Quit the Habit: How to Stop Biting Your Nails & Improve Your Nail Health

Nail biting is a common habit, especially among kids. But for adults, it can be embarrassing and frustrating and sometimes even lead to infections. So, how can you stop it?

For many people, their nail biting tendencies have followed them from childhood into their adult years. It's often done without even realising it, whether it's during moments of stress, boredom or just out of plain habit.

While it might seem like an impossible task to overcome, there are ways to break the habit – and it's important that you do. Not only can biting your nails damage the appearance of your hands, but it can also have negative effects on your overall nail health.

To help you quit the habit, we've put together our best tips and techniques for breaking the nail-biting cycle.

As with any habit, there are usually underlying reasons behind why we do it, and figuring out what those reasons are can be really helpful in putting a stop to it. After all, you can't fix a problem if you don't know what's causing it.

There are surprisingly a large number of reasons why someone might bite their nails, and many of them do start in childhood or adolescence. But some of the most common ones include…

When it comes down to it, nail biting is often an unconscious habit, meaning you do it without even realising it – this is part of what makes it a hard habit to break.

Finding ‘better’ habits to replace nail biting can help, but this can often be more of a crutch than a cure to nail biting. Consider noting down what you were thinking, feeling or doing when you notice yourself biting your nails and see if a pattern emerges.

Breaking any habit can take time, so it’s important to have patience and not expect to see any big changes overnight.

Acknowledging the reason why you bite your nails can massively help you to stop this habit. For example, if you think your habit is linked to feeling stressed or anxious, try finding alternative ways to cope with these emotions.

You can also use nail-biting remedies to deter yourself from biting your nails.

What we're trying to say is, there isn't just one magic solution to stop biting your nails. You may need to try a few different techniques before you find what works for you.

Some of our top tips for stopping this habit include:

Most people will have triggers that cause them to start biting their nails. Since nail biting is often an unconscious habit, identifying triggers can be challenging, but you essentially should just note down the times when you find yourself biting your nails.

Were you sitting around waiting for something? Were you thinking about something stressful? Were you trying to concentrate on a task?

By keeping track of these triggers, you can start to notice patterns and find ways to avoid or cope with them. This can help break the automatic response of nail biting.

The shorter your nails, the less there will be for you to bite. This can make them less tempting and less rewarding when you do bite them.

You don't necessarily have to trim them right down to the skin, but keeping them short and neat can help reduce the urge to bite. Short nails are trendy now anyway, so it's a win-win situation.

Nail-biting deterrents are great little products that you can apply to your nails to make them taste unpleasant. They usually come in the form of a clear polish that you can brush on, just like The Bite Stuff.

It tastes awful, but it's completely safe for your nails and skin. The bad taste will remind you to stop biting and reinforce the fact that this is a bad habit that you want to kick.

You can apply this once in the morning, and again after washing your hands to ensure it stays effective.

Using Builder Gel is a brilliant hack to get yourself to stop biting your nails. The thick gel will essentially create an overlay on your natural nails, so you won't be able to bite them.

Not only does this act as a barrier, but it promotes nail growth and strength.

You can also paint a gel colour over the top or create nail art, which you can switch up every 3 weeks when you need to infill or remove the Builder Gel.

Or, if you like to keep things natural, our Clear Builder Gel is perfect for you. You can still have the added strength and protection without any colour.

Keeping your hands occupied can help to break the habit. Consider replacing nail-biting with a stress toy you can squeeze and play with.

This can help use up some of the restless energy that can lead to nail-biting. Some other good options include fidget spinners or playdough.

Fidget rings are another popular one, and there are some really pretty ones out there that can actually double as jewellery.

Whilst there’s usually no risk of serious health issues resulting from nail-biting, some complications can arise from the habit.

If you've been a chronic nail-biter, it's likely that your nails have suffered some damage. The skin around them may be ragged, and the nails themselves may be brittle or weak.

It's important to give your nails some extra care and attention after breaking the habit of biting them.

Establishing a regular nail care routine can help improve the health and appearance of your nails.

Trim them regularly, clean under the nail bed, and use a moisturising hand cream to keep them hydrated.

Using a cuticle oil will also help to nourish and protect your nails, like our Sweet Almond & Nail Cuticle Oil.

Cuticle oils contain essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that can strengthen and repair damaged nails. Simply apply a small amount to the base of each nail and massage it in.

A nail treatment serum can also be used in conjunction with cuticle oil for extra hydration and repair.

In addition to caring for your nails externally, it's also important to give them proper nutrition from within.

Foods rich in biotin, such as eggs, salmon, and avocados, can help strengthen your nails.

Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated will also contribute to healthy nail growth.

Whether you've been biting your nails for 20 years or just picked up the habit recently, it's never too late to put an end to it. You'll need to have a bit of self-discipline, but with the help of our tips above, you can break free from nail biting and achieve strong, healthy nails.

Remember to keep your nails well taken care of with proper trimming, moisturising, and using protective products. But don't forget about the power of a good, balanced diet and staying hydrated, too!

You can shop our The Bite Stuff, Nail Treatment Serum, and 5-in-1 Builder Gels below, along with the rest of our nail care essentials to nourish and protect your new bite-free nails.