Does anyone have any experience of overcoming life long nail biting by having false nails put on?

[Wiifitmama]

I have never ever not bitten my nail (well, maybe as a baby but who knows!). I am 47 in a couple of weeks and would really love to have nice nails - never have! I am wondering about having some false nails put on in a salon as a way of breaking the biting habit. Has anyone ever done this? Did it work? Anything I should know? Also, how do you pick a nail salon and what type of nails do you put on?

I bit my nails really badly for 30 years. I'm had gel nails done with (with extension tips the first couple of times) and haven't bitten them for over a decade now. Find a reputable salon or person that doesn't use electric files, they damage nails. I still have gel most of the time but when they I don't, the nails underneath are strong and in good condition. You can do this!!

Yes! I started getting acrylics done regularly as a teenager with my grandma, probably had them on consistently for 2-3 years. Then was on and off having them done either just gel or acrylics over the next 4-5 years. Just started getting them gelled regularly again since Christmas. Even when I have bare nails I find the temptation to bite and pick lesser than when I was younger. Big bonus with acrylics is you can nibble on them without damaging them.

However, I did start an equally annoying/bad habit of chewing the inside of my cheeks/lips around the same time I stopped nail biting. For me I think it's a nervous/anxiety thing though! I always catch myself doing it without realising 😳

I'm a lifelong nail biter I stop, they grow a bit, one splits, and then I bite them. It's disgusting. My nails are really weak anyway (toenails seem to be too, and they're not bitten 🙉). I've had girls done lots of times, and I tend to then bite the skin all around the nail - also disgusting, I know.

I don't think my nails are weak despite the biting. How would I know? They are very short obviously from the biting but not split or anything. I do pick the skin a bit but not nearly as badly as the nail biting.

What is the difference between gel and acrylic?

Yes I did. But now unfortunately I pick her hairs of my eyebrows out instead 🙈

I did this & have lovely long nails now. I still get them done but I don't need 'extensions'...just Shellac nail polish on my own nails. I used s system of 'powder' nails which is kinder on your nails instead of gel or acrylic.

You will need to go to a salon (quiet times) to understand what all these options mean & cost. Typically cheaper option implies they will replacing sooner.

Wii gel is a type of long lasting polish, usually with a very glossy finish. It is set/ dries under a UV lamp so dries in a couple of minutes.
Acrylic is like nail extensions. They glue a nail tip onto your natural nail and then cover the whole nail in acrylic (different salons will use different types) This creates a very strong fake nail that you can then shape and paint however you want. You need to get them professionally removed or filled in (where your natural nail regrows) you can do serious damage trying to pick them off yourself and the removal process can leave your nails quite weak.

I'm a lifelong nail biter, have stopped for a few years here and there. I generally get acrylic nails to stop the initial habit and then once natural nails have grown, I'll do gel manicure at home to maintain them looking nice and so me from nibbling them again

Yes I was a massive nail biter until I got gels done late 20s. Mid 30s now and it has helped me break the cycle, I have went through phases of getting gels/acrylics and tend to get them after a bout of biting and it always helps. Haven’t worn them for 5 months and nails are thick, long and strong right now, I actually have to file them down as they get too long. Acrylics are best as much stronger, it is easier to pick at gels.
Pick a good salon that won’t file your nails too much.

I’ve always bitten my nails and now I go for acrylics every few weeks. They do them quite short so I don’t struggle to do things. It’s lovely having nice nails, I’ve always been so aware of my horrible bitten hands, but now I really enjoy going and choosing the colour and having a pamper. They will show you the shapes you can have, go for rounded so they look nice and natural. You could have gel extensions instead, or consider shellac once your real nails have grown a bit. Mine are just too weak and I can’t leave them to grow hence why I choose acrylic extensions.

I've had acrylics for about 6 months. Theyve really protected my nails. Theyve got me out my.biting habit and my nails look brilliant now. I get acrylic wraps now instead of tips

I'm a nail technician and having any kind of extension can definitely help stop nail biting!

All the products are completely safe for your nails as long as the nails are prepped and product removed correctly.

Also electric files are perfectly safe too as long as the tech has been trained to use one.

As for finding the right person or salon. Any reputable place will be happy to answer all questions as they will have nothing to hide. Have certificates and insurance (I have pics of my certificates on my fb page).

Try and avoid nail bar type places where they are banging out sets quickly.

And remember... Nice nails aren't cheap and cheap nails aren't nice!

Thanks everyone. Can you give me a rough guide to how much it costs to get the acrylic tips done? I am in London if that makes a difference. And how often would I need them done do you think?

I also have the fake nails that are the "powder" type. The chemicals used are also environmentally friendly and non-toxic. I will find out what the brand is called next time I go.

I do it because I also bite my nails and having nice nails makes me feel put together and groomed as a 50 yr old! I have been doing them for a decade at least. Although I do eventually start biting even my fake nails after 3 weeks or so! It is a bad habit I cannot shake. But at least I look pulled together most of the time! I actually get a lot of compliments on how nice my nails look. I have them filed into a oval shape as I am not into the super long, fun look a la Cardi B. More power to those who enjoy that style.

You can have fake nails that look very natural if that is the look you like.

I’m 42 & have finally broken my nail biting habit. I’ve previously tried acrylics, gels, disgusting tasting stuff on nails etc- nothing worked. Acrylics were awful- from having short bitten nails to long ones was disastrous- ended up banging them & my goodness that’s painful. Both gels & acrylics ruin your nails unless you’re really disciplined and always get them soaked off, never break them etc. And they take time to have done plus the cost.
So to cut a long story short I’ve broken the habit completely by accident! In an attempt to get rid of my migraines I’ve started taking a daily multivitamin (Wellwoman if you’re interested) and the effect on my nails and hair has been unbelievable in only 8 weeks. My nails are strong, have grown loads without me noticing and look amazing- completely taking away the impulse to bite them! I admire them instead! My hair is much thicker too. Might be worth a try rather than messing about with acrylics?

I'm not sure about London prices as I'm in the south west so probably a lot cheaper here! As a severe nail biter I would recommend 1 - 2 weeks between appointments until the nails have grown. After that then 3 weeks or so is normal. I'm an acrylic tech tho so I can't say whether other systems would be the same.

If my hair got any thicker, I would be in trouble! It is massively thick and healthy. I don't think my nails are weak either. It is just habit for me really I think.

I pay £20 for infills and £30 for full set of gels in London. Go on Treatwell or similar and check out the reviews, make sure they're for nails if it's a salon offering lots of treatments. You can't really bite false nails, you can tap your teeth but it'd be uncomfortable to bite them and it'd hurt like fuck if you broke one through biting it. Infills will be required every 2-3 weeks, 2 weeks and they'll probably look a bit 'grown out' and between 3 and 4 they might start lifting. My nails grow quite quickly though, and I have them fairly long. It's worth a try, especially since you could do it for 3-6mths to break the habit then take them off. Do go on reviews though, badly applied nails can really damage your own nails.