I have a nail biting problem.
I don’t know the exact cause, I bite them even if I want to stop. I just find me biting my nails.
The habit goes on and off. I grow my nails and then they get bitten off.
Sometimes one hand has bitten nails while the other is intact.
Or the same hand has bitten nails and intact nails.
I HATE it.

One bitten nail would be 0.7cm.
I can't describe anymore but take a look at the picture and tell me what to do to make them proper again. Here’s a picture of my nails:
http://s1106.photobucket.com/albums/h364/namae197/Hand/?action=view&current=DSCN1549.jpg

I don’t know if the biting changed my default nail size or something, but I really want to undo the damage.
I don’t like the habit. I want to kick it for good and have proper nails again.
I need some serious help with this but I don’t know where to start, that’s why I’ve come to you guys for help.
I'll post more details if you ask questions.
I am going to take your advice seriously so I can fix this.

I have the same problem, and I still haven't been able to stop. I tried wearing clear nail polish, and it worked for a while, but then I just began chewing off the nail polish as well as my nails.

>>2
OP here. I tried the same thing and same result here. Haven't used nail polish in ages too.

Hi fellow nail biter! I used to do it myself just until recently when I finally got rid of it. When I was biting my nails it was REALLY BAD, honestly. Not only did I chew up my nails, but I also ate from the nearby skin (whatever it's called). When I was younger I used to bite on my toe nails, a habit I had until I was in middle school when I finally quit, I did however relapse some time after that and got an ingrown nail, after that I quit for good.

Oh yeah, finger nails! When at it's worst the thumb nail was like 7mm or something, same thing goes for the rest of the nails to, except the the nail on the little finger which was just a few millimeters.

Over the years I've tried quite a few methods to stop with the habit, most including clear nail polish with incredibly terrible taste, but I've always started biting my nails again either while going "through treatment", or some time after. One time I thought that I'd finally succeeded, which I had for the time being, but after getting some sad news the relapse was a fact. so a pro tip, stay out of depressing news.

I wasn't able to quit for real until... well, earlier this year, at the age of 20. One day I finally thought to myself that I was going to quit right now, and I did... with a lot of help from kind Mr Internet. Some of the tips that made me quit:

• Use clear nail polish. A lot of it. Get several bottles of it and keep one with you wherever you go, and place the others strategically through your house, preferably where you usually bite your nails. Always keep a bottle at your computer, and one at your bed. These are the two places you're most likely to bite your nails. Whenever you feel like biting your nails, or if you're waiting for something (eg. a video to load, commercial brake etc) add a new coating of polish on both hands, even if you don't think you'll need it. If you feel like biting your nails, get the nail polish.

• NEVER TASTE THE NAIL POLISH. The biggest problem is "getting used to the taste", and if you get that you're likely to fail. If you find yourself with a finger in your mouth, get it out of there and slam it on the nearest table, hope it will hurt! Also, add a new coat of nail polish. Some brands of nail polish will get weaker in just a couple of weeks, buy new ones if this happens.

• Read the instructions. I never did this until my last few attempts. The brand I used (it's named "Stop N Grow" btw) recommend using it for at least three months from the point you've stopped biting your finger nails. Since nails grow pretty quick it's easy to believe that you've stopped the habit once they're grown out. For nails to recover I believe it takes like two-three weeks or so, breaking the habit take much longer.

• Get nail files, nail-clippers/scissors and other products for making your nails look better. Whenever you feel the urge of biting your finger nails, or if you have a spare moment with nothing to do, use these stuff. Just like the nail polish these should either be carried with you or placed around the house where you can easily grab one without moving. The computer should always have one of these! Btw, this is better after a few weeks when the nails have grown a bit, it is not a replacement for the polish. The nice thing about taking care of your nails instead of biting them is that you'll replace your bad habit with a good one, later on you'll find yourself playing with pedicure tools instead of biting your nails :D

• WILLPOWER! If a finger gets in your mouth, remove it, apply nail polish and keep going! Willpower is more or less the only thing you'll need since this is just a habit, nothing else. There's no chemicals or addictive substances that will make you bite your nails, it's just a bad habit. If you're strong willed you should only have to decide that you should quit, and before you know it...

(continued below)

(continuation from above)

That's more or less it. Oh yeah, decide to quit right now. Just as you're reading this. Never set a date for quitting, there are several reasons for this, but they aren't important. Decide to quit right now, visit your local pharmacy or some store that sell terrible tasting nail polish and some tools for prettifying your nails, and don't give up.

Just following these steps is no guarantee for success, not without determination and willpower. Also never forget why you want to get rid of the habit, it can be simple stuff like... not being ashamed of your hands when handing money to a cashier. Also, most importantly, don't give up halfway. Even if you don't think you need to, continue with the nail polish until it's been several months since you last munched on your fingers. And keep your pedicure equipment around for much longer than that.

Good luck!

>>4 >>5
OP here
Thank you for the guidelines.
Just one problem, I don’t remember how my nails looked before I bit them, So I don’t know what their shape originally was to know if I'm reverting back to normal nails properly.

My problem is I think they look ugly when they grow,
the white part that's on the tips when the nails grow, looks kinda disproportionate. Should I just grow them and let them be? Or should I shape them with a file? Or should I do something with cuticles? I'm clueless.

Can you hang on in these posts till I post another picture with grown, unbitten nails?
I could really use your help with this.

Sure, I don't think I'm going anywhere :D

There is no "right length" with finger nails, I personally think that they have grown to long if "the white part" is bigger than just a few millimeters. Cut them with a nail scissor and/or use a file to shape them. The nails don't grow into a perfect shape at first, you need to cut them right and file them in order to look nice ^^

>>7
Thank you so much!:)
Give me a couple of week's time and I'll update you.
Today I put clear nail polish on my nails and every time I go to bite my nails, I repel because I don't want the polish to get damaged. One day without nailbiting! :3

>>7
I didn't bite my nails today either! No.7, my resolve is stronger than before thanks to you!

>>9 Just keep going!

>>9 The first days are the easiest, just keep going! Before you know it you don't feel like biting your finger nails anymore :D

>>11
Yep, though sometimes my fingers near my lips but I don't feel like biting. After I'm happy with a certain length, I'll post a pic. Then you can tell me how to shape them and stuff :D

>>11
OP here
It's been more than 10 days since I bit my nails. Yay! :D

>>13
Good work!

Hi, Im also currently trying to stop biting my nails. Atm I stopped biting for a week already, but the i fear that ive bitten so far down down the pink coloured nails that when I stop biting them and let it grow... Only the white part of the nail grow... Is there anyway to get the pink part of my nails back? (reattaching the nail into the finger's skin, so it looks pink again)

Wow, thanks!
My nail beds have been saved!

ive stopped for a good two weeks and trust me it's so worth it! just keep picturing yourself with beautiful nails and you'll have the will power to stop!