Mine last a solid two weeks. And they still don't chip; but my nails grow so then it doesn't look so good. I have done it a few times, and my feeling about it is that it's good for special occasions, especially something like a vacation where you won't have to worry about your nails the whole time. However, I find that after a couple of these gel manicures in a row, my nails were really dry looking and had a weird texture. Normally I have super healthy nails. I think it's the remover they have to use. I think it's pure acetone? They soak a little piece of cotton ball in it, place it on the nail, and wrap it in foil. Then leave it to sit for a few minutes. After a while, most of the polish comes off, but then they have to scrape off the rest. So I think it's the removal process that wreaks havoc on my nails. A friend of mine did remove it herself so it can be done, it's just a pain in the neck. Still, though, I'll probably get it done once or twice this summer.

I've been getting shellac manicures for some time, pretty much the same as gel, and I'm sold on them ; having perfect nails for 14 days solid is amazing. My nails grow fast though so week 3 is the time when I have to have them redone. Also the fact that they are rock dry minutes after leaving the salon is key to me.

As for dryness, my nails have always been very dry, even with regular polish.
Ideally I'll take a break at some point and let my nails go without polish and do a twice a day application of oil to rehydrate them.

My dilemma now is finding a place with cheaper prices for the shellac manicure.
I was thinking the other day that if I ever have it done before going on a trip, I would pick a white color so that the nail growth doesn't show as much, right now I've been getting a purplish blue color that I just love and my nails grow really fast so it shows a lot after 2 weeks, but the polish looks really good still.

I've done gel and shellac manicures several times at several different salons for special occasions and the method lasts longer than a plain manicure but not as long as the artificial nail. I have short ugly weak nails and I'm hard on them in my work environment so I'm lucky if the gel polish lasts a week, maybe two if I stay out of water. They start peeling and I end up peeling the rest off. I've been told that it requires acetone to get off; however for me it's peeled off like polish. It's probably hard on the nails when peeled off in some places, but not nearly like trying to remove artificial acrylic nails. This method allows me to keep my natural nails and short length (which I prefer) and makes my nails look relatively good temporarily.

I haven't tried a gel manicure but I do the shellac at home. I like it but I do think either the acetone to remove it or the shellac (or both) cause the nails to become thin, weak and dry. I'm giving it a rest and will only do it for special occasions in the future.

I let my dd get the shellac ones recently, for a special occasion. We all have short, thin, weak nails.... and like hilltop, they started to peel off (and then my daughter helped the process along) at about days 9/10. Great for a week, much better than a standard manicure in terms of lasting for a week, but not after that....

My sister and my daughter started using them regularly and both have stopped as their nails got weaker and weaker.

I have gotten them a few times, and they lasted about 10 days. I won't do it again, because it damaged my natural nails.

I JUST started getting gel manicures about six weeks ago.

Prior to that I only buffed my own nails, and then occasionally had a manicure and had them buff, or apply clear polish.

My nails are extremely soft and peel, and I am particularly rough because I'm a germ nut and don't use gloves so I'm always putting them in hot water and digging in the soil.
The only time they grow is when I'm in the hospital or have broken something and can't do much!

I was concerned about the filing of the nailbed but have a great manicurist and she is so careful, barely buffs it, and we use a gel color called Bubble Bath (OPI) and it's a pale pink/nude.

I can literally do anything I used to do, which before would produce a chipped manicure within hours of getting it, for about ten days to two weeks. The only problem is the way it's baked onto your nail, when your nail bed grows out at the bottom the polish so the layer of polish lifts up and separates and it looks a little strange, different than a regular manicure. But I can get about twelve days out if it, it's only $35 here, plus a tip, and my nails now look nice at all times, with just cuticle oil.

I have skipped a time or two between and just gone with buffing, but as noted above, it's great for special occasions and you can get it done a few days ahead of time and still know your nails will look great. They have grown a bit because it has seemed to strengthen my nails.

I've been getting the gel manicure for many, many, years. I get them filled every two weeks before they start to lift because I have been told that if they do lift, water will get underneath and can cause problems (i.e. fungus).

I would prefer the 14 day manicure (or Shellac) because it is not as harsh on the nail; however, it doesn't give the protection that a gel manicure gives.

Word of warning: Sometimes all that heavy buffing and filing, especially with a drill, can cause nail bed trauma. I'm currently suffering from onycholysis which is when the nail plate separates from the nail bed. It has to grow out and in the mean time looks horrible so I can't go without having my nails polished to cover it up.

Thanks everyone for all the info here. Very helpful.

I was going to do them and in doing some research on them I came across this article which convinced me not to do them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gel nails