Help! I Can't Stop Biting My Nails!

on August 31, 2009 at 11:01 AM

do you bite your nails The other day a friend of mine looked down at my hands and said, "Kim, gross! You don't have any fingernails!"

It's embarrassing, but true. Ever since I was little, I've bitten my nails down to the quick. It's a disgusting, nervous habit that's only gotten worse in adulthood. I don't even realize that I do it—until all my nails are gone!

I know hypnosis works for some people, as does those bitter-tasting creams and nail polishes. But the only thing that works for this nibbler is keeping my nails polished—and recently I haven't even had the time for that (painting is easy, it's the drying process that takes too long)!

Ideas please? Did you ever bite your nails? How did you finally stop?

About the author Kim Conte

has shoes that make people stop her on the street and ask "Where did you get those?" but it doesn't work for taxi cabs as she was hit by one ... and lived to tell the tale. She has more freckles than Lohan but way less attitude. And she's a fierce cook with tons of recipes to share -- and wishes she could share some with Bourdain.

Filed Under: beauty, nails

Comments (11)

Daily Buzz Team

on Aug 31, 2009 at 11:16 AM

I am the exact same way!! I used to be really bad but then found that keeping them polished helps keep me from gnawing. But as soon as the paint starts chipping, I start biting. If you find something that works for you, please let me know the secret!

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Cafe MicheleZ

on Aug 31, 2009 at 11:45 AM

I used to bite my nails down until they bled. It was a terrible habit. I tried everything and it didn't work until I had a "talk with myself" and said, Self: You must stop this. It is gross.

And I finally listened to myself after several tries. :) Once they grew into a presentable length, they looked so good. Then I didn't want to bite them because they looked nice. And I too try to always keep a clear coat of polish on them. It's been over 15 years since I bit my nails. I just counted...I had no idea. Though I did pick up the terrible habit of picking my cuticles.

aurorabunny

on Aug 31, 2009 at 12:09 PM

I don't have any nails either but I pick mine instead of biting them. It's still bad. I do it when I get nervous about something.

Peajewel

on Aug 31, 2009 at 1:01 PM

I have a friend that is a nail biter and picker and sometimes she even pulls out scissors and starts cutting them back because she has chewed on them so much she has skin that is peeling off. The only thing that has ever worked for her is having fake nails put on. She does not chew on those.

I will only bite mine if they break. I have this crazy fear of emery boards (don't ask.....I'm a freak). So, if one breaks, I will chew it off until it is even, that is usually once it is pretty short. hee hee

I know my Mom recently stopped her nail biting but I think she did it like Cafe Michele Z. She just said that it was enough and when she would want to do it, she would just make an effort to not. It worked for her. Good luck to you! I hope you figure something out!

aidensema

on Aug 31, 2009 at 8:45 PM

i used gum to stop biting mine. LOTS AND LOTS OF GUM!! once they got to be a nice length i felt bad about biting them so i let the whole thing go. now i file them to a nice length.

Angiebooboo

on Sep 1, 2009 at 12:44 PM

i thing that worked for me is , make up your mind that you want long nails, and at first only bite your thumb nails and let the others grow, and after they start getting longer, you will like them, and you will stop biting your thumb nails. wa la nice long nails.

Meli19191

on Sep 3, 2009 at 7:02 PM

I'm not a biter, I'm a picker, and polish works for me too. I've been wrestling with this for years, and it is slowly going away. I have lots of reasons for picking and lots of things to do to solve the problem, I just have to figure which is where. I find I pick more often when I am too stressed, not stressed, but too stressed, and I also pick when I have too little to do. My hands have to stay busy. I pick when I see someone with the habbit, or when I'm nervous, and in general when something in my life is out of order. I polish, and sometimes I use a quickdry polish right before bed, I paint them ugly, fall asleep with them on my tummy so they dry by the time I sleep, and after the morning shower I rub around my nails with a damp wash cloth so the paint comes off my skin. Like I said I paint them ugly. I would deffinately try to find why you do it, it is most likely more than just a simple habbit, find out why and when it is the worst and deal accordingly. Sorry, but that's the best I got for you.

Nonmember comment from Hannah!

on Sep 13, 2009 at 5:13 PM

Well the thought that scientists took the gunk out from underneath their nails and put it underneath a microscope and found living, squirming things inside helped me stop... or you could join a sport to keep your mind off it... that helped me too. i noticed ever since i started playing volleyball i just stopped and the after hearing about the microscope thing... both of them together made me stop. gross habit,

RanaAurora

on Sep 13, 2009 at 6:32 PM

What helped me was having acrylic nails. I didn't want to bite them because A. they're expensive, and B. they felt awful to my teeth.
I started again awhile after they were off, and when pregnant, the texture was awful again, so I'd bite them.

Now, I catch myself just catching the edge and ripping them off (not to the quick) when they're too long. Soooo, I keep nail files AND clippers next to the computer, next to the couch, in the car, in my purse... if I get the urge to bite/tear them, I whip out the tools and then I leave them alone.

Nonmember comment from Rachel

on Sep 27, 2009 at 6:34 PM

I FINALLY stopped biting my nails!!! I am currently on day 5 of no nail biting and I can't believe that they have already grown! I know it doesn't sound like long at all, but I have barely ever gone an hour without chewing on my nails. I am 22 and have been biting them my whole life, and have tried anything you can imagine to stop, from fake nails to bitter-tasting stuff, to painting them, and nothing ever worked. Well, on Sept. 23rd, I just decided that I was going to stop and I made a conscious effort to keep my nails away from my mouth, and stopping myself if I ever started to bite em. I lasted a whole day, and so I continued the next day, and I have been working on it ever since. I will finally have nice nails! I am so excited!!! You just need to make a decision and stick to it--it sounds like it wouldn't work, but this is coming from a compulsive nail-biter who thought she was trapped forever! I am still obsessed with them and I pick at them a lot and think about biting them, but I am slowly getting better. Maybe this could work for you!!!