I had mine done professionally for about 4 years, then when I was going to move over here (from UK to Ireland) I trained so that I could learn to do my own, and perhaps get a job doing them. I didn't get a job doing that, but kept doing my own for several more years until I got to the point that it was difficult to keep them on because of ridges on my own nails.
I loved having nice nails, as my own have been rubbish all my life. I used to enjoy being able to keep polish on them (it always chips off my own), and I got loads of compliments too.