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PRONAILS GELS ARE 100% TPO-FREE
This is what you need to know as a Professional Nail Technician! All ProNails products are now 100% TPO-free.
Since 1 June ProNails only sells TPO-free gels: Colour gels (Sopolish semi-permanent gel polish, Gellak, BCOLOUR), all-in-one B System Gels and also base gels, building gels and gloss gels in jars, from the ProNails Original Gel system.
In recent weeks, you saw a lot of info appearing on social media and the internet about the upcoming ban on TPO in nail products, unfortunately not all of it accurate.
TPO - Facts vs myths: this is what you need to know!
What is the real situation? We at ProNails will answer all your questions.
What is TPO? Is it safe and why will it be banned from September? Are TPO-free products just as good? How will this change for you in your salon? How can you talk to your clients about this? We discuss the difference between danger and risk and also look at where in the world the TPO ban applies.
Share this info with your clients too, reassure them with your expertise.
What is TPO?
What is TPO (Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide)?
TPO (Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide) is a photoinitiator. Thanks to TPO, the gel changes from liquid to solid when exposed to UV or LED light. It is a super-efficient molecule that ensures fast, deep and even curing, with a glossy, strong and homogeneous final result.
Therefore, TPO is widely used in various industries, so not only in the nail sector. Think of UV coatings, industrial adhesives, printing inks, dental applications (e.g. for dental fillings) and UV packaging. When the LED light hits TPO, the molecule splits into two active fragments: a phosphinyl radical and a benzyl radical. These radicals react with the double bonds of monomers and oligomers, starting a chain reaction. The gel turns into a solid, three-dimensional network structure.
During this process, TPO is completely used up: it does not remain intact and no longer exists in its original form. After curing, TPO can be incorporated into the cured structure or converted into harmless by-products. In either case, it remains locked up in the cured gel: it cannot evaporate, move or come into contact with the skin - it is like being sealed in a vault. Even if a tiny residue were not used up, it is mainly in the adhesive layer, where the unreacted molecules are, and in an amount of less than 0.1%.
Because although TPO is being removed from the market because of a legal choice, its use has never been dangerous for you or your customer. So you can use up your stock with a clear conscience until 1 September. Now, the EU is strict on cosmetics and is applying a precautionary measure in this case.
Why will TPO be banned as of September 1st, 2025?
From 1 September 2025, TPO may no longer be sold. Moreover, it has now been decided by the health inspectorate that TPO-containing products that were already in circulation may also no longer be used by professional nail salons. This ban on TPO is a consequence of the new classification of TPO as CMR category 1B, reproductive toxicity.
This classification was established by the European CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) regulation, which classifies chemicals by highest hazard, regardless of their use.
But what does CMR really mean, and why is this term so important?
CMR stands for:
- C = Carcinogenic → may promote the development of cancer
- M = Mutagenic → may cause genetic mutations
- R = Reproductive toxic → may impair fertility or embryonic development
TPO is not classified as carcinogenic or mutagenic, but as potentially toxic to reproduction, which is based on studies on animals. Tests that have long been banned in our industry, but unfortunately not in the chemical sector.
According to the European Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009, a substance classified as CMR category 1A or 1B is automatically banned in cosmetic products.
Important to know:
The ban on TPO for use in gel nails did not arise from reports or incidents in our industry, nor from clinical cases in nail salons. TPO came under scrutiny not because of skin contact, but because of its potential reproductive toxic effects when ingested in high concentrations. Even if you don't eat UV gels.
So… was it dangerous in cosmetics?
According to the European Consumer Safety Research Committee (SCCS): not.
In 2014, the study SCCS/1528/14 thoroughly evaluated the use of TPO in nail products and concluded that it was safe for professional use up to 5%.
The study was based on test results on skin, using very conservative safety margins, which is inconsistent as an additional safety margin on top of real salon conditions with the reality in nail salons:
- One assumed 4 grams of product per person, while in reality you use less than 1 gram of product for a full set of nails.
- It was assumed that after curing 1% TPO remains unreacted, in reality it is under 0.1%.
- It was assumed that the nail plate was 100% permeable and all the TPO residue would enter the body through the nail. But nails are a thousand times less permeable than skin, making actual absorption negligible.
This report concluded that using 5% TPO was safe for professional use, while we use lower concentrations in our formulas.
Moreover: once cured, TPO is no longer active. It has broken down and is either part of the cured gel or remains trapped in the cured gel where it cannot move or enter the skin.
The CLP regulation classifies chemical substances according to their highest potential hazard. In contrast, the European Cosmetics Regulation assesses the actual risk associated with actual use in a cosmetic product.
Compare it to sharp scissors: intrinsically dangerous - it can cut and cause injury. According to CLP logic, it should be classified as hazardous. But suppose an experienced hairdresser uses those same scissors correctly in the salon: he or she knows how to handle them, keeps them away from the skin and uses them only to cut hair. The risk according to cosmetic rules is then very low - because it depends on how, where and by whom it is used.
