What Do You Use?? - Akron,OH

I used a product called Nail Envy. I too was a hard core nail biter. The way I fixed the problem was that I actually had acrylic nails for years--this broke me of the biting habit. Then I removed the acrylics, faithfully applied the Nail Envy, and now have nice long, strong fingernails. If I'm ever tempted to nibble (when I'm reading or watching TV especially) I try to put something else in my hands or I have also been known to sit on my hands. Might be time to take up crocheting!! And if you have someone else in the house who can keep you honest that will help. Most of my biting was unconscious so if my husband pointed out that I was absentmindedly chewing it would remind me to stop. You can do it!!

You may not want to spend the money but I have the acrylics done. I was a chronic nail bitter until I had this done. I know should I not have them professionally done I'd start biting them again....ugh...

I have always hear that gelatin (jello) helps but haven't tried it. I did notice personally that when I was eating a lot of yogurt (for lunch every day) my nails definitely got stronger.

Prenatal vitamins... My girlfriend takes them because her nails were like yours, and now her nails are awesome!!

I'm in the same boat as you! I find that acrylics don't work for me becuase when they do come off, my nails are so bad from the process of having them on that it takes forever for them to get back to what they were. Nail Tek makes a decent strength-ner. I've heard the OPI has a good one as well but I haven't tried it yet. I find that as long as I keep them filed, clean, and put a clear coat of polish on them once in a while I tend to like the way they look and it helps stop me from biting. I also do take the prenatal vitamins, though it doesn't help as much as I thought it would.

I have strong, real nails. I hate acrylic nails also. Bleh!

I eat healthy, take a WOMAN's multi-vitamin, and I don't bite them. I don't put anything extra on my nails and I hardly ever paint them. I keep them groomed, and trim them in a round shape. I don't use a nail file, it makes my nails peel.

My nails are very pretty, and I get compliments. They are extremely strong. Extremely!

I never wear rubber gloves or anything to protect them either, just FYI. Oh, and I LOVE the Jergen's lotions, all of them!

In dulge in a couple months of manicures!!! It may be embarrassing the first time if your nails look really bad, but having clean neat nails feels great and you won;t need/want to bite them. You can get them buiffed to a shine and the ends shaped. I avid polish because it draws attention to them, although with a little length, a french manicure makes them look even longer. It is the only thing that helped me stop. And once you break the habit, they will get stronger and you can take care of them yourself.

My thoughts on acrylics is that they damage your real nails and then when you dont' have them you are worse off than before. I also feel like they look/feel fake.

So, I paint my nails regularly. Like every other day (it's a hobby...like "me" time. I enjoy doing it).

Both of my kiddos have had my fingers in their mouths through that oral stage with no problems. It's not like they're sucking chemicals in.
I would just try to keep them painted.

Back in the days my mom try to put garlic on mine, problem is that I like them more, lol.
I agree with Lucia, gelatin is great for that.
If you are desperate even put gloves on.
My daughter hated bitting her nails but sometimes she would do without even notice, she ask me to be her "Nail Police" and I gave her a ticket every time she did .50 cents.
We buy her some nail polish with that money and also having cute nails make her want to stop more.
Find your self a "Nail Police" in your family or friends.

oh my. i'm a biter too, and my natural nails are wimpy at best. i've had acrylics for years and adore them, but i know that my poor nails are paper-thin at this point. i know i can't keep them on forever, but i just can't figure out how to do it. i've got the horses and gardens to take care of, and my own nails are so awful. eek!
khairete
S.

I had super crappy nails for the longest time. They were paper thin and would crack and peel. I had acrylics for the longest time. They helped keep me from biting my nails, but ruined my real nails. Like you, I couldn't justify the cost anymore. I finally just let mine grow. I tried a number of the strengthener nail polishes and nothing really helped. I started taking prenatals when I was pregnant and I was amazed by how much it helped my nails. You can also take a mulit-vitamin every day. That should help. It will take some time, but if you take your vitamin every day it shouldn't take too long.

I get the acrylic nails so I never bite them, with out the acrylic I bet them down to nothing. Polish will not harm a baby putting your fingers in their mouth. J.

After 55 years, I broke the habit!!!!! Gelatin is great for nails. I also now
get my done every 10 days or so; Just a buff and polish which is much less
(for medical reasonas cannot have a full manicure). I also use Nailtiques
which you can buy in a salon. Can the baby really chew thru polish or
anything you put on?

I use something called Nutranail. It can be applied several times a day and gets absorbed into the nail. So you can use it under polish. If you use it after the baby is asleep and when napping it won't affect her (just be sure to wash hands when she wakes). It helps a lot. Just be sure to get the right one - they have several types. Get the 5-7 days growth formula.

Wear rubber gloves when washing dishes or other tasks that require your hands in water. Why is your baby using your fingers to chomp on? This is strange to me. That is what a teether is for...it's what baby's hands are for. The best you can do is put the nail hardener on your nails to protect them. Also, moisturize your hands and nails daily. Nails get dry like your hands do and frequent hand washing contributes to the dryness. After you wash and dry your hands, apply hand lotion. Also, at night rub some cuticle oil or vaseline into your nails. No, I don't do acrylic nails and I wouldn't recommend it either. That would make your nail problem worse.

You might also increase your calcium intake. Are you taking any multivitamins? Any good one would do but I would also take in more calcium as well.

And, prenatal vitamins have nothing to do with hair and nail growth. The reason why pregnant women have such pretty hair and nails is because of the pregnancy hormones. Not the vitamins themselves. I know, I was taking prenatals for YEARS because I had always heard that prenatal vitamins have some "magic" stuff in them that make your hair and nails grow. Not true! Once I actually became pregnant my hair and nails grew like wildfire. I'm pregnant with my 4th and it's only when I'm pregnant do I have thicker hair and longer nails. Once I have the baby, I shed all the beautiful strands of hair and my nails go back to being the same ol' ugly nails they were before I got pregnant.

I would have to agree with the prenatal vitamins.

Prenatals and Jello! lol. Your hair will thank you too. :)

Biotin supplements -- excellent for hair and nails! You can find them in any vitamin section of a store; I take 5000 mg (or is it mcg, can't remember) a day :)

The only thing that helps me is to go have them done. Once they put the acrylic overlay or tips on, you cant bite them. I keep mine really short still but they are so not biteable, it's worth the time and money in my book.