Any tips for a nail-biter?

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Thank you everyone for the incredible advice I'm going to start off by investing in some nail polish, and maybe some cuticle oil!

Hi there,


Some good advice that worked for me and could help you. Nail biting is a hard habit to kick. Carry around a small metal nail file in your pocket, you know the ones from the compact travel packs. Every time you feel like you will bite your nails, file your nails softly. Or keep nail files in your purse, your kitchen, the living room when watching TV. Doing a replacement behaviour will really help.
Once you feel comfortable with that routine, head to a nail salon. Get a regular shellac manicure, and ask them if they can put a growth/strengthening base coat to try to grow out your nails. Typically a good manicure can last 2-3 weeks if you aren’t doing anything too strenuous. Try to keep up with getting a new manicure every month. It may seem like just another expense but it is so worth it. Once they grow out more, get a French manicure! It really shows off how hard you worked to kick the habit. I wish you all the best!

I am also a nail biter and tried using the bitter clear nail polish from the drugstore. I’ve been able to grow my nails for the past 3 weeks. I have also been using cuticle oil which has been helping me not pick at the skin around my nails.

Nail polish can definitely help!!! even the clear polish

I agree with the other ladies, nail polish can be a game changer when it comes helping with nail biting and growing them out too. I used to have short nails all the time and brittle, but then I would wear nail polish regularly, and they grew like crazy.

Also, I know this is a little gross to think about, but when I was younger, my bestie and I (bad nail biters) would remember this "fact" that it would be cleaner to lick a toilet bowl than to bite your nails. We'd try and remember that and it would instantly get us to stop hahaha

What Liberty said sort of worked for me too (I was a nail picker not biter but same thing). What really helped me was getting dip powder nails done consistently. You can't pick them haha. Adds up fast but worth it to me! Gave my nails a chance to grow out; you just need to make sure it's removed properly (yourself or professionally) so you don't completely ruin your nail - your best bet is having them done and then redone immediately.

I used to be a nail biter and I found if I had my nails painted I wouldn't bite them. I'd usually pick off the nail polish instead but at least I wasn't biting them. I did have to paint my nails every few days but it helped me and I am no longer a nail biter