Anyone managed to stop biting their nails? How?

[Sharkyfan]

For 2020 I’d like to stop biting my nails.
I don’t always know when I’m doing it.
I hate that my nails look shit and I can’t ever paint them. Sometimes I bite the skin round the nail and it gets sore.

When I was younger I tried that stuff that tastes bad but kept forgetting and putting my fingers in my mouth

I’ve also in the last had acrylic false nails applied with a natural finish think it was called American tip or something - the nails did grow underneath but it damaged the nail bed a bit and was an but time consuming to have done. I could try that again I guess.

Any other ideas?

I'm trying again to crack it myself at the moment - I don't particularly care about the appearance myself, but need to get the ragged skin cleared up for work related reasons so may as well go the full hog.

Generally I find if I go at the nail biting solver hard until they're long enough to whack a very pale coat of polish on I can crack it as long as I never ever "even up" any snags or uneven edges with my teeth which is how I always relapse.

I only stopped at 25 because I was desperate for them to look nice for my wedding. (A long time ago!)

Nowadays I’d advise having fake gel nails done, though not too long, so your own can gradually grow up underneath.
With a bit of luck you will be so pleased with them you won’t want to chew them off again. But it will take self-discipline to stop yourself getting back into the habit. You can certainly do it, though, so please don’t tell yourself you can’t - and after a while the habit will be broken.

Go for gel not acrylic, the gell doesn't damage the nail underneath.

I'm quite 'hard' on my nails but I have found that the glitter ones stay on better, I get them done every three weeks.

My nails now grow quite well, but are not strong.

I was a terrible nail biter and for my wedding last year didn't want to have short nails and the skin all bitten.
3 months before the wedding I went to a salon and got gel nail extensions. I went back twice more to have my extensions redone. Then the week of the wedding they removed the extensions and my nails had grown naturally and evenly underneath.
Now I try to have a gel manicure as much as possible as I love having nice nails. They are strong nails though and sometimes I just do normal polish at home.

Pics shows the gel extensions coming off and the growth and my natural nails underneath.
Depending on how quickly your nails grow it might not take as long as that.

Gah! Ok have just booked appointment but struggling to find anywhere round here that does gel extensions so have booked for acrylics...
Hoping it’s going to be ok? But suddenly feeling really nervous!
Pics on their fb page show a lot of talons and glittery stuff.... will be ok if I’m clear about wanting short and natural looking (as far as possible) won’t it?

Last minute wobbles!

I am sure it will be fine! Go in and be really clear about what you want. My first set of gel extensions were not amazing, but then I found a better salon and from then on I was very happy with them. After a couple of months, my technician took the extensions off and started applying a gel manicure, which lasts 2 weeks for me (mostly because I like my nails short).

Removing the extensions was hard on my nails, although it's improper or rough removal that does the greatest damage, so make sure that by the time you do that you have found a technician you really trust. But I ripped my nails out compulsively from early childhood, so frankly no amount of damage was going to be worse than the alternative. I've completely stopped now and no longer get the infections I used to. You are doing the right thing, OP.

I used to pick my nails all the time, they looked horrible and it was just a nasty habit. I stopped when DH asked me to marry him and gave me a beautiful ring - it just didn't look right with picked nails!

It was a process stopping though and I've had plenty of moments where I've forgotten that I don't do that anymore. I sometimes still find myself picking my thumbnails if I'm anxious or bored. For that reason I always keep my nails cut short but neat so the temptation is less.

Ok done!
Was a bit nerve wracking and I had to speak up and say they were a bit long when he first trimmed them but I’m quite pleased! The thickness feels weird but I think that’s par for the course.
So hopefully one infill then gel manicure on my own nails!

I have bit my nails for waaaay too long and nothing I have tried to stop it has worked. I was at the dentist and I talked through with them if they could do anything to help and i saw that braces can help other habits. They were reluctant at first but then suggested something that might work. I got this removable brace where the acrylic covers my teeth so I can’t bite fully down on my bottom teeth and so I can’t bite my nails. It’s really not an ideal solution but nothing else worked and this believe it or not has worked so far. As an adult it’s a brave thing to do but to get rid of a life long habit it’s 100% worth it if it works which it is at the minute. I’m only 3 weeks in but I’m not biting my nails and they are growing!!! I don’t wear it when I have meetings or out with friends but I do when I know I normally bite my nails like when I’m watching tv or having a drink at home. It’s a horrible habit and if this fully works it will be so worth it. Just letting you know in case this helps anyone else but so far it really is working. The appliance wasn’t too expensive and stopping this habit would really be priceless.

I did mine one nail at a time. I could continue to bite them all but one, then continued. As my nails grew I was encouraged to do a few more nails at a time. I then had all my fingers nailed and left my thumbs to bite. One day BAM I just stopped because I decided I wanted nice thumb nails too.

Good luck

I used same approach as @MayFayner. Worked in a role involving using same pen as general public. This was 16 years ago so long before covid germs. Seeing people chewing the pen or touching cold sores then using pen, meant I washed my hands straight away and didn't put them anywhere near my face. There was supposed to be two pens - one for me and one for public but they would go walkies. Wasn't a conscious thing, just that the thought of germs brought a feeling of disgust and changed the behaviour. There's always a positive to be found...

Builder gel and polish.

@Roarsomemore that’s exactly why I needed to find a solution. Covid has just highlighted my need to stop doing it. It’s a really awful habit. Well done for finding a way. I’m so positive about this brace working, 3 weeks and I have nails. I can control when I wear it, when I know I normally bite my nails and it’s working so far. I would obviously tell people to choose your approach first but if out of ideas this is working and I’ll update if it cures it as it’s worth considering. The negatives involved in nail biting far outweigh wearing a little brace in a controlled manner. It’s a little out there but honestly if you know when you bite your nails then you know when you need to wear it and it’s already working.