Falling Off The Fingernail Bandwagon

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

19 Apr 2007 12:55 PM

Time to confess defeat. I thought I'd triumphed over my lifelong nail biting habit, but I've fallen off the nice nails wagon. In one afternoon, I chewed away several months' worth of nail growing progress and am back to square one.

It's my own fault, really. I'd been doing so well because I'd take the time to shape and paint my nails every few days. When my nails were pretty and colorful, I didn't bite them. But I stripped off the polish without repainting them, and BOOM. No more nails. I hardly noticed I was doing it, at first. Then after the first few nails were gone, I gave in and chomped the rest.

So it's time to start over and try again. I liked my nails long. My friends and family liked my nails long. I can chew something else -- like gum -- and start painting my little stubby fingers again.

Here are some tips that may help you stop chewing your nails...

1. Home manicures. They work for me -- as long as I keep up with it. Every two or three days, I'd wipe away the old color and switch to something new. Yes, it was a little obsessive. Yes, I was paying more attention to my nails than I ever have before. But it kept me from chewing on them.
2. Professional manicures. Acrylic nail tips are harder than your natural nails, so they'll be tougher to chew through. Plus, having the tips on will give your stubby, chewed nails a chance to grow in a little. I may try this next.
3. Talk to somebody. Somebody like your doctor, or a therapist. There could be a reason that you're biting your nails -- maybe it's nerves, maybe it's stress, maybe it's something else.
4. Experts suggest a bitter tasting topical treatment. That one never worked for me -- I'd chew my nails anyway. But it's worth a shot if you're desperate. Maybe now that I'm rededicated to the effort, the bad taste will remind me that I should be chewing gum instead.

Have you quit nail-nibbling for good? If you have any tips or tricks, I'd love to hear them!

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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Valorie Delp (49340) 19 Apr 2007 12:58 PM

Thanks for the tips Aimee.

dondee (10) 02 Jun 2008 02:42 AM

One step method. Get yourself a thin, clear mouthpiece that covers your top or bottom set of teeth and use it when you get the urge to bite your nails. Found at nailbitestopper.com