Is Gel Polish Really Being Banned? All Your Questions Answered

If you’ve been scrolling beauty news lately, you may have seen the headlines: gel nail polish is banned in Europe! But before you panic, let’s break it down because it’s not gel nails that are gone for good, it’s just one ingredient inside some polishes.

What Actually Got Banned?

As of September 1, 2025, the EU has banned an ingredient called TPO (trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide).

What does it do?
It’s a photoinitiator, which basically means it helps gel polish harden when cured under UV or LED light. Without it, gels wouldn’t get that long lasting, glossy finish we love.

Why was it banned?
The EU classified TPO as a possible health risk after animal studies linked very high doses to fertility issues. Even though the evidence isn’t about everyday nail use, Europe follows a strict “better safe than sorry” approach. So while you can still get gel nails in Europe, any polish containing TPO is now off the shelves.

How This Affects Salons in Europe

• Salons across the EU had to stop using products with TPO immediately.
• Brands now need to reformulate their gels using safer alternatives.
• Salons/ brands may need time to adjust, so you might notice certain shades disappearing until new formulas are released.

What About the UK?

Since Brexit, the UK isn’t tied to EU rules. But, this is important – the UK is planning to follow Europe’s lead, just at a slower pace. Right now, the ban doesn’t apply here, but the government has signalled that a similar rule could come into effect by late 2026. This gives salons and suppliers more time to switch products. So for now, your favourite gel mani in London, is safe. But expect gradual changes over the next couple of years.

And the US?

In the United States, nothing changes (yet). The FDA hasn’t banned TPO, because U.S. regulations usually wait for stronger proof of risk before pulling products. That said, because beauty brands often sell worldwide, many will reformulate globally to avoid making two versions of their gels. This means U.S. salons may start offering more TPO-free options anyway, even without a ban.

Should You Be Worried?
The truth is, the risks linked to TPO mostly come from lab tests that use extremely high doses, not from having a single gel manicure. Experts also explain that it’s unlikely TPO enters your bloodstream during normal nail use, so the everyday risk remains very low.

Some TPO-Free Gel Polish Brands

• Manucurist – Their Green Flash gel line was designed from the start without TPO (or other risky ingredients).
• OPI (Intelli-Gel / GELement systems) – OPI’s Intelli-Gel offers a TPO-free curing system, making it a solid alternative for salon use.
• Aprés Nails – Their Gel Couleur collection and Gel-X system include TPO-free / HEMA-free formulations, letting you get crisp, long lasting results safely.
• Twenty PRO – Twenty products have always been TPO-free. Twenty products give you high-quality, salon grade nails for those who want both performance and safety.

The Bottom Line

• Europe: Ban effective as of September 2025. No more TPO in gels as of now.
• UK: Planning a ban by 2026.
• US: No ban yet, but reformulations may come anyway.

So to answer your question, no, gel manicures aren’t gone forever, they’re just going through a little makeover behind the scenes.