Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is a liquid acrylic monomer that is prohibited in Texas nail services. It appears in 16 TAC §83.112's list of banned products and practices, alongside credo blades, stick alum, and formaldehyde fumigants.
The detail that catches salons: possession alone is a violation. An inspector does not need to prove MMA was used on a client — having it on the premises is enough. In a May 2026 administrative order, a Cherokee County nail salon was penalized $1,000 for being "in possession of bottles containing methyl methacrylate monomer." TDLR's enforcement plan classes MMA possession or use as a Class C violation, carrying penalties of $2,000–$5,000 and/or up to license revocation.
MMA is a chemical-safety staple of manicurist CE for exactly this reason: products containing it are still sold, and a licensee who does not check labels can inherit a violation with a single supply order. The sanitation hour's chemical safety content and the elective chemistry topics both cover it, along with the rest of the §83.112 prohibited list.
What it means for your renewal
Check what is in your acrylic system before an inspector does. If a product lists methyl methacrylate, it has no legal place in a Texas salon — used or not.
The chemical safety rules are covered in the 4-hour cosmetology and barber CE course — $22.95, no final exam.
Authority: 16 TAC §83.112