Girl biting her nails.
Nail biting is a common habit that has a variety of root causes. There are several techniques you can use to stop nail biting, including the use of bitter-tasting substances, hypnosis, and regular nail care. If you can stop biting, you’ll enjoy healthier nails and cuticles and also kick a nasty habit.
Start by identifying the root cause of nail biting. Biting your nails is usually a reflection of an oral fixation: perhaps you are stressed or have recently stopped smoking. It’s important to understand why you’re doing this, because once you stop biting your nails, you’ll want to find ways to distract yourself, like chewing gum, knitting, or finding another hands-on activity. If you know the root cause, you can distract yourself in situations where you would normally bite your nails.
Bitter nail polishes made especially can be used to prevent nail biting.
An important first step is to cut your nails. File your short nails and trim your cuticles too. If your nails are short, there will be less willingness to bite. If you are biting a nail, stop immediately and file the nail not only to shorten it, but also to smooth out any irregular parts.
A typical way to stop nail biting is to use a bitter-tasting substance. Many companies make products, such as bitter nail polish, to help keep fingers out of the mouth. Other items around the home, like habanero peppers, soap, or anything else you might find that tastes bitter or intense, can be just as effective. Apply the product to your hands frequently throughout the day, but be careful not to rub your eyes or other delicate areas.
Keeping yourself busy knitting or doing something else with your hands can help you bite your nails less.
A manicure can also help you stop biting your nails. The manicurist will cut the dead skin from the cuticle, strengthen the nail and shorten it if requested. Used nail polish often has a bitter taste and will remind you to stop biting your nails if you unconsciously start again. For people who can’t afford a manicure, consider nail polish, either clear or colored.
Getting a manicure can help you stop biting your nails.
For severe cases, hypnosis can be used to break this habit. You can visit a hypnotherapist for multiple sessions or buy recorded tapes of nail biting. It may take several sessions to see results with hypnosis, but it can result in long-term behavior change that will prevent you from ever biting your nails again.