Chances are you’ve heard of — and probably have tried — a standard gel or acrylic manicure. Gel nails are popular due to their ability to stay looking great for a week or more without chipping or breaking, while acrylics give you the appearance of long, perfectly shaped nails with the same long-lasting abilities (and then some). Though pricier than a regular manicure, gel and acrylic nails are often worth it for the long-lasting effect. After all, when you get a cute new mani, you don’t want it to chip the next day. There is, however, a downside to faux nails. The state of your natural nails when you take them off can be seriously diminished (read: dry, brittle, weak and more susceptible to breakage.) That’s where Gel-X comes in. Gel-X manicures are a fairly new type of nail treatment that give you the strength of gel and the length of acrylics, minus the damage to your natural nails. Ahead, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about gel-x manicures.