Bristol salon owner's fears over nail glue

A Bristol beauty salon owner is calling on the UK government to follow America's example and ban a potentially harmful chemical glue used in some "factory line" nail bars.

Lisa Charnley-Ward, the owner of Pampered in Brentry, said more and more young girls were coming to her with holes in their nails, dents, and bleeding nail beds.

She says it is the result of getting artificial nail extensions in nail bars, a recent import from the US.

The 39-year-old said that the majority of these nail bars use methyl methacrylate (MMA) because it is cheap to buy, but it can cause permanent nail damage.

When the MMA sets it becomes rigid and instead of coming off if it is caught, it can tear off the natural nail.

In some cases the false nail is so difficult to remove it has to be filed off, causing serious damage to the natural nail below.

She told the Evening Post: "I've had a number of girls come in with nails drilled right down.

"They have no idea what damage they are doing to their nails.

"I've seen five to six layers taken from a nail right down to the nail bed.

"I've seen holes in the nail bed, dents, nails sore and bleeding. This can all lead to infection."

MMA is banned in nail bars in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, but there is no such ban in this country.