On the surface, my nails are textbook perfect. For the past 11 years, I've had a gel manicure every 10 days on a regular basis. I try not to think about how much money I've spent (maybe enough for a down payment on a car). And I take comfort in the fact that my nails have no sweetbreads and are the perfect bubble bath pink color.

But beneath my three layers of gel polish lies a horrible situation. My nails are, quite frankly, destroyed. They are so brittle and peeling that no nail stiffener will work. It's my fault. I have a bad habit of peeling off gel. My nails have reached the point of no return. So for the first time in a long time, I'm going to try something new to save my nails: the Olive & June gel mani system.

Launched today, October 24, this aesthetically pleasing DIY kit is the definition of all-in-one. It comes with 14 components, from polish and LED lamps to cuticle serums and the brand's viral poppies that make painting with your non-dominant hand so much easier. The one I was most eager to try was the Peel-Off Base Coat, which promises “drama-free gel-off” and “zero damage.” This base coat promises “drama-free gel-off” and “zero damage. It is said to be immediately removable afterwards.

Doubtful but intrigued, I took the kit and polish to my favorite nail salon. (Shape with a file, push back the cuticles, buff and polish the nails, and apply a little oil. I applied a base coat and stuck my hand in the lamp. I applied a base coat and stuck my hand in the lamp.

Then it's polish color; there are 28 colors to choose from, each selling for $10. I like custom colors, so I applied one coat of Dusty Rose and one coat of Crisp White. I finished with Olive & June topcoat and a double cure that lasts about a minute.

My manicure was very nice and, frankly, a little plumper than average. The polish was glossy and opaque in two coats, and I liked the color combination better than my usual blend of CND Unlock and Studio White. But the question remained: how would it hold up?

Olive & June advertises 21 days of use, but I have a pretty oily nail bed (sexy, I know), so my gels don't usually last that long. I'm on day 12 now, and while there is no chipping or fading, the bottom and sides of some of my nails are starting to lift.

As I sit here and pull off the clumps of polish, I can see the most important detail: no nail damage. That alone is a huge victory.