Nail Biting

lilymay1

Filthy disgusting habit of mine. I would say I am one of the more extreme cases. 22 years and counting.

Anyone got any weird and wonderful suggestions as to how to stop once and for all?

claire16c

I used to bite my nails, not really sure why I stopped but, one thing that did stop me was if they were painted.

So maybe try painting them in a bright or dark colour & as soon as you get any chips repaint. It's horrible biting nail varnish plus it will make your nails look nicer so perhaps you won't want to?

lilymay1

Problem is I don't have much nail to paint. There is probably 5mm of visible nail on my pinky fingers going up to 1cm on my thumb. There isn't anything to attach false nails to either so that's another option out.

Errata

Assuming you don't bite them when you're at work, wear gloves all the time outside of work.

an9i77

I bite my nails too, I had a shellac polish to try and stop myself but just ended up picking the polish off instead! Was too embarrassed to go back to the nail technician to get the lot removed so ended up with half picked nails for weeks - yuk!

I'm not sure I've really really tried to stop - its a bit of a (very yukky) comfort blanket to me, but my nails are disgusting and ugly so maybe its time.

lilymay1

Errata wrote: »

Assuming you don't bite them when you're at work, wear gloves all the time outside of work.

I bite them all day every day, most of the time I don't realise I'm doing it. Occasionally, when I chew a bit too far and they bleed, I will 'wake up' and realise what I'm doing then stop.

I like the gloves idea though. Perhaps if I look for some really thin really tight clear ones it might make a difference. Like surgical gloves maybe.

Angi - What is shellac? Forgive my ignorance, nail's have never really been my strong point. Is it sort of a gel that's applied to your nails and then shaped?

Kizzy01

Hi lilymay1 I've just stopped biting my nails...after 40+ years! My children bought me a beautiful ring for my birthday in sept but I was too embarrassed to wear it because my nails were such a state. I also chewed the skin around them till they bled! I started one nail at a time:) I just decided that I wouldn't chew the nail on the finger that I wanted to wear the ring on, and after a month or so that nail had grown and so I decided to not chew the nails on that hand at all so I had one beautiful hand and 1 rangy chewed one so I just stopped chewing several nails on that hand too! I'm down to 2 chewed nails only now lol but I've noticed I chew them less often too. Weird but worked for me

Gillyx

I stopped last year after biting them my whole life. I had stumps, not even 1cm but I painted them every day, without fail, put strengthener on every day too. (OPI nail envy is amazing)

I have tried many many times to quit but this time was different, in my head I just said this is it I'm doing it and was very determined and I found I didn't even think about doing it or do it unconsciously. Whereas before i could never do it as I did it without knowing I was doing it.

Errata

I like the gloves idea though. Perhaps if I look for some really thin really tight clear ones it might make a difference. Like surgical gloves maybe.

That won't work, unless you fancy having soggy unhealthy hands as well. Get thin cotton ones.

Owl

I was a biter too!! Stop for one day, it's hard and you need someone to keep reminding you to take them out your mouth.... Then clean under your nails at bathtime, use a cocktail stick or similar and save the grime (disgusting I know) in a tissue. When both hands are clean look at the dirt. Now for the really gross bit...... If you didn't have that in the tissue it'd be in your tummy..... Made me stop!!!!!

tea_lover

I used to bite mine all the time, they really, REALLY hurt a lot of the time. I tried lots of things over the years - gloves, that stuff you paint on that tastes grim, etc. I'm not sure what changed in the end... I think I just really wanted my hands to look nice.

I think nail varnish can help, even if there's only a v small bit of nail as it's more visible when your hand goes up to your mouth. If you're anything like me, you won't have any idea that your nails are in your mouth half the time. I think I told everyone to tell me off if they saw me nibbling, that seems to have worked.

Sad it it sounds, I love my nails now