Do you hate to wait for nail polishes to dry? I SO do. That’s why I almost only use Mavala nail polishes these days. I paint them on, and a couple of minutes later, I can get on with my life. But most nail polishes can take 5 to 10 minutes, if not more to dry. That may seem a very short time, but trust me, it’s PLENTY of time for me to completely ruin my manicure. That’s why I love quick dry drops.
Admittedly, my first foray into quick dry drops was a disaster. The drops were too liquidy and I was too clumsy, so my entire hands were completely soaked in the thing. But, I’m starting to get the hang of it now, and really appreciate how useful they are. So, how do they work?
How quick dry drops work
Nail polishes contain solvents that need to be drawn out, if you want them to dry quickly. The most common ones are butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and isopropyl alcohol. These are all fatty molecules that don’t like water. So, how do you dissolve them?
By using the “like dissolves like” principle. Or, in plain English, with a fatty substance that doesn’t like water, too. Usually, that means silicones. Silicones are fatty, and are able to draw out the solvents to the surface of the nail polish, so they can evaporate faster. The faster they’re drawn out, the quicker the nail polish dries. Pretty cool, huh? But, there’s a little problems. Silicones are great at drawing out solvents from the last layers of nail polish, but are often not able to reach those at the very bottom.
So, if you like to use the standard 3 layers of nail polish (in which case, I commend you, because anything more than 1 layer is wayyyy too much work for me), it may still take a few minutes for your manicure to dry completely. But, it’ll dry a lot faster than it would on its own, so it’s still worth using them.
Why Do Some Polishes Still Feel Tacky Even After Using Quick Dry Drops?
Quick dry drops aren’t magic. They speed things up, sure, but if you’ve slapped on thick layers of polish, the outside might feel dry while the inside is still soft. That’s how you end up with those annoying “sheet marks” when you go to bed – your nails looked fine but they were secretly still wet underneath. The fix? Thin layers. Always. The drops work way better when they’re not trying to fight through a mountain of polish.
Quick Dry Drops VS Quick Dry Sprays VS Quick Dry Top Coats
They’re all “quick dry,” but they don’t work the same. Drops are usually a mix of silicones and oils that sit on top of your nails, pull the wet stuff to the surface, and make it evaporate faster. Sprays do the same thing but hit all your nails at once – faster, but also messier. Quick dry top coats are a whole different beast: they add another layer that hardens on top and sort of traps the polish underneath. Good for shine, not so good if you already painted thick, because that’s how you get bubbles. Drops are the lightest option and the least likely to mess with your finish.
Do Quick Dry Drops Damage Nails?
Nope – at least, not directly. They don’t penetrate the nail plate or strip oils the way pure acetone would. The only potential downside is that the silicones and oils can make nails feel slippery if you try to do something fiddly right after applying them. That’s not nail damage, though – just a temporary slick surface. As always, using a nourishing cuticle oil regularly will keep nails healthy between manis.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line: quick dry drops are a life-saver if you’re impatient, prone to smudging, or just don’t have 30 minutes to sit perfectly still. They work best with thin, even coats of polish and can shave valuable minutes off your drying time – without wrecking your manicure in the process.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
