take an hour or longer.
2. Drying period of the layer. This category implies a time interval starting from the moment the composition is applied to the surface and ending with its drying, when it can be covered with the next layer. Each type will dry differently, this interval ranges from one hour to a day.
3. The time required for the final drying of the varnished material. Only after this time interval can you begin to use the treated surface. Each type of composition will dry differently, it depends on temperature, humidity, and other factors, usually this time ranges from 3 hours to 3 days.

If the floor has been varnished, for example, wooden boards or parquet, and the composition has already become quite viscous, but has not yet completely dried and continues to dry out, then you can put cellophane or plastic bags on the floor. You can also lay carpet during the period of incomplete drying, but it may leave fluff on the floor that will be very difficult to remove.

Methods to dry nails quickly

There are many ways to quickly fix nail art. Some of them are very effective, but there are methods that make it impossible to dry your nails without harming the aesthetic component of the manicure. First of all, let's look at the most accessible methods applicable at home.

The methods described above will help you when you don’t have quick-drying nail polish in your makeup bag. If you want to add this item to your manicure arsenal, you need to understand the concepts. Sometimes quick-drying varnish implies a decorative coating, which, due to its composition, “sets” quite quickly. In this case, nail art does not require a final layer.

But most often, quick-drying varnish is nothing more than a top coat. It should be applied a couple of minutes after finishing the manicure. Examples of some brands of top-end nail dryers are presented in the following video. In the video, the beauty blogger conducts a comparative analysis of the products she uses.

Types of varnishes and their drying speed

Many people purchase varnish based on how long it will take to dry. The drying period is one of the most important properties of paint and varnish products. Practice has shown that when varnishes dry very quickly, their other technical characteristics suffer.

A mixture that will dry very quickly is quite expensive, its price is much higher than the cost of slow-drying solutions. In addition, varnishes that dry quickly are not environmentally friendly for human health, and usually the service life of such coatings is shorter than other mixtures. Each specialist has his own requirements for drying a varnished surface. Some people want the base to be dry within an hour, while others are willing to wait a couple of days for the coating to be of the highest quality.

How long it takes for floor varnish or furniture composition to dry depends on various factors. The main factor is the composition of the mixture. Nitrocellulose products dry as quickly as possible, while, for example, acrylic aqueous solutions dry much longer. Many people are interested in how long does wood varnish take to dry? Typically, liquid dries on wood in the same amount of time as on other materials.

What do the professionals advise?

To avoid wasting time, adhere to the following aspects:

• Cheap products attract low cost, but not high quality. Manufacturers save on fixatives, so the drying time of a cosmetic product is much longer than that of high-quality and expensive products.
• Varnishes are stored in a cool place. If exposed to sunlight, the product will quickly deteriorate.
• Do not forget to close the lid of the cosmetic product, otherwise the substance will lose its elasticity. If you need to return the previous structure, add drops of solvent. True, this does not always work.

When painting, color is taken into account. Coloring products with additional decoration elements are time consuming.

Nitrovarnishes

Transparent nitro varnish is made from colloxylins, plasticizers, solvent and various resins. This type has good resistance to moisture, after application it dries to the touch in half an hour, a maximum of an hour. Nitrovarnishes are solutions characterized by the highest drying speed.

They dry to the final stage in about 3-5 hours. Although they have the shortest drying period, they are not environmentally friendly materials, since they contain a solvent that is toxic and harmful to humans. This varnish should not be applied in rooms where people live. Nitrovarnish has low stability and weak protective coating strength.

Lamps

Various lamps are also actively used. They come in different types and, accordingly, differ in price, duration and other properties. They are usually devices that have a hole for the hand. Sometimes such lamps have a timer that allows you to monitor the operating time. Drying lamps are quite functional: they are used to fix gel polish and in the final stage of nail extension. Unfortunately, such lamps are not suitable for drying regular varnish, because they do not contribute to the evaporation of the solvent contained in its composition.

Types of lamps:

1. Ultraviolet lamp (marking – UV) . The most common of all types of lamps, equipped with a fluorescent lamp, has an affordable price. It is important to monitor the temperature of the device and not let it overheat; use in a room with a temperature of at least 10 degrees. Gel polish drying time depending on power:

9 W – 4 min;

24 W – 3 min;

36 and 48 W – 2 min.

Rice. 3. Ultraviolet lamp

2. Light-emitting diode (LED) lamp . The advantage is the provision of fast drying and high safety, however, the price increases accordingly. If one LED fails, the lamp will not require urgent replacement and will be able to continue working, but this will affect the power of the device.

Gel polish drying time:

9 W – 1 minute;

18 W – 20-30 seconds;

36 W – 10-20 seconds.

Rice. 4. LED lamp

3. Cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) . It just started appearing in stores, so it’s not very popular. The lamp itself is filled with gas, and the light is produced using electricity. It is economical, has great power and can be used safely. The drying time of the varnish is equal to the drying time in the LED lamp.

Figure 5. CCFL lamp

4. Hybrid lamp . It is a combination of two light bulbs (LED and CCFL or LED and UV). Due to its functionality, it has a high drying speed and the ability to work with all types of coatings. It has a high price and is often chosen by professionals.

