Nail varnish won't set?

skysky69

I think I am abnormal. If i put on one coat of nail varnish it does set and goes rock hard. If I put a second coat on, it never seems to fully set to rock hard and is still slightly soft even hours later, so the slightest knock leaves marks and can actually scratch it off. One coat is not enough for colour really as you can still see the nail through. Frustrated as I just got a no 7 nail varnish for £1.25 with the £5.00 gift vouchers boots are giving out at the moment and it looks pants. Any ideas?

freejunkie

It sounds like you are applying it too thickly, try a thinner coat, and allow to dry a little while before adding another coat xx

cLeO

I used to have the same problem, would paint my nails a few hours before bed, think they were dry and when I woke up in the morning, have imprints in them from the sheets! I use a top coat called Seche Vite now and its amazing, dries them solidly within 10 mins max without any smudges. Its approximately £9 but I got mine quite a bit cheaper from ebay and I think Amazon sell it too.

RoseFairy

i get the same problem - especially with the dark colours. i have tried putting painted nails in a sink/bowl of cold or icy water - to set them - works but takes time & patients. i usually do my nails when i go on internet as my nails can dry during that time. i have used nail dryers but the warm air doesn' help much. i have used those quick dry sprays (got it from superdrug ages ago), but the can about the size of an impulse body spray finishes really quickly. i haven't tried those 60sec polishes - but the speed dry from No7 is ok - though the dark colours still take longer to dry.

i have ordered - from Avon's next catalogue No15, a nail drying oil. it;s on offer atm £2.50 for 12ml. and a drop is supposed to speed up drying time - will see how this goes once its delivered on 22 sept. i will test it mainly on dark polishes as i find the lighter colours dry quicker - maybe something to do with the ingredients to make the colour.

GrammarGirl

A clear base coat will help the colour set. I always have base coat on (you can use a special base coat, or a clear polish. I used Sally Hansen's Whitening as my nails are stained yellow from the last time I painted them and forgot the base! ) and find it prolongs the staying power of nail varnish too. I tend to apply the base coat a day before I want the colour (although I wear colour almost all the time, so constantly have a clear polish on then just paint over the top) so it's 'taken' to the nail by the time I get round to putting the colour on.

Apply three thin coats and try to do three brush strokes for each nail - one down the middle and one either side. Then go online! As the above poster says, typing is great for drying nails as you're constantly moving your fingers but not letting the nails touch anything. I leave it for about an hour before even attempting to touch them.

Hope that helps.

kerrydrobertson

if just putting one coat of polish on id usually leave for about 10 minutes. although when im doing my clients i apply a base coat, polish (sometimes 2 coats) and a top coat as well as a french polish too and a quick dry spray. i always recommend them not to do anything with their nails for 20 minutes at least. i dont think the nail dryers are much good as shaking fingers in the air/dryers creates air in the polish leading to bubbles in the polish.

some of the 60 second polishes are quite good though