Last updated: August 17, 2026
Interest in HEMA-Free nail products has been on the rise for some time now, and happily, there’s no shortage of options on the market. While it was once true that HEMA-free products didn’t perform quite as well as HEMA-based products, there’s been rapid development in the post-COVID era, and today the best on the market perform just as well — if not better — than their HEMA counterparts.
And there are good reasons behind the rise in popularity. While it’s still possible for professional salons to use HEMA-based nail products, many choose to use HEMA-free nail polish because of its increased safety and effectiveness. Plus, in the UK, it’s no longer possible for individual consumers to buy HEMA products because of the high risk of allergic reactions and dermatitis.
The leading HEMA-free nail polish brands are suitable for both professional and home use. In this post, we’ve rounded up the best HEMA-free brands available to UK and Ireland customers. Buy from the following, and you can have confidence that you’ll get exceptional, salon-worthy results.
1. Kohana Professional: Best Overall HEMA-Free Nail Products
There’s much to love about Kohana Professional, which was founded back in 2020 by Irish National Nail champion Kate Kruszynska. Boasting compliant, safe ingredients, Kohana’s range of HEMA free, salon-grade nail polish has won plenty of five-star reviews thanks to the quality and durability of the outcomes. When you choose Kohana, you don’t need to decide between aesthetics and performance; their expertly crafted nail polish has a proven track record of delivering outstanding results across the board, ensuring that nail salon professionals can provide their customers with the best of the best.
On the Kohana Professional website, you’ll find some 300 gel polish colours to choose from, as well as plenty of other nail tools and products. Try their products once, and it’s likely that they’ll quickly become your go-to HEMA-free nail polish brand of choice.
2. The Gelbottle Inc: Respected HEMA-Free Brand
The Gelbottle Inc. is one of the biggest gel nail brands in the UK. They originally built their success using a HEMA-based product, which is still available, though have recently pivoted to HEMA free products.
The new line of HEMA free products was battle-tested by founder Daisy Kalnina, who was determined to find an alternative that matched the original HEMA-based formula the closest. So far, they offer around 40 different colours, with others on the way. It’s a good option for salons who were already using nail products from The Gelbottle Inc, especially their patented Builder in a Bottle (BIAB) system, which works with their HEMA free products.
3. Halo Pure Nails: For Affordable HEMA Free Nail Polish Products
Halo Pure Nails has established itself as a big player in the HEMA free market. On their website, you’ll find more than 200 different colours available, the vast majority of which are available at a highly budget-friendly price point. Their products are trusted by nail salons thanks to the ease of application, durability, and how easy it is to remove the polish without causing damage to the nail.
The cure times are pretty fast, too. Reviews typically say that results last for around 2 – 3 weeks. In addition to a big range of HEMA free products, you’ll also find plenty of TPO free products as well.
4. Blue Sky Cosmetics: A Good Option For At-Home Nails
Blue Sky Cosmetics offers more than 1000 colours of HEMA-free nail polish, and have won plenty of positive reviews thanks to the ease of application. While you’ll find some professional salons that use Blue Sky Cosmetics products, they’re most popular with DIYers comfortable with doing their own nails at home.
On their website, you’ll find ‘Build Your Own Starter Kit’ packages which provide everything needed to do your nails at home. We also liked that their site features plenty of educational content that discusses nail trends, regulatory changes, and other useful information. You can sign up for a monthly subscription that sends a different product your way each month. Delivery over £15 is free.
5. Canni: Budget-Friendly HEMA Free Nail Polish
Canni has become a favoured option for budget-conscious buyers looking for reliable HEMA free nail polish. Part of why their products are so highly thought of is that they are original creations; unlike some other brands that modified their existing nail polish gels to become HEMA free, Canni still operates its original line of HEMA-based products.
Canni’s products are highly affordable, retailing at around £3.99 per bottle. Just be sure to check the reviews of the product you’re thinking of buying; some formulations are better reviewed than others.
6. Glitterbels: Good For Brand Identity
Glitterbels has an unusual history in that it was created by a beauty influencer. It’s the creation of nail artist Annabel Maginnis, and has gone on to become one of the leading HEMA-free nail polish brands.
It’s convenient because of the extremely short curing time; provided you have the Glitterbels lamp, you can expect a cure time of around 60 seconds. There’s also a wide range of colours available, currently 150.
7. Light Elegance: HEMA Free Nail Polish Made From Scratch
We liked Light Elegance because of its commitment to creating products that are as safe as possible. All their products are made in-house, and go beyond simply being HEMA-free. They also avoid HEA and IBOA, other ingredients that are believed to trigger skin reactions. While a high quality product that yields great results, it’s also true that Light Elegance products are some of the most expensive on the market, which may mean they’re not the best option for many salons that need to balance quality with profitability.
Rounding Up The Best HEMA-Free Nail Polish Brands
With HEMA-free nail polish products increasingly popular, it’s no surprise that there are so many great options on the market. And as you’ve seen, there’s a brand for everyone. From the professionalism and quality products from Kohana Professional to the budget-friendly options from Canni, both salons and home DIY nail enthusiasts will find that there’s an option for them.
