Why does nail polish dry so fast?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Solvents evaporate rapidly
Nails absorb the liquid quickly — Wrong. Nails don't absorb nail polish—it forms a film on top. Drying happens because volatile solvents evaporate into the air.
UV light hardens the polish — Wrong. UV curing is for gel polish specifically. Regular nail polish dries from evaporation of volatile organic solvents, not UV light.
Solvents evaporate rapidly ✓ — Correct! Nail polish contains pigments dissolved in volatile solvents (like acetone, ethyl acetate). These solvents evaporate rapidly at room temperature, leaving behind a hard film of nitrocellulose and pigments. That's why it smells strong and dries in minutes!