How To Stop Biting Your Nails Once And For All
My nails are my obsession. I religiously get my nails done every 3 to 4 weeks and they are my pride and joy. But it wasn’t always that way. You see, I have a secret; I used to be an obsessive nail biter.
It’s something that I developed really early in life and no matter what my parents did to try bribe me to stop, I just couldn’t.
If you’re looking to put an end to your bad habit, I have some tips on how to stop biting your nails to share.
Up front: I don’t recommend those awful tasting nail polishes. If you eat fruit or crisps the taste just goes onto that and it’s vile. You’re also not going to go out of your way to keep re-painting your nails with something so disgusting. Avoid.
How To Stop Biting Your Nails Once And For All
Visualise all those germs under your nails and on your hands that you’re putting into your mouth
Gross, huh? Yep, the best way to kick this dirty habit is to visualise all the dirt and grim that you’re voluntarily putting into your mouth. I’m just going to leave it there because the thought is turning my stomach.
Think About How Other People See Your Nails
I’m not one to ever advise bothering with what other people think of you, but I’ll let this slide just this once. Think about what other people see when they look at your chewed nails.
I just couldn’t kick the nail-biting habit until one day in school I was chatting with a classmate (and a fellow nail biter!) and I noticed her nails – they looked awful! Then I looked at my own with new eyes and realised mine were just bad, if not worse. This realisation made me see just how unsightly my nails were and I stopped biting them straight away.
Make Your Nails Look Nice
Making your nails look nice is such a good way to make you want to stop biting your nails. I love having my nails done because it always makes me feel put-together and just nice.
Give yourself a mini manicure at home and make them look super nice, so that it would break your heart to ruin them by biting them. This can be tricky depending on school rules. If you’re not allowed nail polish in school, go for a super nude/pink or even use a whitening pencil underneath (if you even have the length for this!) and a good clear top coat. The top coat will also help act as a deterrent for you. Once your teeth hit the nail polish it will remind you to stop biting.
Get Acrylics Nails
One sure-fire way to make you stop biting your nails is to get acrylic nails. Not only will they stop you biting away, they will also allow your nails to grow underneath.
Figure Out Why You’re Doing It
For me it was a bad habit for a very long time, but then I kicked the habit only to relapse in 5th Year due to anxiety and stress. I fully believe that that’s why I resorted to biting my nails for so long; it was a nervous tic and it was something that I did un-subconsciously to comfort myself. I have noticed on a few occasions through the years that under stress that I’ve tried to go back to my nail-biting ways, only to be met with my shellac, which stops me.
By figuring out why you are biting your nails to begin with you can address both problems.
So, there you have it my top tips on how to stop biting your nails for good. By bonus advice would be to invest in some good nail strengthening products like OPI Sensitive And Peeling Nail Envy Nail Strengthener to help build them up.
I’m a big believer in rewarding yourself, so make sure that you treat yo’ self to something once your nails start to grow. I would personally advocate for a luxurious manicure to show off all your hard work.
Also, if you relapse just start again. Once you get over a few weeks things will become easier.
Are you a reformed nail biter?
Read More: How To Keep You Nails Healthy