(Part 2) Best products from r/calmhands

Oiling your cuticles will:

1. make them soft and less tempting to pick at
   
   
2. make the new nail growth stronger and healthier
   
   
3. give you something to do other than biting/picking
   
   
   I like these Bliss Kiss nail oil pens
   
   Many people love Burts Bees cuticle cream
   
   Just put some around your nail on the cuticles and rub it in daily. I also recommend doing your own research to see what works for other people

I agree with other people saying that you need to keep a pair of nail clippers with you at all times. Running my fingers along my cuticle, if I feel any rough or sharp pieces sticking up, I will just clip it off, and there is not even anything left to bite and rip up! I started doing that when I started my nursing career, because open wounds on your fingers are very dangerous if you're around nasty germs all day. This nail clipper has truly saved my fingers. I highly encourage you hop on amazon right now and buy 2 or 3! It folds completely flat and also has a spot where it can be attached to a keyring. Also, stimulants can exacerbate any anxiety you may have. That means that drinking coffee or any other sources of caffeine can make your cuticle biting worse, so be cognizant of what makes you bite and try to reduce it. If necessary, see a psychiatrist and try to control any anxiety you may have. This was also part of what helped me stop! My cuticles look great, but just a year ago they looked just like yours! Good luck and I know you can do it!

I highly recommend getting this

You can even use just he base coat and top coat of you only want it to be clear. I used to but my nails that bad and this helped SO much.

Yes I do still pick but not nearly as bad. This stuff will help your nails to grow out as well as make them a LOT stronger so they don’t break as they grow. Also carry a file around so when you get the urge to pick or bite, use the file or even nail clippers of hang nails trigger it too.

These are the products I swear by: Lucas Papaw Ointment and Bliss kiss nail oil. They definitely don't burn and they smell wonderful. I use the papaw ointment on everything--my eye area gets dry too, or my elbows, or as chapstick.

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I have had some success by trying to keep the damage to one or two fingers. Like "I'm letting everything but the pointer fingers heal" and then I still have an outlet but the other skin gets better and then I'm less likely to pick those. And then I try to bring it down to 1, and then 0. I generally relapse but it's gotten significantly better in terms of severity overall.

The scoop-y side of these are great bc they are super gentle without a sharp edge. Just run it under your nail with the scoop part facing the inside of the nail. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UNMV3T2/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_20?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2M6WHJLCKM4RK

I think it’s great that you found something that works. I am someone who, given a cuticle nipper, would wreck the shit out of my nails.

I just wanted to share these with you because they helped me get a little more of an understanding about my nails since I have to keep mine painted or I’ll forever pick them.

The cuticle

Perfect Cuticles

Here are some things I use:
Cuticle Remover


cuticle removal tool

I use one from Sally Hansen but that’s the gist of what it looks like.

Any and all the cuticle oil you an find. :)

I'm sorry for your struggle -- it sounds so uncomfortable and painful :( I'm a cuticle/bottom lip destroyer.

Just want to say that social media is probably the biggest trigger for my mental health in general. I deleted facebook a while ago and it has really helped!! I think the yoga could be really helpful. I personally don't enjoy it but mindfulness in general has really helped my overall anxiety.

Would anything in the evening help? I take trazodone to sleep because I have anxiety/insomnia (not sure if you've talked to your doctor about issues with sleep). What about a hot bath before bed to help your anxiety? Or some chamomile tea? I also stretch a lot at night that really, really helps me relax and focus on my body instead of my brain.

Could you pick up a hobby that requires you to use your hands that you could do in the evening? I crochet, especially when I'm anxious.

Words of encouragement? YOU GOT THIS!! Take it one day at a time. Sometimes I get so frustrated because I look down and all 10 of my fingers have scabs or cuts and it's so easy to get discouraged. I Try to remind myself it's never too late in the day and it doesn't have to be black and white (ie: i've picked all day and ruined them, fuck it ::picks and bites until my fingers are raw::)

Stay strong <3

edit: or what about wearing gloves in the evening? Like, soft, spa type gloves that you can put your hands in? I have no experience but something like this? or these and actually now I want a pair..

