Former nail biter seeking advice.

Lingua Franca

Hello ladies and gents!

I'm not much of a one for beauty or doing myself up but I could use some advice.

I have bitten my nails my whole life, as long as I can remember. When I emigrated 2 years ago I just... stopped. I suppose I lost all the stresses that sent my fingers to my mouth. When they started growing back they would get quite long and then split, so I got in the habit of filing them down. They're also prone to ridges so I got one of those thingies for sanding them off and polishing them.

It's taken me some time but I'm finally getting them to the stage where I can have nice strong nails that I can do something with, apart from my ring fingers on both hands. I guess these were the ones that I bit down the most because they always split and break before I can get them to the tops of my fingers. They don't seem to have much support at the sides because I used to bite that skin away too.

Do you reckon they will just require more persistence? Is there anything I can do to stop them splitting or make them stronger? I'm also seeking general manicure advice - I'm not interested in false or gel nails, just in making what I have look presentable.

Thanks for reading.

fussyonion

I was a former nail biter too until I grew out of the habit.
But, like you, they grow to a certain length (not that long, just to the point where they have the nice white tips) and they split or break.

I'm not au fait with all the snazzy things you can buy, so maybe someone else can advise, but what I do is use Sally Hansen Nail Hardener polish.
It gives your nails a strong base and since I've been using it my nails aren't as prone to breaking.

AryaStark

You could look into Biotin (its vitimin , its great for nails and hair

Clockwork Owl

I found Sally Hansen's nail hardening polish to be terribly streaky and unsightly, if it's the pink one we're talking about.

OPI do an amazing clear strengthener called Nail Envy, which has done my fingernails the world of good since I stopped biting. Made them feel lovely and strong after six weeks of gel manicures left them paper-flimsy. Hope that's helpful!

Lingua Franca

This is how my nails look at the minute.





Ignore the middle nail on the left hand, I accidentally trimmed it the other day with the potato peeler!

I'm not sure how well the picture shows it but the skin doesn't seem to go up as far on the side on the ring fingernails as on the others, so they have no structural integrity. This is as far as the ring fingers can grow without splitting. All of the others are much tougher and can grow longer if let them.

I've considered binding the ring fingertips with surgical tape in the hopes that would make the skin grow back there and hold the nail more securely.

I will try the vitamins for nail nourishment. I have been trying a few different nail hardeners and they seem to make all of my nails split. I seem to do much better without.

I'm willing to take any and all manicure advice as well, since it's something that I have never had to consider down the decades. Should I file my nails to ovals, points, squares? How should I deal with my cuticle skin? Is polishing with the block to remove ridges going to weaken my nails?

Should I just go see a professional, and will they be disgusted with me if I do?

Lingua Franca

I'm really proud of myself for quitting and I'd just like my nails to look OK with a french manicure and only occasional maintenance.