Dazzle Dry is a gel nail polish that claims to dry in just 5 minutes. This ultra-fast drying time is one of the main selling points of Dazzle Dry. But does it really dry that fast? Let’s take a closer look at whether Dazzle Dry nail polish lives up to its 5 minute drying claim.
What is Dazzle Dry?
Dazzle Dry is a soak-off gel nail polish brand that was founded in 2008. It’s a vegan and cruelty-free brand that offers over 100 different gel polish colors. Dazzle Dry polishes are free of the toxic chemicals found in many other gel polishes, like formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, and camphor. Some of the key features of Dazzle Dry include:
- Ultra-fast drying – Promises a dry time of just 5 minutes
- Chip resistant – Claims to last up to 2 weeks chip-free
- Soak-off gel – Removes with acetone just like regular gel manicures
- Customizable finish – Available in high gloss, satin matte, and velvet matte
The brand sells core gel polish colors as well as treatment products like a gel primer and top coat. Dazzle Dry polishes retail between $17-$19 each on their website.
How does it dry so fast?
Dazzle Dry owes its quick drying time to its unique formula and patented technology. Here’s how it works:
- Liquid nitrogen jets – The polish is chilled to 32°F during production using liquid nitrogen. This thickens the formula for faster drying.
- Moisture-absorbing ingredients – The formula contains moisture-absorbing elements like titanium dioxide that pull water from the natural nails.
- Thick buildable formula – The polish is designed to be applied in thin layers that dry almost instantly.
- Special applicator – The wide flat brush deposits the perfect amount of product.
By using liquid nitrogen cooling and moisture-absorbing ingredients, Dazzle Dry has created a formula that dries in record time. The application method also maximizes the quick drying abilities of the polish.
What Dazzle Dry’s claims
Here are the exact claims Dazzle Dry makes about its fast drying time:
- Dries in 5 minutes – They claim a full manicure is dry in 5 minutes total
- Dry to the touch in 30 seconds – Touch dry with each layer
- Sandable in 2 minutes – Fully cured and sandable in just 2 minutes
- Walkable in 3 minutes – Ok to walk out the door in 3 minutes
As you can see, Dazzle Dry is very precise with its drying claims. They have drying times down to the minute for touch dry, sanding, and being able to walk out with a fresh manicure.
What reviewers are saying
The reviews of how fast Dazzle Dry really dries are generally positive. Here’s what some users and professional nail techs are reporting about drying times:
- “This polish dries just as fast as they claim. I can apply two coats and be out the door in under 10 minutes.”
- “It dries quickly enough that I can apply multiple coats without any wait time.”
- “I can wash my hands or go about my business right after my manicure. It truly is dry in minutes.”
- “As a nail tech, this polish has saved me so much time during services. Clients are always amazed at how fast it dries.”
However, there are some reviewers that experienced longer drying times:
- “It takes me about 10 minutes total for it to fully dry.”
- “If I apply thicker coats it can take up to 15 minutes to dry.”
- “It dries faster than regular polish but not quite as fast as they claim.”
So while most users do report very quick drying times, it may not be quite 5 minutes for everyone depending on application method and thickness of coats.
Application tips for fast drying
To get the fastest drying possible with Dazzle Dry, follow these application tips:
- Use very thin coats – The thinner the coats, the quicker the drying time.
- Keep coats under 2mm thick – Anything thicker will require longer to fully cure.
- Don’t overwork the product – Spread it smoothly without going over strokes repeatedly.
- Apply in 2-3 thin layers – Less is more when it comes to achieving quick drying.
- Cap the tips – Seal the edges to prevent chipping and maximize drying speed.
- Use a quick-dry top coat – This seals in the manicure and helps drying.
If you apply Dazzle Dry following those tips, you’ll be more likely to experience the true 5 minute drying claim.
How it compares to the competition
Compared to other popular gel polish brands, Dazzle Dry has much faster drying times. Here’s how it stacks up against the competition:
| Brand | Drying Time |
|---|---|
| Dazzle Dry | 5 minutes |
| Gelish | 10-15 minutes |
| OPI GelColor | 10-12 minutes |
| Shellac | 10-15 minutes |
| SNS | 10-12 minutes |
As you can see, Dazzle Dry has by far the fastest drying time compared to popular gel polish competitors. The average drying time for other brands is 10-15 minutes, while Dazzle Dry promises just 5 minutes.
Pros and cons of the fast drying time
There are both pros and cons to Dazzle Dry’s ultra fast drying time. Here are some of the key ones:
Pros
- Get an entire manicure done incredibly fast
- No wait time between layers
- Walk out the door with freshly painted nails
- Great for nail techs to turnover clients faster
- Less time sitting under the lamp
Cons
- Formula can be thick and sticky when drying too fast
- Hard to fix mistakes as it dries so quickly
- Can feel more rigid on the nails
- Flooding cuticles is more likely if rushed
There are techniques nail techs can use to combat some of the potential cons of the fast drying formula. But in general, the ultra fast dry time has more advantages than disadvantages for most users.
Tips for getting 5 minute drying
Here are my top tips for experiencing the 5 minute dry claim with Dazzle Dry:
- Use the primer and top coat religiously – These products are formulated to work with the polish and speed up drying.
- Apply thin coats and don’t overwork the polish – Thinner and fewer coats mean less time under the lamp.
- Cap the free edge with each layer – This prevents chipping and drying issues on the tips.
- Keep your hands still while drying – Exposing the polish to air slows down curing time.
- Use a quick dry top coat – Dazzle Dry’s top coat helps seal in the manicure.
- Invest in a strong lamp – A lower wattage lamp will increase cure times.
- Follow all directions precisely – Pay attention to cure times and application methods.
If you follow all the steps and have the right supplies, achieving a 5 minute dry time with Dazzle Dry is totally possible!
Conclusion
Based on Dazzle Dry’s unique formula, rave reviews, and application tips, it does appear the brand can truly dry extremely fast under the right conditions. With thin coats, proper technique, and the right supporting products you can walk out the door with a fresh manicure in as little as 5 minutes. While results may vary depending on your individual application, Dazzle Dry certainly seems to deliver on its fast-drying claims.