Are nail bars damaging our health?
I always felt there was something sinister going on in those nail parlours that are cropping up all over the place; and I'm not just talking about the disturbing designs they like to paint on women's oversized talons! No, I'm refering to the smell, that waft of chemical wrongness that hits you in the face every time you walk past one.
And it seems I was on to something, because health experts have pointed an 'accusing finger' at nail bars this week, claiming they are risking the health of their customers by using a range of unregulated, harmful chemicals...
Currently, one of the UK's leading nail care specialists and a group of MPs are calling for all nail bars to controlled more effectively before it is too late. The most damaging treatment is said to be having false acrylic nails fitted because there is no 'glue' available which is 100 per cent certain not to damage nails. Most commonly used is a substance called methyl methacrylate (MMA), a substance already banned in the US because of health concerns.
Members of staff in nail salons are expected to wear protective gloves or masks when using the product although it is being applied directly to the client's skin and nails. In the United States there is concern that long-term exposure to the chemical can lead to permanent respiratory and liver damage; hardly a risk worth taking for tarted-up nails!
If you're concerned about the chemicals used in nail polish but still want your fingertips to sparkle (a summer ritual for many of us!), why not check out Sante nail varnish, which uses none of the chemicals causing concern.
Abi - some of your info above isn't correct, MMA is used in very few salons, most salons wouldn't dream of using such a harsh and damaging product. Its used by a very small minority of salons.
NONE of the major European or US brands for acrylic nail products use MMA.
Your article makes it sound like all nail bars offering acrylics use MMA - that isn't true.
The MP in question has a local issue she is trying to address. It has been widely publicised in the nail industry press, the industry are right behind her, asking for regulation and if needed licenses for premises to give nail services.
All of your readers can very easily spot MMA salons, a full set of nail enhancements should cost over £30.00, if a nail bar opens offering cheap extensions and its not just an opening special offer then you may have grounds to ask which brand of acrylic they use and probe a bit deeper.
All that said, everyone is better off growing their own, there are a lot of brands out there alongside Sante who make great non toxic nail polishes, from Suncoat who are solvent free, to Mavala who have been making the best quality low tox polish for over 40 years. This year has seen an explosion on nail polish brands offering DBP and Toluene, Formaldehyde free products. Its fantastic news for consumers and nail professionals alike.
Best Wishes, Naomi
Posted by: Naomi Andersson | August 10, 2008 9:11 PM