At-home manicures have been a thing forever, but with the health crisis making it both inconvenient and unsafe in some places to visit a salon, at-home manicures are really, really popular right now. Most of the time, doing nails is fun and relaxing. But some of us — especially the mamas — just can't seem to avoid smudging them right after. It's almost inevitable. Sometimes, the hands just have to be used and ish happens.
Good news: Say no to smudge! There is a better way to do nails, mama, and get the smooth and shiny paint jobs y'all deserve. We found 17 products that can be used to ensure a quick dry job and avoid smudging from wet nails when things need to get done. Whether it's driving or cooking or picking up the baby during a tantrum. From drops to quick-dry polishes to pop-on manicures, these are the ways to get stunning nails, and have them dry, or ready to go, fast.
Orly Sec N' Dry
$12
from
Orly Beauty
Orly's Sec N' Dry combines two words that are music to busy nail polish wearers everywhere: second and dry. It's a top coat to go over the final polish layer or in between polish layers for a quick dry. Or, as Orly says, it's a top coat for "when you just can’t watch paint dry."
Static Nails Pop-On Manicure
$16
from
Static Nails
For all the lazy mamas out there, or mamas who just want the look of polish without all the work involved (raises hand), there is a solution! Fake nails. But not the kind that take forever at the salon. Static Nails has stunning pop-on manicure sets like this neutral one. Zero wait time.
Nails Mailed Pastel Impressions Nail Wraps
$5.5
from
Nails Mailed
There is more than one kind of instant manicure out there and so we wanted to share these wraps from Nails Mailed. These "wrap" over the nail in ready-to-wear polish designs that take zero time to dry. The intricate designs look like hours were spent doing nail art.
Tenoverten Non-Toxic Nail Dryer Drops
Sometimes, a top coat isn't even fast enough to get nails done in that mom life. That's OK! That's what nail drying drops are for, like these from Tenoverten. Just put a few drops on top of the polished nail, and it will dry and seal that polish in a flash.
DeMert Nail Enamel Dryer Spray
$4
from
House of Beauty
Nail drying spray goes way back, but there's a reason why it's still around as a nail-drying tool: it works. House of Beauty sells this can of nail drying spray, that is up to the standard of a paid manicurist. It has ingredients that create "non-smearing manicures while conditioning both cuticles and nails."
Dipwell Dip Nail Starter Kit
Dip nails are a little bit more advanced than classic nail polish, but the system creates a fast-drying and long-lasting shiny manicure that is worth the process. Dipwell has a kit to help get a professional-looking manicure quickly and easily.
OPI RapiDry Spray Nail Polish Dryer
For the spray enthusiasts out there, we have another option. It's the OPI RapiDry Spray Nail Polish Dryer, which dries nails quickly with a quick squirt. Get a smudge-proof mani in minutes.
Essie Good To Go Top Coat
Essie is one of the top polish brands. The company's polishes go on smooth and shiny, but the brand also has a fast-drying top coat that's different than its regular top coat polish. Swipe it on each painted nail and mamas will be "good to go."
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color
Top coats and sprays are useful, but there is a way to cut out the middle man and just get nail polish that dries fast after application. The Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color line includes tons of colors that go on smoothly and easily. The polish dries almost instantly, leaving glossy nails and no smudges.
Essie Expressie Quick-Dry Dial It Up Nail Polish
In addition to a fast-drying top coat, Essie also has a line of fast-drying polishes that need no top coat. These one-step polishes save mamas so much time. This newer line comes in modern colors to suit fun-loving moms.
Seche Vite Dry Fast Clear Top Coat
For a heavy-duty top coat, look no further than the Seche Vite Dry Fast Clear Top Coat. It does just that: dries nails "fast" after applying it on wet nail polish. The shiny top coat "penetrates deep" to make it happen and has super good reviews on Target.
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color (Gray)
Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Nail Color line doesn't just have sparkly polish. It comes in neutral cremes as well, and it still dries just as fast. The three-in-one formula promises "One stroke, one coat, and you're done."
Jin Soon Dotty Polish
Jin Soon's nail polish line has a ton of fun colors with great quality when it comes to the finished product. The cool thing about Jin Soon is that the polish is made from a "double patented quick dry formula" for a fast-drying manicure.
Jin Soon HyperDry Quick Dry Drops
The Jin Soon nail brand also has quick drying polish drops for extra quick drying abilities. Place a few drops of the rose-scented liquid onto the painted nail and it will dry almost instantly. The drops also make the nail super shiny.
Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail Polish
As far as drugstore polishes go, Rimmel London is where it's at. And luckily for us, the brand has a quick-drying polish line that takes no more than 60 seconds to dry. Literally, the front of the bottle says "60 seconds." That's a promise!
Belmint UV LED Nail Lamp
When all else fails, a gel manicure is completely dry as soon as the top coat is cured. Plus, mama can feel like she's getting a salon-quality manicure, because she is. The gel mani should last two to four weeks, too.
Beyond Polish CND LED Lamp
$192
from
Beyond Polish
The Beyond Polish CND LED Lamp is another gel nail lamp meant for salon-style gel and Shellac manicures. The initial expense of the lamp and polishes may seem high, but it will save salon trips in the future. Plus, nails are fully dry the instant the mani is finished.
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, CafeMom.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
