Buyer beware!

Please read the following informatiuon regarding an ingredient that is found to be used in some acrylic powders. The product is MMA, or Methyl Methacrylate. This product was never designed to be used in nail enhancements and can cause some pretty serious health issues. It was for use in the dental and medical industries.

Some of the risks with being exposed to this substance are;

Nail infections

Respiratory problems and eye, nose and throat irritations

Permanent nail deformities

Severe allergic reactions

MMA vapours are toxic, even in small amounts. "The surface bond of MMA is so strong to the soft tissue that even a slight trauma to the nail can cause the nail to break and lift off the nail bed. This can result in serious nail breaks, infection and loss of the nail plate." Do you really want to have permanent damage to your nails?

The reason it has been used as it is supposedly stonger than the much safer ingredient, EMA, Ethyl Methacrylate. EMA was developed for the use in acrylic nails, and does not carry the same associated health risks. MMA is considerably cheaper than EMA, so when you are after a high, fast turnover of clients such as a discount or non standard nail salon, price is of the utmost importance. They opt for a cost saving over the safety of the client.

The product is also extremely difficult to remove, normally an acrylic powder can be soaked off in acetone in about 20 minutes, not so when it has MMA in it, it is nearly impossible to get off. Generally an electric file is needed to remove the product which could also lead to damage of the nail plate. Use of an electric drill does not mean they are using MMA, they are often used for speed as hand filing takes considerably longer.

MMA has a very strong smell, I am sure you have all walked past a nail salon and you can smell the acrylic, that is a good indication that they are using an acrylic powder with MMA in it. You will also see them wearing masks, this is not always to protect vhem from the dust when filing the enhancements, but to protect them from the poisonous fumes!

You can soon tell if something is amiss as the acrylic powder will be in unlabelled containers, they decant the powder into plain containers.

Price of their acyrlic nailks is generaloly a lot cheaper than going to a reputable salon. Don't be fooled by how cheap a set of acrylics is, just remember that it cost you your haelth or permanent damage to your nails.

Australia has no regulations for nail technicians, anyone can set themselves up. A good salon will ask you some questions about your health, and will be pleased to explain their hygiene processes. A salon should also carry Material Safety Data Sheets on all their products that they have in the salon. They should also be able to show you evidence of their training and course they have attended.

Things to do if you go to a discount salon;

Ask what product they use for their acrylic powder and liquid and ask to see the original containers.

If there is a very strong smell, do not have acrylic nails put on, pay a bit more and go to a reputable salon.

When in doubt, pay the extra and go to a trained nail techinician or beauty therapist.

I hope this has been informative.

Reference Nails Magazine Article