false nails to help break the biting habit?

[whiteandyellowiris]

I used to bite my nails as a child until I was about 21/22 then I stopped for years and years, the the 18 months of my life have been awful and ive gone back to biting them

niw Im actually embarrassed by them, but I cannot stop, tried all the nasty tasting things etc

when I broke the habit 13 years ago, I had some false nails for 2/3 months until I broke the habit,so wondering if I should try that again?

[Showtime]

Cut all nails back as far as possible, until too short to nibble, only filing to smooth edges, and keep doing this for a few weeks until they grow thicker and stronger and too hard to chew. Continue cutting them back with minimum filing, and I guarantee you'll have long and strong nails again in a few months. Try to avoid polish remover, always washing after use and rubbing in handcream.
I'd use falsies only for special occasion/s.

[Bluecarrot]

I was under the impression that false nails actually weakened your nails? My breakthrough at 18 was a professional manicure with French polish, done fortnightly for 3 months. I get a lot of compliments on my nails now ( prob as I never use any polish so they are v white!)

[whiteandyellowiris]

Showtime I will try that, and file gen down today
Thanks

When I had false ones they were week for a while, my real.nails. but they did harden up after a while x

[Essexgirlupnorth]

You could try shellac or something better for your nails than falsies but will stop you bitting them. I have the same problem but shellac helped mine grow.

[dogrilla]

If you are a hardcore biter like me it pays to be extreme. I need to break the cycle properly when I start nibbling again so I get gel nail extensions which don't ruin the nail as much as acrylic. Keep them on for two or three months, or until you're used to not picking and biting. When you get falsies taken off, keep them polished and looking nice. I also found a biotin supplement and Nailtiques Formula 2 good to harden them up and make them grow faster.

[LulaPalooza]

I agree with dogrilla - using gel nails was the only thing that stopped me from biting my nails. I had them on for two weeks whilst my nails grew underneath. I painted them a different colour every other day (you can use non-acetone remover to take polish off gel nails) and gradually got hooked on the whole nail care thing. When the gels came off I don't think my nails were in any worse condition than when I had been biting them.

I had a proper manicure when the gels came off and then started doing regular manicures on myself.

They're still, almost 4 years later, prone to breaking right down at the edge of the nail bed (I used to gnaw my nails really, really short) but they are a lot healthier (I also take a skin, hair and nails supplement). I went through a phase of mega breaks recently so I just used Sally Hansen Maximum Growth topped with Dior Nail Glow for about ten days and they are all the same length now. I keep them relatively short - just on the tips of my fingers - and "squoval" shaped.

I have a hardcore nail polish addiction though

[whiteandyellowiris]

right filed them all down, yes I think I probably going to need to do something a bit more extreme like have gel nails false nails for a good 2-3 months to really break the habit again

I did wonder about shellac, so they use glue on your nails? or is it just super strong varnish?

[TigOldBitties]

Shellac doesn't require glue.

I did the same thing a good few years ago and haven't bitten my nails in a habitual way since.

I recommend gel nails as a solution to people who nail bite as I think it really does work.

My nails were rather weak when I had the gels off, however this meant I was even less inclined to bite them and I found that they grew to be healthy relatively quickly.

[MrsHelsBels74]

I had false nails for about 6 months but once I took them off I went right back to biting. I'm so embarrassed by it but can't seem to stop.

[whiteandyellowiris]

tig do you do nails then?

are gels where they just glue on tips then glue over the whole thing?

yes I think im going to need to do something

[Essexgirlupnorth]

Shellac is like nail varnish that is cured with uv. They paint it on your bare nails no glue needed.

[whiteandyellowiris]

so is shellac super strong? would it be enough to put a nail biter off?

[amouseinawindmill]

I am jumping in here; i have been biting for 30 years! So what do I ask for at the nail place : is "gels" all the description I need? I am clueless!

[TigOldBitties]

No I don't do nails but I'm always getting my nails done so know the various treatments.

You can have tips added to extend your nails as part of gels but also as part of acrylic.

Shellac generally doesn't chip although I find it peels off from the bottom after a while. Its not supper strong in that it will feel and look just like polish so you could technically bite your nail with it on whereas with 'false' nails you cant normally do this without cracking the entire nail.

[TigOldBitties]

And yes gels and acrylics are both similar in that those are the ones you see where they file/buff the nail and then paint on the product. They give the additional layer which stops you from biting it.

I prefer gels because they are more flexible, however they are often cured by UV (like shellac) and I've been to a few places and not been able to get them, only acrylic was offered.

If you don't want your nails lengthened you often need to point this out as it does tend to be an assumption of many salons when you get gels or acrylic. I'd just explain you want gels and mention why you want them. You can then get infills or have them taken off.

[Spidermama]

About six weeks ago I took my son to a hypnotherapist because he bit his nails down so far they hurt, regularly.

I too bite my nails so she suggested I sit in on the session.

Neither he nor I have bitten our nails since. I have lovely shapely nails now after a lifetime of tree frog stumps.

Rubbing hand cream in is keeping them nice and strong.

[crushedintherush]

I felt I had to add a comment, op, as I'm a long time nailbiter. I have tried false nails which looked lovely, but weakened my nails considerably. I am back to biting them

I'll take the advice of filing them down so too short to bite, I think, and take it from there

[Nagoo]

TBH I reckon if you are a biter then you'll pick/ nibble shellac off. The filing advice is what I'd go for. I 'cured' DS by doing that.

[whiteandyellowiris]

thanks for all the advice, it is such a hard habit to break

[Showtime]

Sorry I've been a bit vague - what worked was to cut nails back using sharp manicure scissors, only using a file/emery board for any rough bits, and keep cutting back until they get harder and stronger - it will happen. Had mine painted with bitter aloes as a child, but it didn't stop me chew-ing.... Don't have experience of false nails as have never needed any since cutting them back.

[Nagoo]

A glass nail file is good :)