The EU’s ban on use of TPO hasn’t reached the UK but Brownlie says it’s anticipated that it will follow by 2027. TPO is still widely available in the US but it’s likely that brands will reformulate their products to be globally compliant. The decision is based on a study that fed rats high quantities of TPO – hardly comparable, critics argue, to use on nails. But TPO is especially risky if it touches the skin, says nail artist Cherrie Snow. “A good manicurist will get close to the cuticle but never cure the product on the skin.” She also flags the dangers of ingesting or inhaling TPO, “particularly for nail technicians who are exposed to the chemical dust and vapours from uncured products”.