So here's my tips on what has helped me stop biting before (and again this time, as I haven't bitten them for 3 months now since I started the routine again).
But first, a little bit of background. I'm the type of biter who bites the nails right down. When that happens, they are sore to pick things up, put my hands in the sink to wash dishes or to brush any product on them. I've read about people who like biting their nails, I'm not one of them. I'm embarrassed to show my hands, often hiding them away from sight. I get frustrated that I can't pick up sewing needles off the floor, or remove a splinter, or do anything else that nails with even a little bit of length would enable me to do. Plus, my husband says how nice my hands look when my nails have some length in them (but not too long).
Here has what has worked for me. Up front I'll let you know that I will be mentioning products by name, but I'm not sponsored by any company, although I am a Nutrimetics consultant.
Be ready to stop
There's been all sorts of research into why people bite their nails. Basically I bite when I'm bored or stressed, or my hands are idle. Adult nail biters have usually been doing it for so long that they will bite their nails without even realising they are doing it, and that's happened to me. I have family members who are nail biters, so maybe I picked it up very young. I certainly notice that when I bite my nails, my 5 year old son starts doing the same. When I stop, so does he.
The times that I have been successful at stopping the biting is when I have been ready to. There's not much point starting when you are feeling depressed, stressed, or whatever your trigger for nail biting is. Get your mind ready first. Some years ago I remember looking at my nails and rather calmly saying to myself 'I'm not going to bite them anymore' and I didn't bite them for 2 years. I tried replicating that when I fell off the wagon and failed. I realised that what I needed to do was be in the right mindset to stop. I had to want to stop, and not just to have nice nails for an upcoming social occassion.
I know when I'm in the right mindset now. It's when I can look at my hands and they look like they don't really belong to me....that the bitten unsightly nails don't match how I feel about myself. When I had post natal depression I was biting my nails. I didn't try to stop as my hands matched the way I felt about myself, so I knew that if I tried I would fail.
Be prepared to stop
Ok, here's where I mention some products. You need to look after your nail health as when your nails start to get some length in them they will probably be weakened by the nail biting habit. Concentrate on getting the nails strong before getting them long.
Two techniques using nail products that have worked for me.
No painting method: Years ago, before I joined Nutrimetics, my mum sent me some of their Hand and Nail treatment creme. I also bought some Mavala Scientifique nail hardener. What's so special about this nail hardener? It's the only one I found that actually soaks into the nail rather than just coating it. Most nail hardeners leave a coating on your nail when you brush it on, and after a few layers or days you are supposed to remove it. The Mavala one is applied to the tip of the nail only, and soaks in through the layers of nail, bonding them together and making them stronger. You apply it twice a week until the nails are strong, and then once a month or when needed after that to maintain the strength. It seems expensive for such a little bottle but one bottle lasts for years! I used to be able to buy it in chemists but now can only find it in on-line chemist shops.
After applying the nail hardener, I would rub the hand creme in, making sure to massage the cuticles. I would keep the nail hardener and hand creme by my bed and do it at night, that way I wouldn't forget to do it. I now have several family members using the nail hardener too!
Painting method: This is the one I am using at the moment. Once a week I remove the remnants of nail polish, clean my nails, buff, file, apply nail hardener, and then paint my nails. I used a bright red or pink at the start. It looks terrible on bitten nails, but served as a reminder when I would go to bite them.
This photo is of my nails taken a few weeks ago. My hands look terrible as I took the photo before using a scrub on my hands to remove dead skin cells.
I've tried false nails, but they didn't work for me. I know they work for some, but they didn't do any good for my nail health and my nails were weak when they came off.
Have emery boards everywhere!
Have one in the bedroom, one in the kitchen, one in your bag, one in the car...Many nail biting episodes have started for me by the presence of a broken nail without having an emery board handy.
Get your nails strong before getting them long
Avoid the temptation to get your nails long quickly. They will most likely be weak and break quickly, leaving you disappointed, and possibly biting again.
Replace one habit with another
Many websites about stopping biting mention this technique. Some suggest having a rubber band around your wrist that you can fling when you get the urge to bite, or clench your hands into a fist, or use one of those horrible tasting nail products (they've never worked for me, I've continued biting despite the bitter taste). I found I fiddle with my fingers a lot. My husband says he much prefers the fiddling to the biting, but it annoys the heck out of me! I just can't seem to keep my hands still! Maybe one day I'll find a replacement habit that doesn't annoy me so much!
Nail Biters Anonymous
I once remember hearing that there are no former alcoholics, only ones that have stopped drinking. I have had much more success with stopping biting my nails with this same mentality. In the past, whenever I thought 'I'm never going to bite my nails again' I haven't been able to keep at it for long. When I changed my thinking to 'I'm a nail biter who just isn't biting my nails' I have been able to stay with it for years.
The longest I have gone without biting is 2 years. I have had naturally long nails for my wedding, and the birth of both my children. Consequently, I wasn't hiding my nails for the photos in these events.
I hope this is of some help (and support) to those of you out there that are chronic nail biters.
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