Beauty Mark: Put Your Hands Down and Nobody Gets Hurt!

You guys, one time I picked at the cuticle on my thumb so much that – this is disgusting – I picked all the way into the nail bed. I know. It took months for my nail to start growing back properly and it’s still not as strong as it was. That’s when I realized that I need to make a conscious effort to keep my hands away from…my hands.
I don’t bite my nails, I pick! I pick at the cuticle and then there’s pieces of skin coming up and then I pick at the pieces of skin and then it starts to heal and I do it all over again. I made a resolve about a month ago when I saw the Fall 2009 nail trends that I was going to stop this ridiculous behavior solely for the purpose of getting a moon manicure (whatever works, right?). And I can proudly say that my nails are somewhere between completely gross and halfway decent. Progress!
Here are some tips to help my fellow pickers and biters to keep their fingers to themselves:
* Cuticle Cream – Buy a little tub of cuticle cream and keep it on you at all times. When you feel the urge to pick or bite, whip out your cream and go at it. (Let the haters hate.) I’ve found it satisfies the compulsion plus it’s doing something good for your nails. Nailtiques Cuticle & Hand Conditioner ($13) gets good marks but I picked up 1. Gena’s Healthy Hoof Intensive Protein Treatment at CVS for about $4. It’s great.
* Crystal Nail File – Metal nail files and emery boards can rip up the tip of the nail leaving the edges jagged. Chances are if you’re always biting or picking your nails, you have weak nails to begin with. Crystal files create a noticeably smoother edge, almost as though the nail’s been sealed. Try 2. Essie’s The Crystal File ($14).
* Nail Treatment – These can get pretty fancy, with some formulas claiming to transform your nail from flimsy to strong – but unfortunately you either grow strong nails or you don’t. But there are products out there to help make the nail that’s already grown out a little sturdier. People really like 3. OPI’s Nail Envy ($16) but even a drugstore base coat like Revlon’s Calcium Gel Nail Hardener ($8) will add a suitable layer of protection.
* Get A Manicure – I’m so embarrassed any time I get a manicure because my fingers look like baby carrots and I have Megan Fox thumbs. Double fail. But when my nails are closer to the “halfway decent†side of the scale I fork over $14 to get them professionally polished. They buff ‘em, file ‘em, massage ‘em, and paint ‘em and I walk out of the salon thinking I have places to go and people to see. It’s silly, but a professional paint job really does make your hands look nicer. And every time you think about picking at them or biting them, think about the $14 you just spent. It often stops me – I’m poor.
Biting and picking your nails is one of the hardest habits to break. But I’ve seen it done and I know I can do it! There should be a club and we should get pins or coins like recovered alcoholics – “My name is Nicole and I’m 30 days non-picking.†“Congratulations, Nicole.â€