I got the gel/shellac manicures and I loved them. However, the places I went would remove them very roughly - they would file most of it off! Within a month my nails were screwed. I had to remove everything and then when I washed my hair my nails - which were now extra absorbent - picked up the traces of hair colour and there were ugly brownish patches until they grew out. Grim.

I think maybe some places will actually soak it off and not scrape it but it takes a long time and most won't bother.

Also, I did manage to chip even the shellac/gel. Mine would last about a week. Better than the 24 hours I get with ordinary polish but since you can't paint over top of the gel and it must be totally removed this didn't work for me.

Best would be to get a normal weekly manicure for the shaping and cuticle trimming and then touch up my paint myself. But who can be arsed?!

If I was paiting them to look classy the purpose would be defeated, I just can't find a nail varnish on the high street at least that doesn't chip after like an hour. So they just look neater non painted maybe with just gloss.

My toenails are always polished either red or pink.  I once had a client who asked me to remove my toe nail polish so he could suck my toes.  I was annoyed and refused as I hate to see my toes without polish. I find toenail polish lasts a good two weeks without a touch up. 

I occasionally do my fingernails but find I have to change the polish almost every two days which is a pain. I don't like having chipped nail polish. I like my toes and fingers to match.

I used to get gel nails but found they messed up my nails and it took a year for them to recover.