Just because something may be dangerous does not mean it actually is, in the way we use it. The CLP classification says: "Scissors are a dangerous object that can be used to inflict injuries!" The cosmetics regulation answers, "Yes, but not if it is used safely, by trained professionals, in a controlled environment."
You may be wondering: have I harmed my customers by using products containing TPO?
Absolutely not! That's why you can rest assured: every European product - including every ProNails product - has undergone a full safety assessment by a qualified toxicologist. If that assessment had not met the safety criteria, the product would never have appeared on the European market.
In which sectors will TPO be banned in the EU?
The TPO ban only applies to cosmetics - such as UV gel products for nails. TPO remains legal in industrial and medical applications, including printing, coatings, electronics and dental materials.
The ban on TPO goes into effect on 1 September 2025 and only applies to cosmetic products, according to the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
This means that any product falling under the legal definition of a cosmetic product - intended for external use on the human body (skin, nails, hair, etc.) - cannot contain TPO from that date.
Where does the ban NOT apply?
TPO remains permitted in the EU for other industries, such as:
- Printing inks (e.g. UV-cured packaging, labels)
- Industrial coatings & adhesives (e.g. wood finishing, optical adhesives)
- Electronics/PCB production (UV-cured solder masks)
- 3D printing resins
- Dental materials (medical devices)
Why?
The classification of TPO as a CMR substance category 1B under the CLP regulations requires a ban in cosmetics (according to Article 15 of the Cosmetics Regulation), but does not impose a ban in other industrial applications. So TPO may still be used in those sectors - but it will have to carry CMR warnings and stricter safety measures for workers.
Are TPO-free products just as good?
At ProNails? Definitely! Why? Our new TPO-free gels have been properly reformulated with the right and permitted TPO alternatives.
You cannot simply replace a photoinitiator with another with the same concentration. Alternatives - such as TPO-L - are less efficient at absorbing LED light. A smart, carefully studied and tested combination is needed to ensure the same efficiency, safety and aesthetics. Therefore, we have chosen to use several alternative photoinitiators: some individually, others in synergy, to achieve fast, deep and stable curing - just as before, or even better in some cases.
Some TPO substitutes may cause a slight, temporary starting yellowing that is only visible on very light or transparent colours. But don't worry, it disappears for good after a few hours.
Good news: these ingredients are much less prone to yellowing from sunlight exposure than traditional TPO. In the long run, colour stability is even better!
Is there a worldwide ban on TPO?
The TPO ban is not global, but limited to the European Economic Area (EEA). These are the 27 member states for the EU and 3 countries of the European Free Trade Association, being Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway. Within the EEA, the free movement of goods, services and people applies.
- Salons in the EU and EEA: must stop using TPO products from 1 September 2025.
- United Kingdom (UK): has been given one extra year; the ban there applies from September 2026.
- Rest of the world (US, Canada, Asia, Latin America, Australia, Balkans, Eastern Europe): no TPO ban; products containing TPO will continue to be allowed and sold normally.
Outside the EU, TPO is still allowed. However, you may still encounter TPO in your products there, so pay close attention to what products you purchase, especially online and when ordering outside the EU, because from 1 September it will be forbidden to use TPO in your salon. Be alert to this as you could face inspections.
How can you tell if a product contains TPO?
Check the INCI list on the product's label and look for Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide, which is TPO!
What can you do in practice?
- Start by checking the labels and separate products with TPO from those that are already TPO-free.
- If in doubt: look in the INCI; the name is long but recognisable → Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide. Be careful not to confuse it with authorised derivatives with similar names!
The ban does not come into effect until 1 September 2025. Until that date, you can continue to use TPO products.
How come you can no longer use your existing products either?
The implementation of this EU regulation is in the hands of national public health authorities. Because the regulation gave no explicit directive on products already on the market, and no official recall was imposed, contrasting interpretations arose between member states.
To arrive at a uniform approach, the inspectorates of all EU member states consulted on the matter at the PEMSAC (Platform of European Market Surveillance of Authorised Cosmetics) meeting on 17 June 2025. There, it was jointly decided that TPO-containing products already on the market will also no longer be authorised from 1 September 2025.
While the industry is only now gaining momentum, ProNails was already prepared. We had been working behind the scenes for quite some time to develop serious, tested and verified TPO-free formulations, because replacing a photoinitiator is no small matter: it means completely overhauling viscosity, chemical reactions, colour and curing times. Moreover, we have submitted an official report to the European Commission, explaining precisely and concretely the economic, environmental and distributional impact of these regulations on the nail industry. We know how far-reaching this change is for our sector. But as always, we are here for you - to guide you through this transition.
We will guide you in the transition to TPO-free!
Do you have any questions about this?
At ProNails, we love transparency and will guide you. Feel free to email info@pronails.com or call +32 (0)3 669 61 67. We will continue to support you with heart and soul, today, tomorrow and long afterwards.
Thank you for your trust!