For the first time in my life I've grown my nails out, now I don't know what to do with them.

[NailedUp]

Always been a nail biter and just stopped. No idea why/how.

But now I don't know what to do with them.

I've tried painting them and I really don't like the look of them painted in a block colour

I like the natural French manicure look, can I get them painted like that?

Or is there some other thing I should do.

I don't want to commit to acrylic because of the cost.

I like them but I'm feeling like maybe ill just cut them off because it's so alien to me!

Stock with them. I would treat myself to a professional manicure, even if you don't have polish. Just get them shaped nicely and buffed and enjoy them. 🙂

If you persist with not biting them, the nail bed (I think it's called that - basically the pink bit) will gradually grow up more. Then you could keep them trimmed and they'll look better.
In the meantime, if you don't want a manicure, I'd paint them a pale nude pink. It's a very forgiving day to day colour and doesn't look bad if it wears off at the end or chips or begins to grow out unlike darker colours.

Are you gouging underneath the nail to get more " white bit" ? Agree go and get a proper manicure as your nails are different shapes. There is one in a splayed out V Shape and the little one is pointing in a weird direction too. I'm sure they will look loads better. Maybe a light colour polish or a french manicure might give you a good look.

I'm not doing anything to them apart from scrub then with a nail brush.

I’d get them properly shaped as a starting point. That will make them look better. Well done for quitting the biting.

Go for a manicure. Look on Pinterest for different nail shapes. You can have a fresh polish.

This was me last year. 40 years of nail biting without knowing I was doing it. They just started growing. I put it down to vitamins / healthier lifestyle. Made no conscious effort. Agree with others, get in for a manicure to get them nicely shaped and then buy a decent nail file and I like to sit and file mine every couple of nights, find it really therapeutic. I use Jessica's Nails strengthener or Sally Hansen. As for colour, soon it will be nice, dark colours to move with the season. I love painting mine aubergine / cherry / plum colours or dark green and find it looks best on short nail tips

Pure Spa had a great deal on recently £49 for a mani and massage bliss and I never get my nails done but what a difference it was to have them properly shaped

Well done for growing your nails! I also stopped biting my nails at Christmas, no idea why, I did not make a conscious decision but just realised after a while that I had nails!

My problem is that they get to a certain length, shorter than yours, then they split and bits break off so I have to file them short. I think they are brittle after years or using steroid cream on my psoriasis and not washing my hands thoroughly afterwards. Also I have arthritis in my hands ( possibly psoriatic arthritis) which affects the quality of nails apparently.

I use a clear or pale pink nourishing polish, like hard as nails but not quite so thick, which makes them a little shiny. I think this protects the nails a little although they still get ragged with bits splitting off! I don’t actually like very long nails, they get in my way when crafting.

I am very proud that I now don’t have to hide my nails and even wear gloves when gardening - first time in my life! I still find myself playing with the nails a lot, even being tempted to have a little nibble but I manage to stop myself and end up chewing the polish off instead! Or at least I did but after six months, it’s easier to resist.

Im aiming to have a manicure when I can get each nail long enough but I won’t be having polish put on, just something clear.

I am a nail biter and have been (and probably will be) all my life. I have grown my nails though for the last decade but I’m never very far away from biting. However, because I was a really bad nail biter for so many years, I had bitten my nails to the quick and beyond so they hurt and bled at times.

My nail bed has never grown up the nail, much to my dismay, even when I had them long and polished. Is there anything I can do to encourage the nail bed to grow?

Is there anything I can do to encourage the nail bed to grow?

@Humdrumdumb just making your question more obvious. It may be some MNetter has some wise words

Mine grew out very slowly but not as bitten down as yours.

I think they'd look lovely a bit shorter, OP. My nails have a large percentage of white, like yours (former nail biter too) and mine look at their best when they're just level with the tops of my fingers, so you can't really see them from the other side, if that makes sense.