(Nail polish worn is Orly Rage, from this NOTD)
You wouldn't think these were the nails of a biter would you? Well, technically you'd be right. They're not anymore. In my early teens, I foolishly became a nail biter - goodness knows why, perhaps because my friends did so I misguidedly thought it was cool?! This persistent nail biting, and I'm talking right down to the skin, to the point it hurts so much and bleeds, lasted {on and off} right into my early twenties. I'll be 26 this year, so that's a lot of abuse I've subjected my poor fingers too. I'm pretty darn chuffed to proudly {and publicly} declare that I've not bitten my nails in well over 2 years now.
As with most nail biters, I attempted preventative measures, even resorting to having acrylics put on fortnightly - which only served to weaken them further in the long term and left dents in my back balance. Those anti-biting formulas you can apply around the nail - useless, I just carried on until the vile, bitter taste was gone. That's the sign of a true biter, nothing will stop you. Oh, and the aforementioned acrylics, well yes, I even tried biting those.
"Please, stop wittering on!" I hear you all cry. Tell us, tell us, just how did you do it?! Well, I started painting my nails. That's it. I know, I know, surely something as simple as nail varnish wasn't going to be strong enough to crack this habit? It ruddy well was.
The moment my nails were painted, even when horribly short and unsightly, I admired them, turning my hands at all angles and gazing over whichever shade adorned them that day. Having painted nails allowed me to feel pride over them, and moved the focus from desperately needing to nibble them, to desperately wanting to make them look pretty. It took a long time, and a few failed attempts, but I got there, and now have talons I'm very happy with. They are actually pretty short for me at the moment, as shown in the above photo, I tend to keep them quite short and neat so I don't scratch Jamie when changing his nappy...
Of course, when you give up something as addictive as nail biting, you tend to replace it with something else...like buying and hoarding unnecessary amounts of nail varnish perhaps?!
As with most nail biters, I attempted preventative measures, even resorting to having acrylics put on fortnightly - which only served to weaken them further in the long term and left dents in my back balance. Those anti-biting formulas you can apply around the nail - useless, I just carried on until the vile, bitter taste was gone. That's the sign of a true biter, nothing will stop you. Oh, and the aforementioned acrylics, well yes, I even tried biting those.
"Please, stop wittering on!" I hear you all cry. Tell us, tell us, just how did you do it?! Well, I started painting my nails. That's it. I know, I know, surely something as simple as nail varnish wasn't going to be strong enough to crack this habit? It ruddy well was.
The moment my nails were painted, even when horribly short and unsightly, I admired them, turning my hands at all angles and gazing over whichever shade adorned them that day. Having painted nails allowed me to feel pride over them, and moved the focus from desperately needing to nibble them, to desperately wanting to make them look pretty. It took a long time, and a few failed attempts, but I got there, and now have talons I'm very happy with. They are actually pretty short for me at the moment, as shown in the above photo, I tend to keep them quite short and neat so I don't scratch Jamie when changing his nappy...
Of course, when you give up something as addictive as nail biting, you tend to replace it with something else...like buying and hoarding unnecessary amounts of nail varnish perhaps?!
I completely get where you're coming from because I was exactly the same!! I bought ridiculous amounts of nail varnishes and would sit and paint my nails in pretty colours. I still do this now but find if a nail chips slightly I have to remove the colour and paint a different one straight away or else I still get the temptation to bite!
ReplyDeleteThis was my one of my new years resolutions to stop biting my nails, its such a hard habit to give up, even though i know its a horrible habit! x
ReplyDeleteI stopped biting mine over 2 years ago, after biting them for as long as I could remember... I tried everything, and have to say the only thing that worked for me was willpower. Not to spot biting my nails, but instead to have pretty nails (well, given how it looked, just "nails" was enough). From this moment on I did not feel the need to bite them anymore. And what came with nails? yes that's right, a new addiction to nail polish.
ReplyDeleteOh well done you, that's great. Arran bites his nails. It really bothers me, and he hurts himself. Apparently it's quite normal in toddlers. I don't think nail polish would do the trick for him though (and might be regarded as a little odd perhaps!). xxxx
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