How to Stop Biting Your Fingernails

By eHow Fashion, Style & Personal Care Editor

Stop Biting Your Fingernails

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Nail biting is a common habit and one that's not easy to kick. For some, this habit occurs when nervous or possibly when bored. However, following these steps may help you manage it and possibly quit altogether.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Washcloths
Anti-nail-biting Solutions
Cotton Swabs
Exfoliating Cleanser
Manicure Kits
Nail Files
Nail Strengthening Polish

Step1

Purchase a bitter-tasting formula made expressly to stop nail biting. Choose the worst-tasting solution you can find.

Step2

Wash hands every morning with soap and water and towel dry.

Step3

Apply a liberal amount of the solution to the nails, cuticles and surrounding skin.

Step4

Continue to reapply the solution throughout the day as it wears off.

Step5

Reapply the solution at bedtime. Make sure the bitter taste is always present on your nails.

Tips & Warnings

As nails begin to grow, coat them with a polish made for strengthening nails.
Get regular manicures to maintain nails.
Consider keeping gum or hard candy around for when you need a quick "oral fix."

Comments

zyxwvut said

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on 7/12/2008 Something that helped me quit biting my nails was snacking on cherries and olives at work--the pits kept my mouth occupied. If you eat a lot of olives, though, you might want to soak them in water overnight or your sodium intake will go through the roof.

MsVictoria said

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on 6/2/2008 Thank you for all your tips, i will defiantly try them and let you know how i get on. I'm actually quite desperate to stop as my two year old daughter has began copying me and she now bites her fingers and nails!

MsVictoria said

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on 6/2/2008 I am a nail/finger biter, thank you for all the tips, i will try them and come back to let you know how i get on.

It is especially important for me to quit as my 2 yr old daughter copies me now and atually bites her nails/fingers!

LaughingFish said

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on 4/2/2008 I tried this stuff called Perfect 10. It was AMAZING! Tasted really horrid and it never came off - even after you'd try to remove it with nail polish remover! The only problem is that I've run out ans I cannot buy it anywhere - I think it has stopped being made for some unknown reason. Itis the ONLY thing that worked for me. Does anyone know where I can buy some please? :-)