Nail biting. Can't stop. Please help!

[sethcohen]

I've bitten my nails all my life and I really, really want to stop. I managed to stop for about a month for my wedding but started again straight after. Am thinking about getting some kind of fake nails put on. Any advice on what would be best?

I stopped biting mine when I had a gel manicure as it was physically impossible to do it but started again about a week after it came off so you'd have to have a few concurrent ones.

There is a product called "Stop'n Grow" basically it's like a clear nail varnish and has no smell but tastes awful if you bite your nails.

Also, maybe try a hand cream which hardens your nails.

I bought diy fake nails. They worked perfectly, looked good, to my surprise, and did the job of keeping me from biting long enough to break the habit. I went through a couple of sets, about £20 all together.

I was a nail biter from the ages of 2 - 35.

I stopped with the help of a little bit of hypnotherapy and a bit of 'I can't be arsed biting my nails any more'.

Do you suffer from OCD OP? Some people think that compulsive nail biting is due to OCD.

I do like a shellac for a long lasting nail thing. Hated gelish, felt too thick.

Bit my nails til I was about 17.

Stopped by going into Boots and spending my wages from part-time job that week on nail strengthener, base coat, top coat, colours for french manicure and 3 or 4 other varnishes, as well as some nail files, orange sticks, remover, cotton wool etc.

I would practice and practice painting my nils every night after school, sometimes doing them 4 or 5 times til I got them right. That kept my hands busy doing something and once I had got them to my obsessive compulsive liking, there was no way I was biting them having invested all that time and money.

I stopped after over 30 years of biting by painting them bright colours. Bright coloured nails weren't as appealing. Always carry a nail file with you because the moment you have a break or a non smooth edge the temptation to nibble it will be strong. Use a strengthener like nail envy because they'll be weak and bendy.

And other than that it's extreme will power. Good luck,

I'd recommend getting acrylic nails for about three months. You'll get used to not biting as they are too thick to nibble through. When they do come off the nail bed will have completely changed shape (ie grown up to fingertip like normal people's nails) and it somehow feels wrong to bite. Keep them polished and in good condition. I still get acrylics for a month or so every six months just to break the habit ( which always slowly creeps back). I am a hardcore biter left to my own devices so think I'll probably always have to do this.

Grow one nail a time, you still have nine to chew to the bone, then eight, etc etc.
You slowly adopt a new habit which is caring for your beautiful nails. Worked for me.

Shellac - and keep them style very short. Tell salon you are a compulsive nail biter when they look incredulous you want them so short.

Thanks so much everyone, definitely going to try gel/acrylic (don't know the difference!). I've tried painting them bright colours and even re-doing them every night to occupy hands and it just doesn't seem to work. I've bitten stop and grow off too. I'm not OCD but that's interesting. I definitely bite more when I'm feeling stressed though.