*During this year's challenge, my plan is to reflect on a slice of my life from that day, or the day before, and write about it. No theme to tie my writing together this year, no plans ahead of time. Just glimpses into slices of my days. Not having a plan is a very uncomfortable place for me, both as a person and a writer, so fingers crossed for the 13 remaining days!*
BAD HABIT HELP NEEDED!
Hi, I'm Karen, and I pick at my nails and hangnails.
This has been a habit I've had my entire life. I've tried many remedies to cure this habit:
- When I was younger, I would use Sally Hansen polish to strengthen my nails. It didn't work.
- Went to a nail salon and wore acrylic nails for years - stopped because of the expense and all the fumes and dust from the drilling each time. And I just couldn't believe that wearing acrylic all the time was good for the health of my nails.
- Several years ago, I tried gel or shellac polish to strengthen my nails. It would be wonderful for about 7 - 9 days, and then the polish would begin to lift. As soon as I began to feel that lift, I would begin to pick again. When doing that with gel or shellac, I was also peeling off layers of my nail as well. Not good.
- A year ago, I tried a nail salon again, this time going to improve my nails; getting a manicure with a nice coat of polish. Again, it looked good for about 7 days, but then I would need to file and re-polish at that point. Hangnails became the culprit - my nails were fine, but hangnails began to appear, and I couldn't leave those alone.
This is a definitely a "first world" problem for me to have. But I'm curious - if you read this post, and have had the same issue, I would love to hear how you handle it.
I think there are some natural "finishes" for nails that do strengthen them and don't chip off all the time. A friend of mine uses Sally Hansen Natural Shine and loves it.
ReplyDeleteI don't pick at the hangnails, but clip them away as soon as possible. I always break a nail, so I always carry a fingernail clipper in my purse. I wish I had advice for nice nails but I'm resigned to never having a set of nails the same length.
ReplyDeleteThis will sound gross, but if I pick my toes I'm less likely to pick my fingernails. I know it's disgusting, but I bit my nails for years and tried fake nails and polish. Nothing worked. Then I started playing w/ my feet. It started when I tried to give myself relief for a hangnail. This method doesn't work, obviously, when I'm at work, but it does if I'm lounging on the couch or lying in bed awake at night. Now it's just the pedicure I ruin.
ReplyDeleteWe used a type of polish that taste bad for my son when he was biting his nails. Worked like a charm!! http://www.boomsbeat.com/articles/209711/20161224/top-5-best-anti-nail-biting-polish-for-sale-2016.htm We used Mavala Stop.
ReplyDeleteKaren, you are not alone. I have the same issues and it goes in waves. Some times my nails grow beautifully and I take care of them with a manicure for a treat! Then when the weather changes and stress arrives ... I pick and pick and pick and bite and pick. I have no remedy, just comfort in knowing that I'm not alone. :) "Hang" in there.
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