What's Actually in Our Wraps? HEMA-Free, TPO-Free, Vegan and Cruelty-Free, Explained
Share
"HEMA-free." "TPO-free." They're on our box, our website and every product page. But if you've ever read those words and quietly wondered what on earth they mean, you're in good company.
So let's clear it up. No chemistry degree needed.
What is HEMA?
HEMA (short for hydroxyethyl methacrylate) is one of the most common ingredients in traditional gel polish. It helps the gel stick to your nail and gives it that tough, long-lasting finish.
The catch? HEMA is a well-known skin sensitiser. With repeated contact, some people develop an allergy to it. That can look like itchy, red or swollen skin around the nails, lifting nails, or irritation on the fingertips.
Once you're allergic, it's usually for life. And because related ingredients turn up in some dental and medical materials, it's an allergy worth avoiding in the first place.
That's why our wraps are HEMA-free. Beautiful nails shouldn't come with a risk you never signed up for.
What is TPO?
TPO (trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide, if you want to win a pub quiz) is a photoinitiator. In plain words, it's the ingredient that reacts to UV light and makes liquid gel harden under a salon lamp.
In September 2025, the European Union banned TPO from all cosmetic products, gel nail polish included. Regulators classified it as a possible reproductive toxin after animal studies raised concerns. It was a precautionary move, but a clear one: salons across the EU had to stop using TPO products straight away.
TPO is still allowed in many countries outside Europe. We'd simply rather not use it.
Our wraps are TPO-free, and with our Pre-Cured Technology the gel is fully hardened before it ever reaches you. There's no lamp step, and no curing happening on your nail.
What "vegan" means for us
No animal-derived ingredients go into The Nourish Range. That's it. No hidden extras, no fine print.
What "cruelty-free" means for us
Our wraps are not tested on animals, at any stage, by us or on our behalf. Self-care should feel good for everyone involved.
And what about acetone?
Acetone isn't in our wraps; it's what most people use to get traditional gel off. Soaking in it dries out the nail and the skin around it, and it's usually followed by filing or scraping.
Our wraps don't need it. They lift away with nourishing cuticle oil from your Renew Oil Pen. No soaking, no scraping, no thinning of the nail plate.
Why we care this much
We started Nail Therapy because we were tired of beauty that quietly took something from us. Thinner nails. Sore cuticles. Ingredient lists nobody explained.
So we built our wraps around what they don't do to your nail, not just what they do for it. Gentle by design, not just by name.
Good nails start with knowing what you're putting on them. Now you do.
pause . apply . reflect