For as long as I can remember, I've been a chronic nail biter. This nervous habit is one of many vices I possess, but it's certainly the one I detest the most.
For years, I've suffered from painful, bleeding fingers due to my inability to keep them out of my mouth. But it wasn't just my nails; I also had a habit of picking at the skin on my thumbs, resulting in thick scar tissue where others have normal skin.
I tried countless methods to kick this habit. I even tried the nail polish that makes your nails taste like chemicals and battery acid, but it was no use - as any nail biter will tell you, you simply get used to the taste.
I attempted to paint my nails in an effort to convince myself they were too pretty to bite - this had little effect, as the stubs of nail with polish smeared over scarred skin looked anything but attractive. After years of enduring stinging, bleeding fingers and struggling with simple tasks such as opening a can of Coke or scratching the back of my neck, I knew I couldn't bear it any longer.
I was offered a press trip that would take me to Ibiza with a group of young, glamorous journalists and influencers. My stubby nails were a source of embarrassment, so I decided to take a leap of faith and booked an appointment with a nail salon to try out this new technology I had heard about - BIAB.
BIAB, or builder in a bottle, is a gentler alternative to gel or acrylic nails. It's applied over your natural nail and forms a protective shell that promotes natural growth, rather than adding an extension to a nail.
The first time I had my nails done, I felt foolish. My nails were bitten down and ragged, and I was embarrassed, but the nail technician was kind and explained everything to me.
She prepared my nails for the BIAB by filing them down and wiping them with acetone, then added the BIAB and cured it under the UV light. My nails, although short, were now manicured, painted and ready for this press trip.
Since that initial appointment in July of this year, I have consistently had my nails done at least once a month. After three months, I can confidently say my nails are the longest, strongest and best they have ever been.
Despite my nails being longer than ever, my skin picking has completely stopped as they're too well manicured to get any grip on the skin on the sides of my thumbs. With BIAB on top of my natural nails, they're too strong to bite through and with no ragged edges, there's nothing to try and 'correct'.
One of my biggest triggers with nail biting was finding a piece of nail that felt uneven, and trying to even it by biting it down, leading to more jagged edges and pain. In addition to being sturdy and looking glamorous, I'm also reluctant to bite my nails as they cost £35 every time I get them redone - but for me, that is money absolutely well spent.
At last, I have the long manicured nails of my dreams and I haven't had to compromise the health of my nails for it.
English (US) ·