Health & Safety Warning:

 

What is MMA?

It is an abbreviation for Methyl Methacrylate Monomer, which is the liquid used with acrylic powder to produce acrylic nails.

But it is not the type of acrylic you want on your nails.

 

MMA is dental acrylic. It is what they make false teeth and crowns out of.

However, some dentists are now starting to use other products as they fear what MMA does to their clients.

 

MMA is also used in industry to hold concrete together and glue tiles to floors etc. 

 

MMA History

Back in the early days of acrylic nails MMA was the only stuff available to enhance nails with and was purchased via the dental industry.

However, it did not take long for it to start causing problems and by the early 1970´s, there had been so many complaints about the product (due to women suffering from allergic reactions to it, and/or had major trauma to their own nails) that the FDA (Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act) became involved.

 

The FDA reviewed the complaints it was receiving and did some research, which resulted in them declaring MMA to be “poisonous and deleterious substance”, and cannot be used on nails.

So by 1974 it was suppose to be taken off the shelves in America! An alternative was found – EMA (Ethyl Methacrylate Monomor) – only one letter difference but a big difference in the molecule!

EMA=Ethyl Methacrylate

 

EMA was created to be a safer, more flexible acrylic that is more likely to break under the stress. Unlike MMA which is ridged and difficult to break, so your own nail takes the stress of any injury.

 

Unfortunately MMA is still available because it gets used for so many other things other than nails, and because it is extremely cheap. It is easy to see why some nail salons prefer MMA – big profit margins.
and it will continue to be used as a cheap option.

 

In an acrylic nail service, the product that is required most is liquid. If the liquid costs around $200 per gallon, how can the salon keep their prices so low, especially if they are located in a high rent place?

The most costly expenses in owning a salon are rent, salaries, and products.

If the prices are low, where are they cutting costs? Are they compromising safety by using unlicensed technician? Are they using less expensive products that are not safe just to keep costs down? ASK THEM.

 

Low price of fills and full sets 

(MMA is 1/6th the price of EMA)

 

・No professional supplier sells MMA 

・No professional insured salon would use MMA.

Insurers should be made aware of the immense liability these salons carry.

This liability could cause the rest of the professional industries premiums to increase. 

 

Now you can see why some nail salons offer nails at $35 for a full set.

 

The molecules in the monomer (liquid) are so tiny that they can get into your skin by soaking through the nail plate. This means that your body is more likely to notice the foreign substance and revolt! - Which is essentially what an allergic reaction is.