We've all been there. You paint your nails and have that annoying moment of fanning your hands about and furiously blowing on the tips in an attempt to get them to dry quicker. It's common knowledge that it doesn't do much (except leave your fingers covered in spit) and all you can do is sit and wait patiently for the nail polish to set. But is that really the case? We recently stumbled across a tip that holding your hands in cold water can make the polish dry a lot quicker. Filled with excitement and hope, we turned to celebrity manicurist Michelle Humphrey for some answers – because who else would be better informed than the woman whose talent graces the talons of Madonna and Katy Perry?
Yes, you can speed up your drying time by submerging your nails in cold water,' confirms Michelle. Hooray!She advises, 'Simply fill a bowl, dip your nails, and wait 3-5 minutes – or however long you can spare! You can even add a few ice cubes to make the temperature cooler. 'But be sure to take care when drying your hands and nails afterwards as they may still get marked.'
Next time you paint your nails and need to rush out of the door, head towards the last place you'd expect: the tap. This handy tip got us thinking about other techniques the pros may use, so we asked Michelle to delve into some of the tricks of the trade: