Beauty Dilemmas: How To Stop Biting Your Nails Today!

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If you’re the kind of person whose nails scream ‘mid morning snack’ rather than ‘high fashion statement’ or ‘elegantly groomed professional’, don’t panic! Nail biting is a habit that CAN be broken with just a little time, patience and willpower.

Even if your nails are chewed to the quick and you find yourself absentmindedly nibbling at them in unguarded moments, perfectly manicured nails coated in this season’s most covetable polish can be yours. Read on for our five top tips on how to stop biting your nails:

• Start By Noticing:

The truth is, it’s almost impossible to change a habit overnight, so start by just noticing how many times a day you bite your nails, and each time deliberately take your hand from your mouth. As you start to take more notice and make a conscious decision not to bite, the number of times a day it happens should fall.

• Ask Those Around You To Help

Whilst it can be really irritating to have your partner or friend nagging you about a habit, this time you actually want them to nag. When you’re watching TV, on your phone, at your desk or just wistfully gazing out of the window dreaming, it can be really hard to notice yourself distractedly nibbling on your nails. Having someone to point it out to you, gently, can really help.

• Redirect Your Hands

It’s hard to break a habit so have something on standby to occupy your hands when you catch yourself chewing. Even something as simple as a smooth stone to run your hands over, a soft piece of fabric in your pocket, a new game on your phone or a pen to doodle in a notebook can make it much easier to redirect your attention until the craving to bite your nails goes away.

• Make Your Nails Disgusting

If you’re struggling to stop, just remind yourself how much bacteria and dirt gets trapped under fingernails and how when you bite your nails, you’re eating all of it! If that’s not quite disgusting enough to stop you, try a product like Stop ‘n’ Grow that makes your nails taste truly revolting, just as a reminder. If you mentally link the disgusting taste with the dirt and bacteria, you might just find a little more motivation to stop.

• Make Your Nails Beautiful

After all your hard work, take the time to make your nails look beautiful. Once there’s enough nail to do it, file them gently into a short but chic shape, and paint them in a colour you love. A shade where it will really notice if you chew some off is best for motivating you to leave them alone- try Opi Set In Stone for a stylish but work friendly option. Remember, they won’t look perfect overnight, it takes time and patience to change habits and grow back nails, but it will happen! If you think you might be tempted to chew anyway, add some Stop ‘n’ Grow over your fingertips and cuticles as a quick reminder, then sit back and admire all your hard work – you’re well on your way to beautiful, healthy nails!