Help me fix my nail polish blunder!

[QuantumWeatherButterfly]

I have an important event this evening, so I thought I'd paint my nails. I won't have time today, so I did them yesterday. They're dark red, and I did a nice job.

Unfortunately I didn't leave quite enough time for them to properly set hard before I went to bed, and I've woken up with them no longer nice and shiny - they've got marks on them from the sheets, if you know what I mean, so although the edges are still neat, the finish is dull and messy.

I have a few options - let me know which of these you think would be best:

1. put another coat on later and hope that it both doesn't get smudged and it actually covered the imprints. It's a very bold colour, so any smudges will be very visible, and I'll only be able to do this quite close to when we are due to leave.
2. buy a high shine top coat and slap some of that on. It won't hide the marks, but will hopefully get rid of the dullness and any smudges won't (I don't think) show.
3. just take it all off and go with bare nails.

I don't have time to do it again from scratch today due to other commitments, and I don't have the budget for a professional job.

I'm leaning towards option 1. Any thoughts of other suggestions?

Is it an important event where you could get a away with glitter nails?

A chunky glitter over it will cover up all imperfections and look like it’s meant to be there.

Hmm - that's a good idea, it would definitely work and I do already have something suitable. I don't think it would look nice with my outfit though, as it's a bit busy and I wasn't hoping the nails would help it look a bit more elegant.

I’d actually go 3…if you add another coat it’ll soften the ones already on and you could end up worse than they are now

Just put on a quick dry top coat for shine - it will keep the colour as it is and make the finish smooth. I have done this many, many a time!

I’d put on another top coat or a coat of something sparkly.

1. I do this all the time!

Thank you everyone. I've just been and held my nails next to my dress, and sparkly definitely won't work. It did remind me I need to iron the dress though

JudgeRinder yes, I'm worried about that.

I think I'll risk a high shine quick dry top coat. If that doesn't work as per Elizabeth's suggestion. And it it doesn't look like it is working, I'll take it all off.

The event is in an extremely high-end restaurant so hopefully the lighting will be soft enough to be kind to me!

@ElizabethinherGermanGarden and @wibblewobbleball any recommendations on a good top coat? I'm going to be close to a medium sized Boots later. There's also an M&S and possibly a Superdrug, but nowhere else really.

Unhelpfully, I use the nailberry one, which is mail order. Sally Hansen is always good though so you should be able to get that in Boots.

Get Insta-Dry - don't be fooled by the gel one.

Space NK sell Nailberry, although that won't help the OP much. I'd recommend Barry M Plumpy or Sally Hansen Diamond Shine (or whichever the one in the annoying mirror finish bottle is) 😀

Seche Vite is your friend here.
Ideally shoulda put it on before bed last night ...but until time travel is invented <<shrug>>

Dries v shiny, tough, fast (as it says on the tin). Shrinks ever so slightly on drying, so ensure you go over your tips. Allow about 5 mins to dry solidly.

If necessary though any clear top coat will do. If you can get a fast drying one even better

Thank you everyone! I knew Mumsnet would come to the rescue. I am pitifully grateful - tonight's event is a special one that we didn't think (for complicated outing reasons) we would be able to attend, so I just want it to feel perfect.

I'll hit up Boots for Sally Hansen later, and invest in some Seche Vite for future.

Take it off, get some Rimmel 60 seconds. Doesn't last well but great for one night and it really does set on 60 seconds

@abovedecknotbelow ah - another idea! I'll see what colours there are.

This. It works like a dream.

Returning to thank everyone again. I ended up with an Essie top coat (the Sally Hansen shelves at out Boots looked like it a desert wasteland) and it worked perfectly.

For the future, I'd highly recommend Opi quick dry drops. Fantastic