Resolved to stop biting my nails and skin in 2025.

I’m in my 30s, and have been an on-and-off nail and skin biter since I was a kid. I’ve never been able to fully kick the habit, but had a very strong resolve this past year to conquer the addiction. Not only were my nails and the sides of my thumbs painfully chewed to all hell, but it was also absolutely disgusting germ-wise, and I was frequently sick in the winter of 2024. It was time to get control, and this was the year I finally did it. TBH, I also got married on NYE last year, and had some gorgeous bling to show off in 2025. This made me extra self-conscious about the state of my nails, and gave me an extra kick of motivation to keep them tidy.

After trying everything from hypnosis to gum-chewing over the years, I realized that I never chew my nails when they’re manicured. I just had to commit to prioritizing their maintenance with absolutely no gaps in care. This basically solved it for me. As long as I religiously kept my nails and skin manicured and cared for, I never had the temptation to bite. If I had no product on my nails and my cuticles started to grow in, the urge would rear its head. This was a bit hard, because I also committed to doing it entirely at home on my own, and never went for a professional manicure all year.

Semi-cured gel nail strips were my saviors, and I rarely ever went without having a set applied. I know these aren’t great for my actual nail health, but they’re lightyears better than what I’d been doing, so we’re calling it a win. I loved Ohora, HeyHae, a d Dashing Diva throughout the year. The other hurdle to overcome was that I’m a rock climber, and these are the only solution I’ve found that holds up to the sport. I can wear semi-cured strips for over 2 weeks without a chip or a breakage, which is kind of miraculous. This is part of why I never went for pro gel manicures, because they don’t hold up to climbing as well as the strips.

This was the worst habit I’ve ever had to overcome, truly. I’m really happy with how far I’ve come, and I feel like I’ve successfully rewired my brain. The thought of biting my nails or putting my hands anywhere near my mouth is disgusting to me now, which is more than I could have ever hoped for.

I’m rooting for all y’all who are making your own nail biting resolution this year. You can do it. Find what you need to fight the urge, and commit to it. Quitting cold turkey is easier when you have tools to help redirect the thoughts, like I found with manicures. Maybe it’s knitting or chewing gum for you. Whatever it is, find it and stay strong. Good luck!!