Hive, I’ve gotta be real with you about something. The honest truth is, I’ve been battling one of those nasty habits people talk about, and it’s one I’m not at all proud of. I used to not pay much attention to it, but after Mr. A and I started to get more serious in our relationship, it suddenly occurred to me that part of me wouldn’t be completely comfortable showing off a possible engagement ring unless I kicked the habit.
I’m talking about nail biting.
Now, I’m sure I’m not the only girl out there who’s struggled with this problem, but let me tell you, I’ve been biting my nails for as long as I can remember. I can even pinpoint the very first time I started: A close cousin of mine is a habitual nail biter (and a bad one, at that.) When we were both really little, I remember my mom saying something to her about how she should quit and that it wasn’t a good habit to have and you could get sick and yada yada yada, and I remember looking at the sad, quasi-shameful look on her face and just feeling so bad for her. At that moment, I chewed off every single one of my nails and displayed them to my mom, proud of what I’d done. I beamed when I saw the smirk on my cousin’s face. Although the initial nail biting might have stemmed from an empathetic motivation mixed with a certain rebellious defiance towards my mom, the habit creeped up on me not too soon after that, and I found myself biting my nails all the time.
My mom tried everything to get me to quit. She would ask my Gaga to take me to get fancy manicures from the nail salon. She bought some of that nasty tasting paint on stuff and put it all over my nails. She dabbed hot sauce on my finger tips. But no matter how she approached it, the habit was there, stuck for good.
I bit my nails all through high school and into the beginning of college, but I started to get somewhat self-conscious about the way my fingers looked once I started dating Mr. A. He never mentioned anything about them, but anytime I found our fingers intertwined, I would glance down and wince at the sight of my puffy fingertips and jagged nails. Once we started talking about marriage and kids, it suddenly occurred to me that I might have to wear an engagement ring, at which point I would be obligated to show it off to people. But no matter how gorgeous that ring might have been, it would have been marred by the sight of short, stubby, unattractive nails. It was at that moment that I was resolved to kick the habit, once and for all.
I started being more conscious of when and why I bit my nails, and I discovered that I almost always had them in my mouth when a nail was uneven or when one ripped or split. So, I started carrying around a nail file in my purse with me wherever I went, and I kept my nails painted in a bright, vibrant color. If they looked nice, I didn’t want to mess them up by chewing them off, so as long as I kept them painted and snaggle-free, I was less inclined to bite them. After about six months of hard, conscious work to keep myself from biting my nails, Mr. A popped the question and slipped that gorgeous ring on my finger.
I haven’t bitten my nails off since.
I guess I just needed the right motivation to kick the habit, and I’m so glad I did! Painting my nails has become a weekly, therapeutic time for me, and I love switching out my polish colors to go with outfits or holidays. And you’d be surprised how many actions are so much easier with nails! (Opening soda cans is no longer a challenge!) The best part is, nasty fingernails no longer detract from the beautiful ring Mr. A worked so hard to save up for, and I’m by no means embarrassed to show it off whenever I’m asked to! I can’t wait to brainstorm how to paint my nails on my wedding day, especially now that I HAVE them!
Pretty Nails!
Anyone else struggle with nail biting in the past? What motivated you to kick the habit?
My motivation was similar to yours, I wanted to stop so that they could look nice in front of other people (though it was well before the ring). I’m still an occasional nail biter, mostly when they’re not painted and one snags and I have to rip it off or even it out. I also tend to bite them when I am driving/stuck in traffic.
What I’ve found is easiest for me is getting shellac/uv gel manicures. The polish lasts longer and keeps my nails hard and prevents them from chipping or breaking. Plus it’s difficult to soak off, so it’s easier to get one color taken off and another put on, meaning that they’re always painted!
I’ve also bitten my nails for as long as I can remember. It never used to bother my much, but over the last year or two, the nails started getting shorter and shorter (to the point of there being more thumb than nail!), and I was concerned enough about it to stop for good.
I do struggle though still, I hate the way it feels to file my nails and how messy it is. Even though I like having a longer nail bed now, I don’t like having long nails so I find myself having to file often.
