Is gel nail polish banned in the UK?

Are gel nails banned in the UK?

Other Side of the Story contacted Dr Naila Dinani, a consultant dermatologist at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. Dr Dinani appeared on the BBC Sounds Sliced Bread podcast to discuss nail polish and gels in August.

She explained further about the TPO ban: “TPO is being banned in the EU because scientists found it could be harmful if used in very high amounts over a long time. The actual risk from having your nails done is probably very low, but EU law says if a chemical is labelled as possibly harmful, it can’t be used in cosmetics.

“This doesn’t mean gel nails themselves are banned. Salons can still offer gel manicures – they just have to use different ingredients that don’t contain TPO. Many companies already have these alternatives.”

But what about a UK ban? Dr Dinani added: “In the UK, there isn’t a ban at the moment. But because we often follow the EU on safety rules, it’s quite possible the same change will come here in the future.”

There are some reports that a UK ban on TPO will follow in late 2026.