Need to know
There will be new rules for anyone who has their nails done in a salon – or even does them at home – in the UK from August. Updated UK cosmetics regulations are outlawing a specific chemical ingredient called TPO
All you need to know about the new UK nail gel ban
- Many people love getting their nails done and showing them off in person or online. However, there will be new rules for anyone who has their nails done in a salon – or even does them at home – in the UK from August. Updated UK cosmetics regulations are outlawing a specific chemical ingredient called TPO (Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide), which is commonly found in UV and LED-cured gel nail systems.
- The phased restriction for Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) begins in August. By August 15, 2026, manufacturers and importers can no longer place new batches of TPO-containing products onto the UK market. By February 14, 2027, retailers, wholesalers, and distributors must completely stop selling or supplying old stock containing TPO to salons or the public.
- TPO is a photoinitiator. It acts like a catalyst that reacts to UV/LED lamp light, instantly turning liquid gel into a hard, glossy, chip-resistant finish. The ingredient is being restricted because it has been reclassified as a Category 1B Reproductive Toxicant (CMR). Under UK and European cosmetics laws, any chemical given a 1A or 1B CMR classification is automatically banned from cosmetic formulas as a strict precautionary measure.
- Health experts, including the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA), emphasise that current TPO-containing gels are not inherently unsafe for normal salon or at-home use. The ban is based on toxicology studies where rats orally ingested massive doses of the chemical.
- Humans do not eat nail gel. When applied topically to the nail plate, TPO is present in tiny percentages (usually 1–3%) and becomes permanently trapped and sealed within the solid polymer structure once cured. Uncured TPO does have strong skin-sensitising properties, meaning messy applications where wet gel repeatedly touches your skin can cause contact allergies.
- You do not need to cancel your upcoming nail appointments. Because the European Union implemented this exact ban on September 1, 2025, most global and reputable UK nail brands—such as CND, GellifiQue, and Glossify—already spent the last couple of years reformulating their lines to be entirely TPO-free.
- Your nail technician is legally allowed to continue using their existing, safely purchased bottles of gel polish on you through the rest of the year. As brands swap TPO for newer alternative photoinitiators, you might notice very slight variations in curing times or product textures, but the safety and availability of gel manicures will remain unchanged.
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