HEMA free gel nail strips in the UK: what it means and how to check
By Velvora · Checked 14 October 2026
In short
HEMA free gel nail strips are made without HEMA (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), the acrylate most often behind gel nail allergies. HEMA free is not the same as acrylate free, so other acrylates can still cause a reaction. Velvora's semi-cured gel strips are HEMA free and TPO free, and come off with cuticle oil rather than acetone.
What is HEMA?
HEMA is short for 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. It is one of the acrylates, the family of chemicals that gel nail products are made from. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute names HEMA and Di-HEMA as acrylates used in UV gel nail treatments that can act as allergens.
In 2018 the British Association of Dermatologists warned of a rise in acrylate allergy linked to gel and acrylic nails, and named 2-HEMA as the acrylate that most often causes allergic sensitisation. It said allergy can start when uncured product touches the skin, that curing too little can raise the risk, and it urged people to be particularly careful with gel home kits: use the recommended lamp and read the instructions.
Why people choose HEMA free
A reaction to nail acrylates is a form of allergic contact dermatitis. The NHS describes contact dermatitis as a type of eczema triggered by contact with a substance, with skin that becomes itchy, blistered, dry and cracked. The British Association of Dermatologists says a reaction to nail acrylates can loosen the nails or cause a severe red, itchy rash, and not only on the fingertips.
The Trading Standards factsheet warns that an acrylate allergy can cause skin damage and lifelong side effects. Because HEMA is the acrylate most often involved, many people prefer to avoid it from the start, and HEMA free has become one of the first things UK buyers look for.
What HEMA free does and does not mean
HEMA free is a useful label, but it is narrower than it sounds. Here is what it does and does not tell you.
- It does mean the brand says HEMA is not in the formula.
- It does not mean acrylate free. Gel is made from acrylates, and the Trading Standards factsheet points out that products advertised as HEMA free can contain other powerful acrylates.
- It does not mean nobody can react. If you already know you are allergic to HEMA or other acrylates, speak to a GP or pharmacist before using any gel product, HEMA free or not.
- If you are unsure how your skin will respond, patch test: wear one strip on one nail for a day or two before you do a full set.
- Stop if you notice itching, redness, swelling or a rash around the nails or elsewhere. Take the strips off with oil, and speak to a pharmacist, or a GP if it is severe, keeps coming back or does not settle.
How to check a brand's HEMA free claim
A keyword in a listing title is not the same as a clear statement from the brand. These checks take a couple of minutes.
- Look for the HEMA statement on the brand's own product or safety page, not only on a marketplace listing.
- Read the published ingredients for HEMA, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate or Di-HEMA.
- If a brand publishes no ingredients at all, ask before you buy.
- Check the instructions tell you to keep the gel off your skin and give a clear lamp and cure time, since uncured gel on the skin and under-curing are the known risks.
- Be wary of sweeping promises. No gel product can promise that nobody will ever react.
The ingredients Velvora publishes
Velvora's semi-cured gel strips are HEMA free and TPO free. Velvora also describes them as 14-Free, vegan and cruelty-free, and the brand is CPNP registered and REACH compliant.
The ingredients Velvora publishes on its product pages are Acrylates Copolymer, Polyurethane Acrylate Oligomer, CI Pigments / Mica and Silica, plus a photoinitiator. That is not a full ingredient list, and it shows the strips do contain acrylates, as gel does. If you need more detail for an allergy check, email support@velvora.co.uk before you order.
Why application and removal matter
Because uncured gel on the skin and under-curing are the known routes to an allergy, how you apply a strip matters as much as what is in it. Place each strip a hairline off the skin, trim and file away any overhang, then cure for about 60 seconds under a UV or LED lamp, curing thumbs on their own. Very dark or glittery shades can need an extra 15 to 30 seconds.
Gentle removal matters too. Velvora strips come off with a few drops of cuticle oil round the edges: wait, lift an edge with a wooden stick and peel slowly. No acetone is needed. Never peel a strip off dry, as that can take layers of nail with it.
| Brand | Where it sells | HEMA statement | Removal, as the brand states it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Velvora | velvora.co.uk, UK delivery | HEMA free (and TPO free) | Cuticle oil and a wooden stick, no acetone |
| MoYou London | moyou.co.uk and Boots | HEMA free stated | Cuticle oil and a wooden stick |
| Hello Nails | hellonails.co.uk, UK stock and dispatch | HEMA free stated | Cuticle oil and a cuticle stick |
| Holy Gels | holygels.com, priced in pounds, UK warehouse | HEMA free stated | Any cuticle oil, no acetone |
| Holy Grail Nail (gel wraps) | holygrailnail.com | HEMA free stated | Acetone soak, with an oil method as an option |
| Maniko | maniko-nails.co.uk | HEMA free stated | Maniko remover pen or serum |
| Mylee (gel wraps) | mylee.co.uk, Boots and Superdrug | HEMA free stated | Remover oil and a stick |
| ohora | ohora.com (US store, US dollars); UK stockists such as PureSeoul | None found | Not stated on the product page |
| Dashing Diva Glaze | dashingdiva.com (US store, US dollars) | None found | Cuticle oil and a manicure stick |
HEMA statements and removal methods as published by each brand when checked on 9 October 2026 for our ohora comparison. "Stated" means the brand says so; Velvora has not tested other brands' products. A HEMA free statement does not mean a product is acrylate free, so check the brand's page before you buy.
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Questions
What does HEMA free mean on gel nail strips?+
It means the brand says its formula contains no HEMA (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), the acrylate most often linked to gel nail allergies. It does not mean the strips are acrylate free: gel is made from acrylates, and HEMA free products can contain other acrylates that may still cause a reaction.
Can you still be allergic to HEMA free gel strips?+
Yes, it is possible. Trading Standards points out that products advertised as HEMA free can contain other powerful acrylates. If you know you are allergic to acrylates, speak to a GP or pharmacist before using any gel. If you are unsure, patch test one strip on one nail first.
Are Velvora gel nail strips HEMA free?+
Yes. Velvora's semi-cured gel strips are HEMA free and TPO free, and Velvora describes them as 14-Free, vegan and cruelty-free. The brand is CPNP registered and REACH compliant. Like all gel, the strips do contain acrylates, so patch test first if you are unsure.
What ingredients are in Velvora gel strips?+
The ingredients Velvora publishes on its product pages are Acrylates Copolymer, Polyurethane Acrylate Oligomer, CI Pigments / Mica and Silica, plus a photoinitiator. This is not a full ingredient list. If you need more detail for an allergy check, email support@velvora.co.uk before you order.
What should I do if my skin reacts to gel nail strips?+
Stop wearing them and take them off gently with cuticle oil rather than peeling them dry. The NHS says to speak to a pharmacist if contact dermatitis is troubling you, and to see a GP if symptoms are severe, keep coming back or do not settle.
Do HEMA free gel strips still need a UV lamp?+
Yes. Semi-cured gel strips, HEMA free or not, need a UV or LED lamp to harden. Velvora strips need about 60 seconds a hand, thumbs separately. A full cure matters, because under-cured gel is one of the known routes to an acrylate allergy.