Rubbing alcohol is not recommended for long-term use, and it also damages the cuticle of the nail and can even strip the polish from the nail itself. It is better to use a nail polish remover instead of rubbing alcohol since the remover will remove the remaining polish.
This is because the alcohol will dry the nail polish, and the remover does not damage the nail as much as rubbing alcohol does.
When trying to remove dry nail polish using a scrubber or a brush, make sure you don’t dip the brush in the solution. The alcohol in the mixture may damage some types of plastic instruments if you are not careful about not dipping the instrument.
Instead, dip the brush directly into a bucket of cold water. It is best to dip both the brush and the instrument in the solution, but don’t dip any part of the instrument more than the tip. If the alcohol in the bucket is too cold, you may have to wait until it has warmed up before continuing.
Does Rubbing Alcohol on Dry Nails Really Make Your Nails Cleaner?
Many people wonder if rubbing alcohol on dry nails will actually clean their fingernails and cuticles, but the truth is, rubbing alcohol does not clean fingernails and cuticles. What rubbing alcohol does is destroy any type of surface film the nail has, including cuticle and fingernail protein. Therefore, rubbing alcohol cannot properly clean your nails.
When searching for a nail polish alternative to rubbing alcohol, look for an all-natural solvent. Natural solvents are safer for your hands and are far less harsh than rubbing alcohol. One example of an all natural solvent that can effectively thicken nails without damaging the nail or cuticle is baking soda.
Simply add one teaspoon of baking soda to two ounces of water and apply to nails three times per day. This treatment will keep your nails looking cleaner for up to 12 weeks.
One way to thicken dry nails without damaging them, is by applying an oil such as tea tree oil. This oil can be applied to dry nails and left on overnight. The next morning, wash your hands and remove the oil with a towel.
Rubbing alcohol should not be used on dry nails because it can damage the cuticle and the nail. Once the nail is clean and is free of oil, apply one of the alternative polishes listed above or go visit your local salon.
Why Rubbing Alcohol Does Not Dry Nail Polish
Rubbing alcohol does not dry nail polish, or in fact it even helps to prolong the life of the product. In short, rubbing alcohol actually softens it and removes it from the nail quicker than water.
If you’re trying to remove your nail polish quickly, consider using a fast drying nail polish remover such as a high quality liquid nail lacquer, dry cleaning drops or even a nail polish.
This will help to prevent cracking, peeling, flaking or even discoloring your nail. The reason rubbing alcohol will not dry your nail is because it has a very strong oxidizing effect on acrylic and/or gel nails.
To properly dry your nail polish, rub it into the nail with the dry towel and then immediately apply a coat of clear lacquer (e.g. VivaGlow) or other high quality oil-based lacquer that has been applied with a brush to the nail.
Follow this up with a second coat of oil or nail lacquer that has been applied with a brush to the nail and then allow it to dry in the sun for about 2 hours before removing it with a clean cloth or cotton swab, leaving the top coat on.
Now, if you have been waiting to apply that all day and it is just too sticky, take another bowl of cold water and add about two cups of water into it. Stir this mixture until it becomes a smooth paste and then dip your fingers into this paste, being careful to avoid your fingertips getting stuck in the bowl.
Why Rubbing Alcohol Will Not Make Nails Dry Faster
If you are trying to use rubbing alcohol as a way to make your nails dry faster, you are probably not going to get the results you want. You see, although rubbing alcohol is able to bring on the drying process, it does so very slowly.
By that I mean, if you rub your dry nails with rubbing alcohol, you will not actually see the drying of your nails until several hours later. Therefore, instead of seeing your nails become more brittle and dryer over the course of a day, you will actually see them becoming even drier over the course of a few hours.
If you use alcohol to dry your nails, you will end up wasting a great deal of time and money in the process.
Rubbing alcohol is most effective as a nail conditioner for hard water and dry skinning. Because it will dry out these areas, it can help to soften your nails without speeding up the drying process. However, it is important to be very careful when using alcohol based conditioners on your nails.
If you have brittle or damaged nails, you may be prone to breaking or damaging them as a result of using too much of the product.
When you do use alcohol based conditioners on your nails, you should always dilute them before applying to your hands. For best results, you should never use rubbing alcohol on your nails while they are wet.
How Can I Make My Nail Polish Dry Faster At Home?
So you want to know how can I make my nail polish dry faster at home? There are many things that you need to consider when trying to keep your nail manicured and looking clean for a longer period of time.
When you decide to use alcohol-based nail polish remover, it is important to realize that this method can cause dryness and cracking in your nails.
One way to alleviate this issue is to dip your fingers into rubbing alcohol for just a few minutes before applying the polish to your nails. The rubbing alcohol will cause the polish to adhere more to your finger than it would on your nails.
Another tip to follow would be to try not to rub your hands together when you are preparing to apply your nail polish. A lot of women find that when they do this, they inadvertently spread the alcohol into their skin and this causes a rash on their hands.
The best way to go about doing this is to dip both your hands into rubbing alcohol before you begin applying the polish. You will be better protected from any problems with spreading the alcohol onto your skin.
Keeping your hands and nails moisturized is also important when you are learning how can I make my nail polish dry faster at home. You should always have a moisturizer close by when you are doing anything that could possibly cause your nails to dry out.
Does Rubbing Alcohol Dry Nail Polish?
When does rubbing alcohol to dry your nail polish? Rubbing alcohol isn’t designed for only removing nail polish, it can also be used to remove smudges and fingerprint marks as well as fingernail dandruff and greasy finger nails.
But, is rubbing alcohol to dry nail polish? While isopropyl (rubbing alcohol), which is commonly used to make nail polish thinner, is generally recognized as a cleaner that leaves your hands smelling clean, there are other chemicals in nail polish that make it different.
For example, diatomaceous earth (DE) or cranberry (C&D) vinegar. Vinegar is made from disulfinated grape pulp, sugar, and water and can be used with hydrogen peroxide (HAP), nail polish removers or straight-tipped rinses.
If you rub the mixture on wet nails, like we do when we apply polish, HAP works because it lifts and pulls the dirt and debris up off the nails. When we scrape with a towel and then rinse with warm water, the HAP molecules and the particles of polish are left on the nails.
However, some products do dry nail polish quickly by using very hot (more like boiling) water mixed with glycerin, starch and lanolin.
Conclusion
The hot water evaporates, the oil and the compressed air to remove the dirt. Because HAP and DE are glycerin based, they will leave a thick coating of lanolin on the nail. This thick layer of lanolin makes the polish last longer than traditional polish cleaners.
While rubbing alcohol does not dry nail polish, using products specifically formulated to remove oil from human nails can help keep your hands shiny and clean.
