The products we use are made from many chemicals, but the main one in most of these products is ethyl methacrylate (EMA). In 1974 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) outlawed a similar chemical, methyl methacrylate (MMA). MMA was deemed harmful to nail technicians and customers.

Both MMA and EMA can cause contact dermatitis, asthma, and allergies in the eyes and nose – all problems that nail technicians know about – heck, we’ve just been studying Chemical Hazards. Both can make the eyes, nose, and other mucous membranes sting, become red, and swell when used incorrectly. Neither is completely innocent. As we know, it is best to control your exposure before you become sensitized to any chemical.

What are the facts?

• Liquid monomer is a chemical substance that reacts and hardens when mixed with powdered acrylic. MMA and EMA are variations of it.
• MMA liquid monomer was a commonly used ingredient in artificial nail products for many years, as EMA liquid is now.
• Both EMA and MMA are safely used in Acrylic Powders, even now. Unlike liquid MMA monomer, powder MMA polymers are considered safer because they will not penetrate the skin and do not pose the same risks as liquid MMA.

Why would someone choose to use MMA?

• MMA liquid is much cheaper than EMA liquid – as in, $20/litre compared to $220/litre
• MMA is much stronger than EMA, so client’s nails don’t break.

Why shouldn’t I use MMA?

• MMA is much stronger than EMA, so client’s nails don’t break. But wait, wasn’t this just on the Pros list? Yes, it was. Nail Bars who use MMA will promote the strength of their enhancements and uneducated clients will praise them for their strength. However, this strength also means zero flexibility, and that means, those nails won’t break when you need them to. For example, if you slam your hand in a car door, the MMA won’t break easily, therefore your entire natural nail is likely to come away from your finger. If that enhancement was EMA, the enhancement would take the force of the impact, breaking itself and leaving your natural nail far more intact.
• Liquid MMA monomer does not bond well to the natural nail without heavy filing with coarse abrasives, which may cause damage to the nail plate and bed – salons who use MMA liquid often prep the natural nail with an e-file/drill whereas EMA salons need only use a soft buffer.
• Nails made with liquid MMA are extremely hard to file. It’s like filing concrete!
• The odour of liquid MMA is much stronger than that of liquid EMA, and you will notice the effects very quickly.
• The removal of MMA is very different to EMA> EMA disintegrates with acetone. MMA turns to a weird jelly/chewing gum kind of consistency and gets EVERYWHERE, leading to greater risk of over exposure. It takes much much longer to remove.

Let’s learn more about why MMA is deemed ‘the bad guy’ – 

• In the early 1970s, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received a number of personal injury complaints associated with the use of liquid MMA monomer for nails. After investigations and discussions with medical experts, the FDA concluded that liquid MMA monomer was a poisonous and harmful substance that should not be used in artificial nail products. Court rulings resulted in legal action against one firm, as well as several seizure actions and voluntary recalls to remove products containing liquid MMA monomer from the marketplace.
• Testing done on animals that had been exposed to high concentrations of liquid MMA monomer vapours suggests that excessive inhalation may cause damage to the respiratory system and to the liver.
• Across the United States, at least 30 states have restricted or banned the use of liquid MMA monomer. In New Zealand it is restricted but not illegal. Salons can still buy it in small quantities from sites like EBay and have it delivered to their New Zealand address.

Should I use MMA?

• If you’re taking all the right precautions – a ventilated table, commercial extraction, wearing gloves and a mask and long sleeves – chances are you won’t react to MMA anymore than you react to EMA but the level at which you can become overexposed is much lower. You are more likely to react to MMA for this reason.
• Techs who use MMA without some serious ventilation will experience dizziness, nausea and skin irritation. They would experience these with high concentrations of EMA exposure too, but as we said, it’s harder to reach ‘high’ levels of EMA exposure.
• I would never recommend that you use MMA liquid in salon. It doesn’t stick, it’s hard to file, and the risks of overexposure are higher.
• If a client comes in with MMA nails (How can we tell?) and wants them backfilled, you can choose to do this, taking extra precautions to avoid contact with the dust, and warning your client that backfilling one brand with another may lead to lifting or breakages.
• If a client comes in with MMA nails and wants them removed, you can choose to do this, taking extra precautions to avoid contact with the dust and vapours and booking extra time.
• Personally I do not backfill or remove MMA as I am more sensitive to all chemicals and noticeably react to MMA whereas I rarely react to EMA. This is a personal choice.