Nail Care for Beginners: A Guide for Mid-40s

Question
I am in my mid-40s and have been a nail chewer all my life and am in an active occupation.  I am thinking about getting my nails "done" but am not sure what to look for.  How do I choose a salon?  How long does it take to get nails done?  Will this damage my nails?  Do I have to get them removed regularly? Can I get "short" nails? Can I keep them clear? Am I committing myself to a regular trip to the salon every month?  
Any information and advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Answer
Hi, when having your nails done chose a salon with good hygiene, good brand and good technicians. Creative keeps high standards among their techs so you can look for a tech in your area using this search facility:http://www.creativenaildesign.com/find_salon.asp
Having your nail shouldn't damage your nails, and you souldn't remove them regulary, they should be rebalanced every 2/3 weeks, so this means when you get nail enhancements you are comiting to visit the salon every month. This doesn't mean that you can't change your mind and remove the if you aren't happy, or if you feel they aren't right for you.
You also chose the lenght, the shape and the finsih (clear, permanent french, etc) of your enhancements, just make sure you let your tech know what you want.
Hope i could help.