Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nail biting

28 replies

AloeVeraSeeYaCilla · 16/07/2017 13:46

Posting for traffic.
I bite /pick my nails. I hate it and I ironically hate it on other people.
Any success stories out there of people who have stopped. I've been biting for probably 35 years.....😔

OP posts:
FadedRed · 16/07/2017 13:57

Start by not biting or picking two nails, middle or ring finger, after these nails have grown a bit and start looking nice, stop biting another two, then your little fingers, then index fingers, lastly your thumbs.
It will take about four/six months to completely break the habit, but you will be able to enjoy your 'grown nails' much sooner than that. Worked for me.

OctoberMarch · 16/07/2017 13:59

I stopped for a long time by keeping my nails painted. I've started again because I don't have time to do them with DD.
Can't wait to start again though, because, like you, I hate the look of them all bitten Sad

MikeUniformMike · 16/07/2017 14:00

Get artificial nails done. Acrylic ones. You'll need to go a few times each week to begin with if you are really bad at biting. Do not bite the acrylic nails as it will seriously damage your teeth.
After about 6 months you'll have nice nails that you won't want to nibble.

tomatoplantproject · 16/07/2017 14:08

I think I have broken the habit by acrylics and shellac for 2 years. My nails are now weak and so I'm working on strengthening then and getting them into a decent condition.

When they look nice I'm not tempted. I know that when one or two are broken and I'm feeling blue I revert.

Aridane · 16/07/2017 14:12

Shellac manicures! I am bite free for 2 years now. Not possible to bit nails with shellac - plus don't want to throw money away

GoldenBlue · 16/07/2017 14:31

I bit for 44 years, really badly. I second the gellish polish suggestion. It lasts about 3 weeks and you need to book your next appointment ahead so you don't cheat.

I've got nice nails now, haven't bitten for 2 years. Good luck X

Raisinsaretoddlercrack · 16/07/2017 14:47

I've always bitten my nails and cuticles to the extent where they are painful and look embarassing. I have started getting acrylics done. I get them shorter than most people seem to and go for a natural looking Polish (you don't have to go for pointy talons like some people do!). Having acrylics completely stops me biting and picking. I had a break from them recently and found myself biting again even though I promised myself I wouldn't. A shellac manicure helps as well but doesn't last as long and as soon as they start to chip etc I am straight back to biting them.

Since having acrylics I have completely stopped and they look lovely. I've also found I am poorly less often as I'm not constantly putting my fingers in my mouth, that helps me justify the cost! Acrylics do damage your nails, but not as much as I damage my own nails by biting and picking so it's the best option for me. Good luck!

NC4now · 16/07/2017 14:48

Acrylic nails. Did it for me. I love my nails now.

StickThatInYourPipe · 16/07/2017 14:49

The only way I have stopped is by getting extensions. I then had them until the urge to bite had gone then changed to gel over normal nails. If I don't have them painted I will bite them

Raisinsaretoddlercrack · 16/07/2017 14:50

Also if you don't fancy acrylics you can shellac your own nails by getting a kit online. It's just as easy as putting nail Polish on and you don't have to wait for it to dry afterwards.

MissBax · 16/07/2017 14:52

OP I am a lifelong nail biter - I used to be so self conscious about them. I stopped 5 years ago by getting acrylics for 2 months - when they were taken off the nails were weak but the habit had been broken!
I relapsed last year and had the acrylics put on again to break the habit! I never thought I'd not bite my nails but am proud of my hands now :)

MissBax · 16/07/2017 14:53

This is them now!

Nail biting
Original poster
AloeVeraSeeYaCilla · 16/07/2017 16:48

I have acrylics on at moment..... I think that's what they are. A tip stuck on then filled in and painted. I did all this last year then went back to biting. I so wanna break the habit. I'm also a hair puller....and have OCD tendencies.

OP posts:
Original poster
AloeVeraSeeYaCilla · 16/07/2017 16:48

Thanks for all posts....are acrylics what I have?

OP posts:
Original poster
AloeVeraSeeYaCilla · 16/07/2017 16:49

Miss Bax n - look fab! Well done!!

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 16/07/2017 16:50

The only way I stopped is by painting them and keeping them really moisturised with vaseline.

redexpat · 16/07/2017 17:04

Download quit nail biting app. Listen to hypnosis as per instructions. Broke my habit of 30 years.

Raisinsaretoddlercrack · 16/07/2017 17:15

Oooh that's a good idea redexpat - how many times did you have to listen to it? I used natal hypnotherapy during labour and thought it was really effective so I might give that a go myself.

GoldenBlue · 16/07/2017 19:13

I agree polish. I keep polish on my desk and I tend to pick at the polish instead of biting and then replace it straight away

nokidshere · 16/07/2017 19:19

I bit my nails for over 50 years. Right down to the skin, all the skin around the nails and cuticles. I tried lots of things over the years to stop but always went back to biting.

Then 2 years ago I stopped when a 10 yr old friend commented how much better her nails were than mine! I bought sally Hanson strengtheners and rapid growth, a file and a buffer and a handful of colours and I started looking after my nails every day.

I haven't bitten them since and love trying out designs on them now. Will try to upload before/during/after pics

Nail biting
Nail biting
Nail biting
Gracefulgiraffe · 16/07/2017 21:01

I tried Marvala stop biting polish for about 6 weeks which worked at first then I got used to it and bit anyway. I've been biting for 40 years and got acrylics with gel polish about a month ago. When I removed them yesterday all the bitten skin was healed and they were long enough for me to polish with gel polish at home. They look so nice I don't want to bite them. If I go back to biting I will get acrylics again but I would suggest giving them a rest every few months as they can get week with continued use.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 16/07/2017 21:06

I'm 49 and have stopped biting my nails in the last two years.

There was no magic cure, just will power and a determination to have nice looking manicured nails.

I did slop on Sally Hansen nail hardener daily and wear rubber gloves when doing housework

Pollaidh · 16/07/2017 21:20

I've always bitten my nails, or just peeled back the nail in strips, until it's raw bleeding skin. Usually not all at the same time, I focus on a few. I've managed to grow nails now, need to make sure they don't get overlong as then I'll get annoyed with them, peel them back and then the habit starts again.

Only problem is, as I bite for anxiety, if I'm not biting my finger nails, I'm peeling off my toenails, scratching my head or picking my skin elsewhere. Toenails solved (temporarily) by pedicure and nail varnish (and need to wear sandals).

So watch out for replacement habits.

silverlace · 16/07/2017 22:10

I went to a wedding last year and looked at my hand holding a champagne glad and decided there and then that it was time I grew up and stopped biting my nails.

At first I used Sally Hansen nail hardener which worked for me. Once they were a decent length I had a manicure which made them look better. I have had gels a couple of times for special occasions but now use OPI nail envy sensitive and peeling clear varnish. It keeps them hard so I am not tempted to bite. Have regular manicures to keep them looking nice.

I am so proud of my nails now. I still can't believe I have done it!

redexpat · 16/07/2017 22:54

I listened to the hypnosis every day for 2 weeks, then every other day, then every 3rd. It also helps me to fall asleep.