Hi Nicky, I wore gel nails for some months without any ill effects to my natural nails which are very brittle and slow growing. As Lindy says you need to get them off by soaking with acetate, but you need to do this for at least half and hour and then they go all pulpy and you can wipe them off with tissue. Any residue comes off with gentle filing.
Dependant on how fast your nails grow, you should be able to go about 3 to 4 weeks before needing infills. If you decide not to get them filled, then after about 5 weeks the gel nail starts to get brittle and will be more likely to break in the course of a normal days wear and tear.
In the meantime, the false nail should be hard wearing and can take quite a bit of rough treatment, although occaisionly one of mine cracked across the nail which spoilt the natural look!
Things to be wary of:
If your own nails are naturally short it takes a time to get used to having long nails and it is easy to forget and stick a 'dagger' in your eye or any other tender place if you have an itch. When doing housework remember you have long nails, I broke a few of mine briskly cleaning surfaces with cloths and sweeping too deep into corners which the nails do not like!
Pulling off things like lids, if you catch or yank the nail it hurts like hell as it does not simply give way and break like your normal nail would! Your nail will then be sore for at least two days and I still cringe to think of the times I did it!
Apart from that they are great!
Cheers Sue