2. Gels do weaken your nail beds, but it's mostly because of the removal process. Many people worry about getting gels because they fear their nails won't be able to breathe, but nails are actually dead to begin with, so they don't need to breathe! Your nail beds and cuticles are what's important — they're made of living tissue and why you need to be careful. It's safest to get gels removed at a salon, though it usually costs $10-$20. Just make sure the manicurist is removing your gels carefully. "No one should be scraping your nail bed aggressively. The product should just crumble off," says Miss Pop.