I got something like this for when I was in work training- it helped with my fidgeting a little. I'm also trying out taking inositol, which some people says helps with anxiety and compulsive behaviors. If it makes a big difference, I'll post here. I also just tried drinking a lot of water once. Like, when I got the urge to bite, I would take a sip of water.

I got to about 2 months without biting my nails before, but all of that energy just went to other places. Nails made it easier to pick my skin, and I'd just paint my nails and flake the paint off :I

Here are the main items she uses, not her tool brand, which is CND and ten times the cost:

1. two-in-one version of the two metal tools she used:
   ProMax Professional Cuticle Pusher Nail Cleaner-Double Ended,One Side 9mm and Othe...
   
   
2. cuticle remover gel — this is probably the exact one she uses
   CND Cuticle Away Cuticle Remover
   
   
3. cuticle treatment — regular use each night will soften eponynicium, minimize new cuticle buildup and make removal easier
   CND Cuticle Eraser Gentle Exfoliator
   
   
4. Keratin cuticle oil - use several times a day. Rescue RX Note: you can probably find this cheaper. It’s $10 at my local CVS
   
   Those are the basics. Hope this helps!

I have ADHD and I bit my nails pretty badly too. It's been 79 days since I've last bit my nails.

I use this fidget toy which has been the best I've ever used because it keeps my hand busy and I can roll/twirl it with my entire hand! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QG449N3/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_90NPDbK3YK3V2

I also use a goal tracker app where I "x" out the days I haven't bitten to help keep me on track.

My nails tend to split it peel and I use Nailtiques formula 2 and I think it works because it feels a lot less and I've had to actually cut and file my nails!

If my nails do split or break I use a nail file to shape them.

I've been biting my nails for over 20 years and this has been my best streak. I've relapsed twice in my previous streaks but this has definitely been the longest.

I believe in you!

If you pick when you're anxious I would strongly recommend a fidget toy, like tangle toys or the fidget cube.

I started using one of these and it helped me immensely because I could fidget with that instead of picking my nails.

They are pretty cheap so it's a great place to start even if it might not work for you

Bliss Kiss Simply Pure Cuticle &... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J6J9D9O?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

It’s the first one I’ve tried so I have nothing else to compare it to but still it smells nice and I haven’t picked for over two weeks!

I find that a fidget cube fulfilled my brain's "need" to make me bite my nails. I reckon fidgeting with it sends stimulii from my fingers to my brain that blocks the "bite" impulse. I tend to find that I need to use the fidget cube when I'm watching someone give a presentation for example.

Once I did that for a week, my nails grew and I found it easier not to bite them. Now I've been able to stop biting my nails.

After that, I got a manicure set to keep my nails trimmed nicely, making it even easier to not bite them.

Check out the matte OPI Nail Envy.
It's marketed more towards men because it isn't shiny and no one would think you are wearing "paint." Its an AMAZING strengthener and the matte version is nearly invisible. I promise your male-ness won't be compromised with this stuff :)

EDIT: Just noticed the product description literally says "Ideal for Men." Also make sure it's the matte Nail Envy, not the matte Top Coat. They look similar but are very different.

Just what it sounds like, cream for your cuticles.

I use this stuff, because it works well and smells good. :)

What helped me to not bite also has been painting my nails. I bought a strengthening polish and took a few minutes every day to paint them with it.

I used these two:

OPI Nail Envy Original, 0.5 Ounce


Nailtiques Formula 2 Protein, .5 Ounce

"Orly Cuticle Therapy Creme" was by far the best thing I ever found. It works basically overnight for me. It says its nails and cuticles, but it works wonders on the skin around the nail too.

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https://www.amazon.com/Orly-Cuticle-Therapy-Creme/dp/B000AQI7UE

I got recommended [this] (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nailtiques-Formula-Nail-Protein-15/dp/B000BB9L0S) so I bought it a few days ago to see if it'll work!