The bad habit of biting your nails is directly related to psychological reasons. This symptom is a mismanagement of emotions like nervousness, anxiety or fear. Besides being an aesthetic problem, as it stops you from having long and beautiful nails, it can cause damage to the skin around your fingers, cause your cuticles to hurt and lead to cuts and discomfort. In the following OneHowTo article we recommend some natural products that can help you to kick this bad habit. Discover the best home remedies to stop biting your nails.
Lemon juice
Using lemon is one of the most popular home remedies to stop biting your nails. Rub your nails with half a lemon or apply freshly squeezed lemon juice directly onto them. The sour taste of this food is not pleasant for many people and when you bring your hands to your mouth you'll notice it and won't want to bite your nails.
Garlic
Just as with lemon, the same happens with garlic. The strong flavour and odour that characterises this food makes it another great option for combatting the bad habit of biting your nails. Rub a clove of garlic onto the edges of your nails so they are well covered and you'll see how you won't want to bite them. As well as this, garlic is one of the best natural ingredients for whitening, strengthening your nails and preventing brittleness. Because of its unpleasant smell it is best to put this trick into practice when you're at home. At OneHowTo we explain you how to get rid of the smell of garlic on your hands, in case you're using this remedy at home but need to leave.
Olive oil
Another home remedy to stop biting your nails that also promotes good health and hydration is olive oil. Just heat a little olive oil and dip your fingers into it when it is warm. The flavour of the oil on your nails can also stop you when you're about to put your hands into your mouth. It's also a product that will make your nails grow healthier and stronger.
Calming teas
In addition to applying these ingredients onto your nails, drinking some relaxing and soothing teas can also calm anxiety and stress that leads to you biting them. You can try lime blossom, valerian, passion flower or lemon balm teas, whichever you prefer. Check out this article on the best teas to relieve anxiety and you'll find some other options.
Stress ball
So called stress balls are ideal for reducing anxiety, nervousness and keeping your hands full, so they're perfect for fighting the temptation to bite your nails. Just squeeze and release the ball repeatedly with your hand to relax your muscles and relieve tension. This will keep your mind off biting your nails.
Other tricks to stop biting your nails
- Always keep your nails well cut and filed to avoid protruding edges that encourage you to bite them.
- Painting your nails will also draw your attention and make you remember that you should not bite them if you want them to look nice.
- There are various enamels with bitter tastes on the market that are specifically designed for people who want to stop biting their nails.
- Chewing gum or sucking on mints can help to keep your mouth busy and reduce the urge to bite your nails.
If you want to read similar articles to Home Remedies to Stop Biting Your Nails, we recommend you visit our Beauty & Personal Care category.