Nail biting is something which is incredibly common, with an estimated 30% of adults and almost half of kids succumbing to a spot of nail nibbling. While plenty of studies have been conducted around nail biting, no conclusion has ever really been asserted regarding why humans do it, although it’s often related to stress and compulsivity. Regardless of the cause, nails which have been bitten (and the skin around them) can often look ragged and unsightly, so we’ve put together a few tips to help you to give yourself a mini manicure at home to tidy your frazzled fingers:
Keep Them Clean
Biting your nails comes with more risks than just unsightly fingers – your nails collect a lot of germs, dirt, and other impurities that get transferred to your mouth and then to your stomach. This can result in oral and gastrointestinal infections, and can even put you at risk of contracting e coli or salmonella! While you’re trying to stop biting, make sure you keep your nails spotlessly clean by scrubbing daily with a Zero Waste Natural Wooden Nail Brush. It is perfect for removing dirt from underneath fingernails and on the hands, and ensuring you don’t transfer bacteria to your mouth.
Nourish Your Cuticles
When people habitually bite their nails, their cuticles often suffer as well, either through being bitten or from being damaged in the process. Dry, damaged cuticles are one of most obvious signs of hands which aren’t being cared for, so we’d recommend using CND Solar Oil Nail and Cuticle Care Pen. It contains a blend of naturally light oils and vitamin E which offers intense therapy for dry, damaged cuticles. Jojoba oil carries the vitamin E deeply into the skin, keeping hands soft and supple and repeated use actually drives the oils deeper in the natural nail, for results that only get better with time.
Replenish Missing Nutrients
Nail biting can eventually weaken your nails, leaving them brittle, soft and generally lacking nutrients. This means that even the newer part of your nail will be damaged when it grows through and you end up in a cycle of unsightly nails, even if you manage to stop biting them. Protein Formula For Nails No:4 is formulated for weak, damaged and post nail extension nails. It’s an intense formula to restructure and strengthen damaged nails, whilst hydrating and promoting healthy regrowth, making it perfect for habitual biters.
Repair Damaged Nails
When nails are repeatedly bitten over many years, they often grow back with ridges and misshapen areas. Constantly biting your nails puts pressure on the nail wall which, over time, can actually change the shape or curvature of your nails and even affect your nail’s ability to grow. CND RidgeFx is a nail surface enhancer and ridge filler that smooths out ridges and masks imperfections for a beautiful colour application and chip resistant wear. It won’t repair the damage permanently, but it will dramatically improve the appearance of ridged nails.
Use a Pretty Polish
One of the best ways to avoid biting your nails is to invest in a decent nail polish in a colour you love from the CND Vinylux range. Having your nails painted means that you won’t want to ruin them by biting the ends off, and using a good quality gel polish actually makes it more difficult to bite your nails off at all! Your nails will stay looking nice for longer and in the meantime, you’ll have done some of the hard work towards breaking the habit of a lifetime.