Meet the Experts

Dr. Sanam Hafeezis a New York City neuropsychologist and faculty member at Columbia University.

Vivian Diller, PhD, is a psychologist based in New York City.

Christina Grantis a manicurist and nail model.

closeup acrylic nails

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Why Do We Bite Our Nails?

“Its a jot down of body-focused repetitive behavior,” says neuropsychologist Dr. Sanam Hafeez.

“Theres a range of nail-biting.

It can span from an occasional behavior to a self-mutilative behavior.”

Some women play with their hair for similar soothing results," says Vivian Diller, PhD.

Can Fake Nails Help Prevent Nail Biting?

When women wear fake nails, it creates a temporary interference with nail-biting behavior," says Diller.

After that, it will slow down a little bit.

This will take some time to heal, asnailsneed to grow out to become longer and healthier.

According to Grant, how you remove a fake nail depends on what pop in of nail it is.

Here’s the down-low on removing the most frequently-used types of nails.

Also key to healthy nails: moisture.

“Cuticle oilis key here.

Moisturized cuticles are destined to grow,” says Grant.

She also suggests pushing back your cuticles.

“Regularly pushing back (no cutting!)

your cuticles back also helps make room for new nail growth.”

Cleveland Clinic.Nail biting: when does it go too far?.

Updated March 31, 2020.