I recently saw a picture that had a close up of my thumb from about 2 years ago, and I’m utterly disgusted as to how short they were, I’m confident I will never be a nail biter again 
That’s a really pretty color! What is that?
I have a similar problem, instead of biting them, I use my other nails to pick at/rip them. Just like you, as long as I don’t have any jagged edges, I’m good. But if I don’t have a pair of clippers handy, watch out because I WILL NOT STOP picking at them until they are much too short to be pretty.
I’ve bit my nails my entire life, and when I manage to grow them a bit they’re fragile as paper, I’ve been trying to grown them, but it’s so dang hard!
I bit my nails my whole life but once I had the ring on my finger I was able to stop cold turkey. It was completely subconscious too, just one day I noticed my nails were really long and I hadn’t chewed them off in a while.
@iammcdibble: The same thing happened to me. I was chronic nailbiter who thought I would never kick the habit. I wasn’t even trying for the wedding although I did wish I could have nice nails. The one day- right before my bridal shower I looked down and realized I had stopped biting. It was completely subconscious and I have not bitten since. I still can’t believe it. Its great to hear that other people had the same thing happen to them!
I have also been a nail biter forever. Me and a friend got acrylic nails and I kept them on for almost 3 years. I have recently taken them off and am trying to grow them out on my own. Its really hard but keeping a nail file handy to use whenever there is something uneven has been a real help! I hope I can keep this up until my wedding…whenever that will be!
I used to bite my nails so badly. Ever since I was little until I got to college. I finally got tired of how bad my hands looked and wanted to be able to paint them fun colors. I stopped cold turkey. However, after the wedding, for some strange reason, I bit them all off! I finally am back on track to growing them out. Must of been nerves or too much time on my hands! Congrats on stopping – I know how hard it is!
@ItsPronounced_ABear: It’s OPI’s “Up the Amazon Without a Paddle.” I’m pretty sure it’s a discontinued color. 
I love it, though! Perfect for the summer (or anytime, really. 
)
Such awesome stories, you guys! Thanks for all the support and words of wisdom. I totally appreciate it!
@Blonde17Jess: The gel/shellac manicure is DEF on my to-do list! Maybe for the wedding?
Ugh I hate nail biting. I wish I could pinpoint my first bite and WHY. I got so sick of it that I start using a product called Nibble No More. It tastes disgusting but works well. I’ve had nails since May, but I’m not to a point where I can keep nail polish on. I get almost obsessive when something is wrong with the polish and fingers end up in my mouth.
I am a nail biter and it is SUCH a hard habit to break. I started using the nasty tasting stuff on my nails and that works but it takes a while to truly break the habit. Nail polish works, when I’m wearing it, but I’m in the military so I hardly wear it.
Congrats on kicking the habit! Your hands and nails look great.
They look gorgeous! I’m sure you’re thankful now, but I know you’ll love looking at photos of them from your wedding day!
your nails look gorgeous! I really love that nail color. It’s so happy!
I don’t bite my nails but I pick at the skin around the nails! I have tried to kick the habit but no luck! Luckily its only the thumbs that look bad! I think your nails are gorgeous and bravo on kicking your habit!
Mrs. Armadillo, Houston, Texas Age and Occupation: 23, Graduate Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Armed Security Officer Engagement Date: September 28, 2011 Wedding Date: March 2013 Venue: First Presbyterian Church/Bay City Civic Center About Me: I’m an oldies-loving, board game-playing, coffee addicted fine arts junkie from Southeast Texas in pursuit of her master’s degree in communication studies who met the goofy, strong, artistic, and unexpected love of her life in the beautiful piney woods of East Texas. Serendipity threw us together again and again (and again) on our college campus before we eventually stuck, but when we finally did submit to destiny, we hit the ground running and never looked back! We’re planning a religious, small town, budget-friendly, DIY-infused “winter becomes springtime” ceremony and reception to celebrate the beginning of our lives together with the people we love the most, and are pouring our hearts and souls into making sure our wedding represents us as a couple down to the nitty gritty details and balances tradition with the quirky individuality that is uniquely and unequivocally “us”!
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