How to stop biting my nails
How I did it: First I identified that nail biting was a problem. I've tried to quit before, as I was a nail biter for a long time, but previously when I had tried to quit, it was because I chewed them up pretty bad and they hurt. Once I had grown them out again, I would convince myself that "a little nibble is ok, as long as I don't chew them up completely." This approach is not successful. This time around, I identified that I needed to stop biting my nails because, plain and simple, biting one's nails looks pretty nasty to everyone around you. I honestly never realized this until I saw someone else biting their nails. I was disgusted. This gave me much more determination to quit.
Lessons & tips: The main tactic I used to keep me from biting was to invest in a nail
kit. Basically I bought a nice nail file, a buffer, and a little pair
of clipper things that are great for trimming off hang nails and
peeling bits of skin that I would normally be tempted to bite off
(which makes them worse.) Whenever I was tempted to bite, I would get
out all of these supplies and give myself a mini-manicure. After doing
this for a couple of days, I honestly lost the desire to bite my nails
because they looked so pretty!
Another thing I used just in case was neem oil. Neem oil is very good
for healing and strengthening nails, and --a plus for nail biters-- it
tastes awful! I mean really, really awful. After my mini-manicure I
would rub this in to my nails, around my cuticles, etc. Basically,
anywhere I would be tempted to bite, I rubbed this in. This way, if my
hand inadvertently or subconsciously went in to my mouth for me to bite
my nails, I would instantly get this disgusting taste.
Resources: - Nail file
- Special nail scissors or cuticle clippers (I honestly don't know the proper term for these...)
- Nail buffer
- Neem oil
