I am a nail biter AND I bite my cheeks. I have actually never been able to quit completely, but I have gone periods of time without biting, it's just hard to keep it up. If I *could* keep it up, I think I could kill it. I know both are awful.

Weeks 1-2: Go buy some bad tasting polish at CVS RIGHT NOW. That helps me so much. I use that for a couple weeks and get my nails to a state where I can get a manicure. Stock up on files and get in that habit.

Then you get your walk-of-shame manicure where you take your ragged ass in there and clean up. This part sucks.

Then, and here's the part I suck at - you have to KEEP IT UP. I just can't afford biweekly manicures, which I think I *need* to really break my habit. And clear nail polish don't do it for me. I need color to motivate. I still rub the bad tasting stuff on the skin around my cuticles because I bite those too.

As long as I do that, I don't bite. But once I let that go, I slowly start to bite again when something stressful happens. But I really believe that I could afford to do biweekly manicures for a few months, I'd kick the habit for good.

Now if I could figure something like that for cheek/lip chewing.

Not a nail biter, but my nails are very weak and tear easily. It's been this way since I was a kid. My diet overall is pretty good, so I think it's just dumb luck. I can't grow them long, and keep them trimmed, but anything short of those stick on, fake nails that help strengthen them?

Nail biting - Is it a nervous habit or some form of Tourette's?

Gel nails are the only thing that stopped me.

OP: I was a lifelong nail biter and then suddenly, for no apparent reason, and without even trying, I stopped. I was about 35. Sorry this doesn't offer any practical advice, but I hope I've given you hope.

OP here- thanks for the tips. I used to keep nail files everywhere, so I re-stocked those last night- purse, desk, and nightstand. I have the empty box from the bad tasting polish but can't seem to find the actual polish anywhere... Right now my nails are so embarrassingly short it wouldn't even be worth the money for a manicure, but I put some polish on my self and filed them down.

Oh and to 18:41- I have done that, too! Can't be good for my nails OR my teeth...

34 and still biting. I've grown them out only a few times but then they look so luscious and tempting & rebiting them down is so satisfying! yes, it's a big problem. good luck, OP

Here's some hope- I bit my nails until I was 30 and still do on and off- but what keeps me on track is I get manicure- even if it's all wrecked- I know that 2 weeks or so of notbiting will get me closer to nice looking nails. I try to get manicures instead of solving the issues mylsef (biting off a part or making it shorter).. believe me, I have been a biter since a kid but for some reason- I'd say i;m 80% there.. so there's hope.. hang in there.. try a mani or doing ti yourself to avoid flling in the trap. When my nails are longer it just looks so nice- gl..

Agree that manicures definitely help, I hate the taste of nail polish. I use one coat of a super pale pink that is almost clear so it can go at least a week if not longer since small chips aren't noticible. Also agree about stocking nail files everywhere, as soon as I get a snag if I don't have a file right there then I will bite/gnaw. What I do now is I only bite my thumbnails, so at least the other 8 fingers look nice and neat.

I bit my nails for some twenty five years, and still do when stupid crap happens (TV season ends, stuck in traffic). First, get a manicure, or do one yourself. This book http://www.amazon.com/Rescue-Your-Nails-Ji-Baek/dp/B003F76KAE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348530215&sr=8-1&keywords=Ji+baek has excellent how tos, as well as a program for biters. Never ever let your nails go unpainted for a few weeks or months. Start with a nice neutral (I'm quite pale and Deborah Lippmann's Naked works very well). Stock your house, car, and desk with nail files - effective immediately, you file down unevenness, not gnaw it. Get cuticle cream and use it regularly.

Go to the library, flip to the back of The Power of Habit, and read about the five things you need to do to break a habit - you need to figure out your triggers so you can replace them. There's always anti-depressants and behavioral therapy, but start here. Look at nail polish blogs for inspiration. Good luck!

i gave up... I came down to the point of removing gel manicure and shellac polish nail with my teeth. Of course it bled because those things are not supposed to be removed with your teeth right?

I can only stop if I keep nail polish on my nails. Since I don't have time to get them done and nail polish always chips, I just have ugly nails. You could try keeping them polished with clear nail polish. This sometimes works for me and if it starts to chip it isn't noticeable.

Me too, OP. And I tear at my cuticles too. Yuck. Have you tried the bad tasting polish?

OP here- correction- looked* amazing while pregnant*

I swear I've tried everything but hypnosis. I can stop for a few days and then they will start breaking or tearing and then I start again. There is a certain length where they get past and then I stop but I can't seem to get to that point. I know it's gross to have my hands in my mouth, it is unproffessional, and my hands just look terrible, but I don't even realize I'm doing it most of the time.

My nails looks amazing while I was pregant and on maternity leave, then they started breaking and I started biting again when I went back to work. Short of getting pregnant again, any other tips or tricks?