I had a damaged big toe nail which over half the nail came off. I went to the acrylic nail store and they attached a fake nail, shaped it and painted it with acrylic. A month or so later it actually dropped off by itself and the nail had grown in nicely. So no, it doesn't damage your nails. They only cut your nails short to make it easier to remove the acrylics when soaking them in the solvent (I also had acrylics on my hands for a few years and finally had the removed due to not being employed and I couldn't afford it anymore).