The habit of biting your nails not only makes your hands look unattractive but can also lead to permanent damage to your nails, teeth, or gums. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can try to break this habit.
Maintain Nail Health
Get your nails done as often as possible. A freshly manicured set of nails will make you less likely to bite them, won't it? Plus, painting your nails can help you resist the urge to bite because you won't want to ruin the polish. When you admire your beautiful nails, you'll probably want to keep them looking pristine, and the best way to show off your stunning nails is by getting them professionally done.
The Health Benefits of Manicures
Exfoliation. Our hands are constantly exposed to dirt and grime, more so than any other part of the body, which means our skin needs to constantly regenerate new cells and shed old ones. A manicure typically includes cleaning and moisturizing, helping to remove dead skin cells. This keeps your hands feeling smooth and reduces the appearance of wrinkles!
Improved Blood Circulation. Using moisturizers and cuticle care products to massage your skin also helps boost blood flow. This can alleviate pain and improve the even distribution of heat throughout the body.
Relaxation. A manicure is also a great way to unwind and enjoy some pampering. You deserve it!
Keep Your Nails Trimmed to a Reasonable Length. A simple nail trim will help you maintain healthy nails and keep them short enough to make it harder to bite them.
Occasionally Push Back Your Cuticles. Many people who have a habit of biting their nails don’t have a 'moon' at the base of their nails because their cuticles aren't pushed back. You should gently push your cuticles back to help widen your nails. This is easier to do after a shower when your hands and nails are still wet.
- After pushing back your cuticles, your nails will appear longer and more elegant. This can also serve as motivation to stop biting your nails.
Adopt a Healthy Diet. A balanced diet will not only help you feel healthier, but also promote the recovery and growth of strong nails. You should consume foods rich in calcium and magnesium to support nail health and growth. Moreover, a key reason people bite their nails is a lack of calcium and magnesium. Your body needs these minerals to function properly.
Foods to Promote Strong Nail Growth
Protein-Rich Foods: lean meats (chicken, beef steak), nuts, spinach, chickpeas, soybeans, whole grains
Foods High in Zinc: oysters, beans, red meat (in small amounts)
Calcium-Rich Foods: chia seeds, white beans, leafy green vegetables, nuts
Magnesium-Rich Foods: pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate
Biotin-Rich Foods: bananas, peanuts, lentils, almonds (or almond butter)
Foods with Essential Fatty Acids: tuna, salmon, shellfish, leafy greens
Celebrate your success in growing your nails. Don’t hesitate to show off your new nails to your friends, even to those you aren't very close with. Let them see your hands and say, “Can you believe I used to bite my nails?”
- Take a photo of your hands and admire how beautiful they look. You could even hang the photo or place it next to one of your old nail-biting pictures to see the big changes you’ve made in your life.
Keep your mouth and hands occupied
Find an alternative habit to replace nail-biting. Whenever you feel the urge to bite your nails, replace it with a new habit. Some people like tapping their fingers, twisting their thumb, intertwining their hands, sticking their hands in their pockets, or simply staring at their hands. However, make sure it’s not another bad habit; try to find something useful or at least harmless.
Alternative habits to break the nail-biting cycle
Play with a small object. Carry a small rubber band, coin, or any item in your hand to replace the urge to bite your nails.
Distract your hands when you’re most likely to bite your nails. Identify the times when you usually bite your nails, such as when you're on a bus or in class, and find a way to substitute the habit depending on the situation. If you're in class, focus on taking notes. If you're on the bus, try fiddling with your keys.
Squeeze clay or Silly Putty. Bring along some Silly Putty or clay. It’s a fun way to keep your hands busy when you feel the urge to bite your nails.
Keep a coin in your pocket. Try placing a coin in your pocket to fiddle with when you get the urge to bite your nails.
Divert your hands by finding a new hobby. A new pastime won't only help you stop biting your nails, but you might even discover a new passion in the process.
Hobbies to try
House cleaning. With this hobby, you'll be rewarded with a tidier, cleaner home, which will make you feel happier when you're at home.
Knitting and crocheting. By learning to knit, you can create lovely scarves, hats, and sweaters to give as wonderful gifts to loved ones.
Running. Physical activities release endorphins, which help reduce stress. This is especially helpful if you tend to bite your nails when you're anxious.
Nail art. Painting and decorating your nails is a creative method that can help you break the nail-biting habit!
Clay or Silly Putty sculpting. This is a perfect hobby for those who often bite their nails because the smell of Silly Putty stays on your hands long after washing, which will make you less likely to want to bite your nails.
Keep your mouth occupied. While you should avoid creating new bad habits, here are some tips that might help keep your mouth busy and reduce nail-biting.
Tips to keep your mouth busy
Chew gum or suck on peppermint candy all day. It’s hard to bite your nails when your mouth is busy chewing gum or sucking on a delicious candy. Also, the mint or citrus taste in the candy mixed with your nails will create a repelling sensation and stop you from continuing.
Snack throughout the day. While you should avoid excessive snacking that could lead to weight gain, bring along healthy snacks like carrot sticks or celery that you can munch on all day.
Carry a water bottle. Always bring a water bottle with you, so you can take a sip whenever you feel tempted to bite your nails.
Paint your nails. Painting your nails can also discourage you from nibbling on them, as the bold colors will catch your eye and distract you from the urge to bite. Plus, you’ll have more motivation to avoid biting them so as not to ruin your beautiful manicure.
- Choose your favorite color so you won’t want to peel it off.
- Pick a nail design. If you like art on your nails, you’ll be less likely to peel off the polish.
- Make painting your nails a fun activity. If you can keep the polish on long enough, your nails will have the chance to grow back!
Use anti-nail-biting solutions
Apply a layer of anti-nail-biting solution to prevent yourself from biting your nails. Bitrex and Mavala Stop are popular products, but there are many other options available. You can find these products at pharmacies, large department stores, or supermarkets. Some are also available online.
Apply the solution to your nails multiple times a day. You may also apply a top coat over the solution to make it last longer and smooth out the surface. The smooth texture of your nails will also serve as a reminder not to bite them (it turns out that simply applying a top coat is enough to discourage nail-biting on its own).
Always carry your anti-nail-biting solution with you. Keep a bottle in your bag, car, or desk drawer.
Apply another coat when the previous one wears off.
Patience is key when using this method.
Try using a different product. As mentioned, there are many anti-nail-biting products available on the market. If one doesn't work for you or you've gotten used to its taste, simply switch to another and keep trying.
Continue applying the solution even after you've stopped biting your nails. Even once you've kicked the habit of nail-biting, you can keep the bottle as a keepsake of your success.
Cover your nails
Paint your nails.Try bold colors like red or black, as these shades look especially bad when chipped from biting.
If you’re not into colors, you can simply buff your nails and apply a clear topcoat or Vaseline. It’ll be harder to bite your nails when they look as beautiful as that.
Buzz
