UK gel nail ban: What it means and what has changed

Manicure lovers may be panicking that their favourite treatment is set to disappear from UK salons under the new gel nail ban. A key ingredient used to make many brands of gel nail polish has been banned in England, Wales, and Scotland. The regulation only bans one ingredient—Trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO), commonly known as a photoinitiator, which allows gel polish to cure under ultraviolet (UV) light, making the varnish more durable and preserving colour longer. Although called the ‘gel nail ban,’ the regulation only bans TPO. This ingredient has been banned in the European Union since September 1, 2025, but in the UK, the ban came into effect on Saturday, preventing manufacturers from selling new products containing TPO. However, the ban is gradual, with the deadline for salons to stop using TPO set for Valentine’s Day 2027. Salons can continue using existing stock until February 2027, but they won’t be able to purchase new TPO-containing products. The ingredient is not used in traditional air-dried polishes, and many TPO-free gels are already available. While some alternatives belong to the same chemical family, different compounds have varying safety ratings. Several animal studies have linked TPO to long-term fertility damage and reproductive issues. However, Caroline Rainsford, Director of Science at The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA), clarified that the amount used in nail products is over a thousand times less than the amount posing any negative effect on fertility, and the risk of absorption is minimal. TPO remains legal in the US, Australia, and Asia. The ban does not affect nail salons’ ability to offer gel manicures until Valentine’s Day 2027.