I'm a bad nail biter, even by nail-biter standards. People who say they bite their nails to the nubbens take one look at mine and......OMG!:yikes:
I actually remember how it all started. When I was about 6, I remember looking at my big sister, whom at the time, I looked up to and she'd be biting her nails. Thinking that's cool and what older girls that are cool
do, I imitated her. And it just turned into a horrible habit.
I finally kicked the habit for about 5 years, somewhat recently. That nasty tasting stuff doesn't work for me, nor does tobasco sauce. I put on nail polish and filed them often, used that cuticle softener stuff and kept the cuticles in shape. I kept changing the colors and having fun with that, as you are Izzy. As soon as there was enough nail to glue on those fake nails (the el-cheapo, grocery store kind) I used those. They'd fall off after a few days, but I'd put them back on. Eventually, they grew out and by that time, I was pretty much out of the habit from not biting them with the fake nails on. (Fake nails are impossible to bite...you'll break your teeth.)
So, they looked really nice for about 5 years. And then, out of the blue...I don't know what triggered it for sure, but all of a sudden, I started biting them again. As I recall, I think one had a little chip out of one and I wasn't home and couldn't file it smooth. (They gotta be smooth) So, unable to resist, I messed with it with my teeth and lo and behold, I've been biting them now for about 5 years.
I think we nail biters should establish a nail biter annonymous (guess it wouldn't be so annonymous here) club and give support and tips etc...keep abreast of each other's progress. It is a bad habit because not only does it look awful, but if you get an ouchie from biting too close, you can get that m.r.s.a. in there more easily. Also, it seems that in my case, I bite because I'm nervous, but once you start working on a nail...and you can't get that little, micro rough spot off,
that makes you nervous. It's like a compulsion to make sure they're ultra smoooooth. So, it's a vicious cycle. You're nervous, so you bite and biting makes you more nervous. LOL.
I have some gorgeous rings that I haven't worn for years because I don't want to attract attention to my nails. So, you have inspired me. Now, to get un-nervous first.