Wedding Blog

I’m a nail biter, I have acne, and I don’t like vegetables.

How’s that for a super-fun way to start a post? Well, it’s all true. These are issues I’ve been trying to deal with for years, and as my wedding day approaches they’re becoming even more important to me. This is the first post of a three-part series about wedding-inspired self-improvement.

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Nail biting is the problem that should be the easiest to solve. I have thin, peeling, flaking, easy-to-break nails. I always have. I can’t open a soda can or shampoo bottle without cracking a nail off, and they frequently get caught and tear on fabrics and other seemingly harmless surfaces. And to make matters worse, I bite ’em. I don’t technically chomp on them, but I passively gnaw on them when I’m nervous, bored, or simply when my hands are unoccupied. I do it while reading, while doing homework, while sitting in meetings at work, while driving… you get the picture. The main reason I do it is because my nails are so jagged and flaky all the time. I feel like I need to use my teeth to even them out a little. Not only does it look gross and childish for me to constantly have my fingers in my mouth, but it also further weakens nails that were fragile to begin with. I love having painted nails, but my nails bend and peel so easily that no manicure ever lasts more than a day or two. Now that I’m engaged, my hands get more attention than they used to. People sometimes ask to see my ring, and I know there will be photos of my hands on my wedding day too. I really want my hands to look nice.

Since getting engaged, I’ve taken these steps to help stop my nasty nail-noshing tendencies:

1. I take a calcium supplement with my supper. Part of the reason my nails are so thin and flaky is that I don’t eat enough dairy or drink enough milk. I just don’t like a lot of it very much. You can only go so far on cheese and ice cream! As a woman, there are a lot more important reasons than fingernails to increase one’s calcium intake, so I feel good about this step.

2. I keep nail files everywhere. I went to Target and bought a 12 pack of emery boards for under $2. I keep one in my purse, one at work, one in my school bag, one in my car, one by my chair at home… you get the picture. Since my fingers seem to end up in my mouth because they’re uneven, I didn’t want to give myself that excuse anymore. Hangnail? Break? Chip? Flaking? I have a file. No excuse to resort to teeth.

3. I moisturize. I bought some Burt’s Bees Cuticle Cream. I have some at work and some at home, and I put it on a few times a day. Not only does it help keep the raw cuticles and hangnails at bay, but I also don’t care to eat it (and hence, if my fingers are all greased up with this stuff, they won’t be in my mouth).

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4. I’m aware of what I’m doing. Self-awareness goes a long way. To just be able to internally say, “You’re biting your nail. Stop it.” is a big step for me.

My results haven’t been perfect, but I have made some progress and I definitely have longer, nicer nails than ever before.

Have you got any bad habits you’re trying to kick before you say “I Do”?