I’ve been a nail-biter since I was pre-natal, and even early in college, I just got used to the fact that my nails and cuticles were always ravaged to the point where they would sometimes bleed (gross, I know). But one summer, when I was waitressing for the first time, I felt like no one would want food served from someone that looked like they’d had their hands in their mouth not two minutes earlier, so I began to grow my nails out and I stopped biting my cuticles. I canNOT recommend enough that you use a nail hardener, because if you’ve been a nail-biter for most of your life, it’s very likely your nails will be very weak at full length and will break along the way, which will tempt you to bite them. I used Sally Hansen Triple Strong Nail Fortifier and I LOVE IT SO MUCH! I swear by this stuff. You won’t bite your nails because you won’t freakin’ be able to, this stuff makes your nails as hard as ACTUAL nails. I actually grew them to the point where they wouldn’t grow anymore!

I recommend doing this once every two or three days: one thin coat of the Triple Strong, one thin coat of a quick-drying nail polish (I use Maybelline Express Finish) and then another coat of the hardener. Each coat will only take a few minutes to dry, so this whole process should only take about 5-10 minutes tops. After this, your nails will be bulletproof.

Once your nails are long and beautiful, and your cuticles smooth, you won’t want to bite your nails anymore. It makes you feel so beautiful, too. I didn’t realize how much my five-year-old nails detracted from my self-esteem; hiding them quickly after I would hand something to someone or pointing to things using my knuckles so no one would notice how disturbingly shredded my nails looked. And it opens up all new possibilities for “decorating” your hands, because you’ll be so proud of them, you’ll want to draw attention to them: nail polishes, rings, bracelets and the like. And guys DO notice. They really do. :O)