If you have a gel manicure at a salon, you have each coat set under ultra violet light. It lasts better than a normal manicure, but it is horrible to have removed - you have acetone soaked cotton wool pads wrapped round your nails, held in place by silver foil, for 15 mins or so. Then, they scrape the gel off with a stick (think its called an orange stick). Gross. But some people like it.