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17th September 2025
03:30pm BST
If you're one of many who like to treat themselves to a fresh gel polish manicure every so often, you might be out of luck.
As of this week, the European ban on gel nail polishes has come into effect.
However, you might not have to give up your monthly gel manicure entirely, as it could be as simple as changing the polish you ask for.
The ban comes as studies highlighted the potential health risks.
As of this week, many nail salons in Europe are forced to update the polishes they use for mani pedis after some types of gel polishes have been banned amid health concerns.
It's all due to one key chemical ingredient that a lot of gel polishes contain, allowing the polish to harden and last for two weeks.
The ban has gone into effect in 27 member countries of the EU, meaning nail techs can no longer use the polishes which contain the hazardous ingredient.
Trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide, TPO for short, is to blame.
This ingredient is used as an 'artificial nail builder' and is applied before the nails are held under a light to cure them and make the polish last as long as possible.
The ingredient is a photoinitiator, meaning it needs light to activate.
Many nail salons prefer to use this ingredient as it works well with the UV lamps used to set the nails, resulting in a durable, long-lasting manicure.
On May 12, the European Commission updated the regulations, resulting in a new ruling which states that TPO has been identified as toxic. It claims it can be particularly damaging for the reproductive system and should 'no longer be allowed in cosmetic procedures', per The New York Times.
Since the announcement of the ban, there has been plenty of confusion, as reportedly no studies have shown a valid link between TPO and health risk in humans.
The research did show that high doses of TPO were harmful to rodents.
Caroline Rainsford, the director of science at the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association in Britain, released a statement saying that the research shows the ultimate 'worst case' scenario.
It's important to point out that the amount of TPO used in nail polish is significantly smaller and less concentrated than the amount used in the studies.
That being said, many nail salons in Ireland were already starting to implement polishes which don't contain TPO, when the ban was first announced around the beginning of this month.
Experts also argue that instead of focusing on TPO, the UV lamps used for manicures should be of more concern to clients, as they have been linked to skin cancer before.
Scientists therefore recommend wearing sunscreen on your hands before getting your nails done.
