Sort: NewestMost helpful
Their best magnetic method is waiting 30 minutes after magnetizing, then applying Sally Hansen's red-bottle quick-dry top coat.
“For me, what works best is waiting 30 min after magnetizing the effect you want, then qdtc (sally Hansen in the red bottle, magnetized) Also I’ve been trying different magnetic brands and they really”
Bought Sally Hansen Insta-Dri for about $5; it's thin, so they apply two layers for a plump look, and finds it very affordable.
“I got the Sally Hansen Insta-Dry red bottle for $4.97 on Amazon, which I think is really affordable! It's thin, so if you like a plump look you can do two layers of this”
Never had good luck with Sally Hansen Insta-Dri over magnetics; Essie Gel Couture top coat performs much more reliably for them.
“There's no toluene but I never had good luck with it either. Essie gel couture performs way more reliably for me. I only magnetize the top coat layer though.”
Likes Essie polishes but stopped using its top coat, switching to Sally Hansen Insta-Dri, which is much better.
“I like Essie polishes but I no longer use their top coat. It was rubbish. I switched to Sally Hansen (Insta-Dri) and it's much better.”
The Sally Hansen red-bottle quick-dry top coat is about $7 and fantastic, and toluene-free so it doesn't smell like Seche Vive.
“The Sally Hansen red bottle is a about $7 and is a fantastic quick dry top coat. Edit: I forgot to mention that it's toluene free so it won't smell terrible like the Seche”
Says the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat and combined base-and-top coats have always sucked for them, while Seche Vite actually works.
“"Sally Hansen Insta-dri top coat" <--- there's one of your problems. Seche Vite is a product that actually works. Sally Hansen insta-dry or combined base and top coats have always, *always* sucked for me.”
Finds the Sally Hansen red-bottle quick-dry top coat vastly superior to Seche: cheaper, dries quickly and doesn't have the shrinkage problem.
“Personally I think the Sally Hansen Quick Dry in the red bottle is vastly superior to Seche. It's cheaper, dries quick and doesn't have the shrinkage problem.”
Loves how quickly the Sally Hansen red bottle dries and how it works with magnetics, but it doesn't keep their manicure as long as other top coats; adding Essie Gel Couture on top helps.
“I just started using Sally Hansen red bottle, and I love how quick it dries and the way it works with magnetics, but it just does not keep my mani for as long as”
Says the red-bottle Sally Hansen top coat doesn't work for them.
After shrinkage problems with many top coats, the Sally Hansen red-bottle quick-dry top coat is the only one that doesn't shrink on them.
“Sally Hansen Red QDTC is the only one that doesn’t shrink on me even with owning it for quite some time. The only problem with this topcoat is that it cracks after \~4-5 days”
Uses a Sally Hansen strengthener and the Sally Hansen quick-dry top coat, which work perfectly and are cheap; some tip wear by the end of the week, but nails get very rigid.
“This works well for me, too! I use the Sally Hansen Strengthener and QDTC and it works perfect and is so cheap. I do get some tip wear toward the end of the week”
Used to use Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat and says it gets thick and gloopy fast once the bottle is below about two thirds, which makes the top layer dry before the polish under it.
“I used to use the Sally Hansen Insta-dri, and it gets thick and gloopy FAST if your bottle is less than about 2/3 full. For a QDTC, gloopy stinks! It leads to the very”
Tried the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri red bottle top coat after seeing it praised, but every manicure they used it on messed up and it disperses magnetic polish; prefers Essie Speed Setter.
“After all the love for Sally Hansen Insta-Dri (red bottle) QDTC here I decided to give it a try. Not to this extent, but every manicure I have used it on has messed up.”
Says humidity can slow drying, and that otherwise the red-bottle Sally Hansen top coat is the best thing for drying a manicure.
“humid area? Happens to me sometimes, even changing rooms within the house affects drying times and texture for me. If not, the red bottle sally Hansen top coat is the best to dry manicures.”
Uses the red-bottle Sally Hansen top coat over magnetic polish and says it works great, is easy to get and cheap.
Says a quick-dry top coat is the secret, and that the red-bottle Sally Hansen top coat everyone recommends really does work well.
“The secret is to use a quick-dry top coat. Darn near everyone around here will preach about the red bottle Sally Hansen top coat, because it actually does work really well. You can use”
Recommends the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri quick-dry top coat in the red bottle, which stays clear and helps polish dry in a few minutes.
“I recommend Sally Hansen Insta dry quick dry topcoat in the red bottle. It’s still a clear coat and it helps your polish dry in a few minutes.”
Says the fastest top coats usually contain smelly toluene; the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri red bottle is the exception: not their favorite, but fast and toluene-free.
“I know of one exception, Sally Hansen insta dry in the red bottle. It is not my favorite, but it is fast, and it has no toluene. Give her a go if you have”
Has MCAS; in a sniff test of their top coats, the Sally Hansen red bottle was the only one that didn't tighten their throat or cause wheezing.
“But I just did a sniff test of the ones I have and the Sally Hansen in the red bottle you bought is the only one that didn't make my throat get tight and”
Avoids fumes because of their cat's respiratory issue and uses the red Sally Hansen top coat, the least fumey yet still fast one they've tried.
“I use the red Sally Hansen, but I know this is NOTHING like what you’re describing. It’s just been the least fumey and still fast in my limited experience. I also have an iqair”
A chef with hard-working hands has had great luck with the Sally Hansen red bottle top coat, along with BKL, Tyche and Seche Vite top coats.
“I've also had great luck with Tyche's Aura Farming QDTC, Sally Hansen red bottle, and Seche Vite. I'm pretty lazy about capping the tips, but I'm getting better. It does help. Polish brands that”
A hairstylist with hands always in water gets 5–7 days with strengthener and hardener steps and has switched to the Sally Hansen red bottle top coat for good.
“I find I have less bend in my nail with these extra steps which helps with longevity. I also switched to Sally Hansen’s red bottle top coat and will never use anything else lmao”
Has had good luck with the Sally Hansen red bottle top coat and Essie's Gel Couture top coat as drugstore options.
“I’ve had good luck with Sally Hansen red bottle and Essie Gel Coutour (the twisty bottle.) If you’re near an Ulta, they typically have Holo Taco and Zoya, as well.”
Says Sally Hansen's red-bottle Insta-Dri top coat is great.
Uses Essie Strong Start with the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat over magnetic polish; their velvetized ILNP manicure had no peeling or cracking after 72+ hours.
“I also use Strong Start but with SH Insta-dri on top. This is how a velvetized Ritual (ILNP) looks 72+ hours later. There is no peeling or cracking.”
Accidentally added far too much thinner to their Sally Hansen red-bottle top coat, and it worked better than usual with no shrinkage at all.
“I'm wearing Eclipse too rn and I used thinner in my topcoat (Sally Hansen red bottle) for the first time and accidentally put in way too much. Like, the bottle was 1/4 and I”
Thanks everyone who recommended the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri red-bottle top coat: their nails finally dry, it's cheap, easy and quick to apply, doesn't get goopy and looks glossy.
“To the many people who reccomended insta-dry (red bottle) by Sally Hansen, THANK YOU! My nails finally dry, is cheap, I can find it many drug stores, doesnt goop on so its very easy”
Uses the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat for everything after shrinkage problems with Essie top coats.
“I like Essie polish a lot, but I hate their top coats. I think I’ve tried 4. Gel couture was the second worst shrinkage I’ve had, second only to Seche. I use Sally Hansen”