The Truth Behind MMA

The Real Story Behind MMA Nail Liquid

Did you know that acrylic nails were discovered by mistake? Back in the 1950s, a dentist named Fred Slack broke his fingernail. He used a dental material called Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) to fix it. Because it worked so well, it became popular for fake nails too.

But here is the truth: MMA is a harmful chemical for your nails.

In the 1970s, many people complained that MMA was hurting their fingers and nails. After studying it, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that liquid MMA is a “dangerous and poisonous substance” and should not be used on nails.

Why Do Some Salons Still Use MMA?

Even though it’s dangerous, some places still use it because it is very cheap—much cheaper than the safe choice, Ethyl Methacrylate (EMA). They use it to save money, but it can turn customers away from getting nails done forever because of a bad experience.

Three Ways MMA Harms Your Nails

1. It’s Too Hard (OUCH!): MMA nails are tough, like bone cement. When you hit your nail, the acrylic won’t break—your natural nail underneath will break first! Safe nail products (like EMA) are supposed to crack or break before your real nail gets hurt.
2. It Wrecks the Nail Bed: To make MMA stick, a nail technician has to file your natural nail plate down way too much. This makes your nail thin and weak. Once the nail is weak, the tiny MMA molecules can soak into your nail bed, which can cause serious problems later.
3. It’s Hard to Remove: Taking off an MMA nail can take nearly two hours of soaking in remover, which is bad for your skin. Most of the time, technicians must use a harsh electric file (like a tiny drill) to grind it off. If they file too far, it can burn or seriously damage your real nail.

The Safe Choice is EMA

After MMA was found to be unsafe, salons needed a better solution. That’s where Ethyl Methacrylate (EMA) came in!

• EMA is safer: Many experts say EMA is safe for nail products.
• EMA is flexible: It will crack or break before your natural nail does.
• EMA is easy to remove: You can soak it off easily in about 20 minutes using acetone.

As nail professionals you are trusted to do what is right by and for your customers, especially when they don’t know any better. Every good nail technician must choose products that are safe, like EMA. All it takes is one dangerously poor experience at a salon before the entire industry loses a customer, potentially forever. We, together, have to consistently put the duty to do right by our clients and customers at the top of the priority list.