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Just My Opinion: MMA, New York State, and Me
by Debbie Doerrlamm
February 1, 19992 min to read
While at a nail show in Albany, NY, I was introduced to a representative of the Division of Licensing. The issue of MMA was brought up and I was shocked to find that representative was completely devoid of knowledge on the topic. Needless to say, I, along with the other techs I was with, gave her an earful about the importance of educating both nail technicians and consumers about MMA. I vowed to put together a package of information and a letter to the state, but never got around to it. This past week, a nail tech from upstate New York, posted to the list a conversation she had with a representative of the Division of Licensing on the phone; “We were told by someone at the New York Department of Licensing that they did not want to hear anymore about ‘chop shops’ and their products”
This comment angered me enough to spend countless hours over the past few days putting together a package of information that is going out to the Department of State. Division of Licensing and the Department of Health, I have since gathered 59 pages of articles and documents confirming the industry’s united goal to be rid of MMA and the dangers, both real and potential that exist because of the use of the chemical. Almost all of the information I sent in my packet is now available at the Beauty Tech site (reprinted and linked by permission).
I also included a three-page letter (proofread by 400 of my closest online nail tech friends, my mother, and one of my clients!), and revisions were made from all of the fabulous feedback. The letter is also available at the site.
The use of MMA and poor sanitation practices are out of control in the United States. We must band together to put a stop to this situation immediately. I urge you to read the posted articles, print them out, and then write your own letter and send it to your state board. If you don’t have a computer, surely a relative or friend has one, or you can go to the public-library where you can access this information for free.
Deborah Doerrlamm is a nail technician, webmaster of Beauty tech (featuring the Nail Tech Mailing list), and a NAILS columnist.
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