Hard as Nails

Why MMA should not be used:

MMA is solvent resistant - MMA does not soak off easily or in a reasonable length of time, causing undue exposure to acetone while soaking. Most Non-Standard salons (NSS*) will simply RIP the nails off or pry them off causing extreme damage to the natural nail plate. If a weakened nail plate or damaged nail plate is already present, (normal is when MMA is used) the exposure problems while soaking off MMA become a larger concern, not to mention the ill effects and pain of ripping off the enhancements. EMA should take about 20 minutes or less to soak off, while MMA will take two or more hours to remove by soaking in acetone.

Very hard as a cured substance. To remove, or maintain an MMA enhancement, a drill (electric file or e-file as we call it) will most often be used. E-files, used by a technician who has been fully trained, are not dangerous or harmful to the natural nail plate. However, many who use this tool are untrained and have been known to cause excessive damage to the nail plate - rings of fire - by drilling into the nail plate, sometimes THROUGH the nail plate into the nail bed (sometimes this causes permanent damage). Additionally, when a nail enhancement of MMA is banged or knocked, it has little to no flexibility and will break severely, often taking the nail plate with it. EMA is formulated to be flexible, the enhancement will break, sometimes the nail, but not usually damage the nail plate.

Poor adhesion - To make MMA adhere well to the nail, overly rough preparation methods are used. The nail plate is "roughed up" with a coarse file, creating in effect, a shag carpet look to the nail plate, giving the MMA something to adhere to. This process thins and weakens the nail plate allowing more chemicals to be absorbed through the weakened nail plate during application and curing time. All acrylic enhancements, while hard enough to file in 1-4 minutes, continue to cure for as long as 36-48 hours after application.

All 3 of the above items will cause weakened and or damaged nail plates, something we surely do not want to do.
Additionally:

Warning signs of MMA use:

MMA has an unusually strong or strange odour which doesn't smell like other acrylic liquids. Odor is present during application and when filing cured product (for fill-ins or repairs).

Enhancements which are extremely hard and very difficult to file even with coarse abrasives.

Enhancements that will not soak off in solvents designed to remove acrylics.

Unlabeled containers - technician will not show or tell the client what brand of product is being used

MMA is NOT a known carcinogenic (non-cancer)

MMA will be present in almost every acrylic powder on the market. This is entirely acceptable. Only MMA in it's liquid form is dangerous. MMA in acrylic powders is "poly-methyl methacrylate" (PMMA). Nail glues, wraps, and gels also have a small amount of solid PMMA, this is also acceptable in this chemical state. "..nail remover solutions will NOT break [PMMA] down into harmful free MMA molecules. Therefore, there is no reason to fear nail powders that contain PMMA." Paul Bryson, Codirector of R&D, OPI 3/99

Last note
Manicure services should NOT be painful. If the technician is causing you ANY pain, seek out another more qualified technician immediately, DO NOT allow the technician to continue the service. Seek out local Area Health and Safety offices or Trading Standard Agency and submit it promptly with photos if possible. Most councils will only act upon consumer complaints.
* A Non-Standard Salon (NSS) is usually lacking or one that follows poor sanitation practices, uses inferior and/or prohibited products, and under trained or non-licensed technicians.
With Thanks this Information comes from to Beauty Tech.Com
www.beautytech.com

Hard as Nails
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