Don’t panic (yet), but your next gel manicure appointment might look a little different. From 1 September, the European Union officially banned TPO, a chemical commonly found in gel nail polish, after linking it to serious health risks like cancer and reproductive harm. Translation? A huge chunk of your go-to gel shades are suddenly off the shelves — and salons are being told to bin their leftover stock immediately.

Before you book your flight to the US for a manicure (where, by the way, the product is still totally legal), here’s what you need to know. Not every gel formula contains TPO, but enough of them do that it’s sending beauty lovers into a tailspin. And TikTok? Absolutely divided. Half the girlies are cheering for healthier nails and a nostalgic return to classic polish, while the other half are already hunting for safe gel alternatives that don’t skimp on shine.

To make things more interesting, stories of gel allergies have been trending on social feeds too — with users swapping horror stories about skin reactions, itching, and long recovery times. Suddenly, that glossy mani doesn’t feel so effortless.

So what’s next? The beauty industry will, of course, adapt (it always does). Expect a wave of “EU-compliant” gel polishes landing soon. In the meantime, this might be your sign to revisit the humble bottle of normal polish, or even experiment with chic press-ons until the dust settles.