According to Mazz Hanna , a professional manicurist who works with A-list clients like Julia Roberts , our fears aren't unfounded. "There’s this misconception that gel ruins your nails and that's really not the case — it's gel removal that can ruin your nails," she says. But it's what she said next that really got to us: Not only can we easily remove our gel manis at home, it can often be safer than the practices you'll find in many salons. (Plus, with many establishments temporarily closing their doors in light of the coronavirus pandemic , it can't hurt to be in the know with DIY gel removals.)