INDUSTRY MATTERS
HOW TO SPOT A top-notch product
REBECCA HITCHON explores what makes nail products high-quality & fit for purpose
As the world’s number one resource for nails,
Scratch
sources expert insight on how to run a nail business in a competent and professional manner. A piece of advice that is often shared with us is ‘use high-quality nail products’, which might seem straightforward. However, in today’s saturated nail market, quality is a complex issue that requires unpacking. From ingredients to in-house support and labelling to UK and EU law, read on to discover what quality means in the professional nail realm.
What is a high-quality product?
“A high-quality product is one that performs as expected without causing unanticipated consequences,” comments Jim McConnell, co-owner & head chemist at Light Elegance. “A high-quality product will stay on a client’s nails with reasonable expectations and certainty, and not negatively impact the natural nail.”
Jim McConnell
“Quality is about more than how a product looks, its ingredients and how it performs in the short term – it’s about long-term safety, performance and trust,” notes Theresa Foddering, nail industry consultant, founder of the Saviour™ nailcare brand & recipient of the Scratch Stars Shooting Star Award 2025. “A high-quality nail product will perform consistently, be backed by credible science and manufactured to meet safety and regulatory standards, with ongoing support available.”
Theresa Foddering
Why quality matters
Hazel Dixon
“High-quality products directly impact nail results, safety and client satisfaction, and using them demonstrates a commitment to professionalism – which builds a strong reputation, trust and encourages word of mouth referrals,” shares Hazel Dixon, multi award-winning nail artist, educator & founder of HD Professional Nail Systems. Of course, manufacturer guidelines should be followed when applying products, consultations should always be given to determine the appropriateness of the products for the client, and care must be taken during the application and removal processes.
Hazel continues: “By using high-quality products, techs reduce the risk of allergies, maintain the integrity of the natural nail and skin, achieve faster and easier application, and save time and product used for reapplication and repairs.”
“The most important reason for using high-quality products is to ensure the safety of professionals and clients,” says Caroline Rainsford, director of science at the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA). “Reputable brands that comply with legislation invest a lot of expertise to ensure products deliver on their promises, as they want customers to be satisfied, spread the word and be loyal to them.”
Caroline Rainsford
“A high-quality product will be safe – and while safety starts in the lab, education is required to ensure pros know how to use products as intended.”
Ifra Siddique
Signs of a low-quality product
Ifra Siddique
“Common signs of a low-quality product are poor performance, such as short wear, an unusual and challenging consistency, patchy pigment and overpowering odour, as well as incomplete labelling and vague product claims,” explains Ifra Siddique, product & scientific director at The GelBottle Inc. “A high-quality product will be safe – and while safety starts in the lab, education is required to ensure pros know how to use products as intended.”
Jim McConnell emphasises the link between quality and education. “If a brand does not offer education or technical support for its products, I would avoid it completely,” he says. “Also look at pricing: if you can order nail products for an extremely low cost, this can be a negative sign.
“In terms of ingredient quality, there are some simple checks you can carry out,” Jim continues. “I look for the content of oligomer molecules in a product’s ingredient list. Oligomers have long names such as Bis-HEMA Poly(1,4-butanediol)-9/IPDI Copolymer. If the ingredient list has a few oligomers at the start, the product will likely cause a lower exothermic reaction, so generate less heat when curing. It will also have better tensile and elongation strength and be more durable. Strength and durability are less when an ingredient list starts with Acrylates Copolymer, followed by monomers such as HEMA, HPMA, Isobornyl Acrylate or HEA.”
Caroline Rainsford adds: “Common signs of an illegal product in the UK include labels that are not written in English, are missing legally required warnings such as ‘for professional use only’, and don’t include the name of a UK or EU-based ‘Responsible Person’, who is legally responsible for the product’s safety.”
The CTPA provides information on what should be included on a product label and how to spot counterfeit products.
“High-quality products directly impact nail results, safety and client satisfaction, and using them demonstrates a commitment to professionalism.”
Hazel Dixon
Accessing information
“To find facts to determine a product’s quality, start with the brand’s website,” advises Theresa Foddering. “A professional brand should – and should want to – provide ingredient listings and details about compliance. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about product testing, allergens and regulatory status.”
“A safety data sheet (SDS) should be available for every nail product and outline 16 key sections, including composition, hazard identification and handling instructions,” adds Ifra Siddique. “While an SDS alone won’t tell you if a product performs well, it’s a legal requirement and good test of supplier credibility.”
“Clear information on application, removal and recommended curing equipment and times, if applicable, will be provided by high-quality brands,” says Hazel Dixon. “Easy access to educator support, tutorials and product helplines will also be accessible.”
PROFESSIONAL POINTERS
“The standard for professional nail products is that their formulations contain a higher concentration of stabilisers than products sold direct to consumer,” shares Jim McConnell. “At McConnell Labs, we have tested nail brands that sell supposed professional products direct to consumers. We found that they use ingredients not seen in the ingredient lists and at levels we would not advise.”
Brand compliance
“Most nail products are legally classed as cosmetics in the UK if they are intended to change the nails’ appearance, protect them or keep them in good condition. This means they need to comply with the UK Cosmetics Regulation,” notes Caroline Rainsford. “Nail glues, press-on nails and products intended to treat nail issues do not meet the definition of a cosmetic, so fall under different regulatory frameworks.”
Caroline continues: “The UK Cosmetics Regulation is a detailed law with the primary purpose of ensuring products are safe. Products that do not meet its requirements will not have undergone strict processes to ensure their safety and effectiveness. The law also contains requirements for labelling, notifying the UK authorities about products and good manufacturing practice (GMP), and it protects consumers from misleading claims.”
Theresa Foddering adds: “The UK Cosmetics Regulation requires a Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) completed by a qualified assessor, ingredient traceability, stability testing, microbiological testing for water-based products and a nominated Responsible Person. Products must also be listed on the SCPN (Submit Cosmetic Product Notification) before being placed on the market. This is the UK government’s online portal – equivalent to the EU’s Cosmetic Products Notification Portal (CPNP).”
Hazel Dixon adds that brands must prepare a Product Information File (PIF) for the Regulation. “This includes full product details, safety assessments, manufacturing processes and proofs of claims,” she reveals.