Drying time:

9 W – 2 minutes;

24 W – 1.5 minutes;

36 and 48 W – 1 minute.

Figure 6. Hybrid lamp

Polyurethane solutions

Polyurethane-based varnishes are often used to cover parquet floors, polymer and self-leveling floors. The polyurethane composition provides excellent resistance to aggressive substances and mechanical loads, and is also resistant to high humidity and water.

Many people are interested in how long it takes for parquet varnishes to dry? Before the first stage they usually dry out in about an hour, and before the final stage, category 3, 4-12 hours. Varnishes containing a hardener dry very quickly, but under different conditions they dry differently, this is influenced by many factors. Polyurethane mixtures can be applied to both wood and concrete; they dry equally well on them.

Express drying of manicure

If time is running out and your nails still won’t dry , you can resort to tricks that will help speed up the hardening process:

• 
  Cold water. Fill a shallow bowl with very cold water (you can add a few ice cubes for best results) and soak your painted nails in it for 2-3 minutes. Please note: before immersing your fingers in ice water, you need to wait a few minutes so that the nail polish has time to set a little - otherwise bubbles will appear on it.

• Hair dryer. Direct a stream of air onto your nails and dry them until the polish hardens. This method can only be used if your appliance is equipped with a cold air function. Hot air will soften the coating even more and increase its drying time.
• Blower for cleaning parts. This simple device is not only suitable for cleaning your keyboard or camera, but will also help you quickly dry your nails - you just need to point the blower at them and dry for five minutes. Keep the device away from the nail plates so as not to spoil the manicure with too strong a stream of air.
• Vegetable oil. Paint your nails, wait 2-3 minutes and apply a thin layer of vegetable oil over the polish with a brush. After 2 minutes, rinse your hands with cool water and wipe with a napkin.

Water based

These solutions do not have any unpleasant odor when applied; water-based acrylic mixtures are the safest. However, they take longer to dry than other compounds. Complete polymerization requires 10-14 days. Such a long period is associated with the main component - water, which evaporates for quite a long time, compared to solvents.

Water mixtures are usually made on an acrylic basis; they do not withstand the negative effects of temperature changes, humidity, and mechanical stress. Many people are interested in how long does acrylic varnish take to dry? Touch-drying time is about 2-3 hours, and a layer of varnish usually has time to dry in 18-35 hours.

Ways to speed up the drying process

There are several ways to obtain a finished surface in a relatively short time:

1. Warming up the treated surface using an industrial hair dryer.
2. The use of so-called fast solvents, which evaporate more actively compared to conventional types of solvents.
3. The use of quick-drying brands of paint and varnish compositions. Such varnishes are produced on the basis of organic solvents and include special hardener additives.

Alkyd solutions

They also contain organic solvents, are resistant to moisture, and create a durable, protective layer. It is best to apply varnish from an aerosol can. Many people ask how long does alkyd varnish take to dry? It takes about 4 days for it to dry completely, but if you add a hardener to the composition, this period will be reduced to one day.

They produce quick-drying alkyd solutions called alkyd-urethane varnish solutions. Due to the presence of urethane alkyds, the drying time is 10-12 hours.

Why do varnishes take a long time to dry, and how to speed up drying?

The compositions dry out for a very long time if they are of low quality. In addition, if you apply too thick a layer to a wooden product, then, of course, it will dry out for quite a long time. If you choose the wrong varnish mixture and it does not match the type of surface being treated, the drying process will be lengthy. In addition, if the varnished product is kept at a low temperature and high air humidity, drying will take quite a long time.

To speed up drying, you can heat varnished items with a regular or industrial hair dryer. For quick drying, you can use fast evaporators, or buy expensive, quick-drying varnish.

Correct application

One of the key factors for quick drying is compliance with all application rules:

1. Don't forget to get a hygienic manicure (cut or European) and polish your nail plates before you start painting your nails.
2. Before applying the coating, the nail plates must be clean and dry. Wash your hands and dry them thoroughly, or use a special nail brush to remove foreign particles from them. If this is not done, the varnish will not only not dry, but will also become covered with bubbles in places where dust particles get under it. It’s even better to wipe your nail plates with nail polish remover after washing your hands - this will degrease your nails and provide better adhesion to the coating.
3. If you put the bottle of polish in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, the coating will dry on your nails in half the time.
4. Do not apply colored polish directly to the nail plates - use a base or regular hardener first.
5. Don't try to paint your nails with old, half-dried and faded polish - it will take a very, very long time to dry (if it dries at all). Before you start applying, look at the expiration date on the bottle.
6. If the polish does not adhere well, do not be tempted to apply it in one thick layer - a thick layer takes a very long time to dry, and even after the coating stops sticking, there is still a chance of ruining the manicure with a careless movement. It is much better to apply it in two or three thin layers, drying each of them for at least 5 minutes. By the way, keep in mind: the darker the varnish, the longer it will take to dry.
7. Always use a sealer finish. It will not only speed up the drying of the base polish, but will also extend the life of your manicure.