Bethan King, a 45-year-old beauty editor, has spent decades struggling with a habit she describes as a "shameful secret": nail biting. This deeply ingrained behavior has led to unsightly nails and cuticles, often causing her embarrassment, even in a profession where she is surrounded by beauty treatments.
King recounts an incident at a hotel where a manicurist, upon seeing her nails, politely suggested a pedicure instead, a moment that underscored her long-held shame. Despite having access to top beauty professionals, she has often declined manicures due to her discomfort with the condition of her nails.
The habit began in primary school, initially as a way to avoid nail trimming, but evolved into a subconscious response to anxiety and stress. Throughout her school years and into adulthood, her nails bore the brunt of these anxious moments. She notes that nail biting is a common habit, with estimates suggesting that up to 30 percent of people engage in it, often triggered by anxiety.
Beyond the cosmetic aspect, King acknowledges the potential health implications of nail biting, including infections, tissue damage, and dental issues. Over the years, she has tried numerous methods to quit, including bitter-tasting anti-bite nail polish in her teens and financial incentives from her mother. More recently, she explored breathwork and mindfulness techniques.
For significant life events, such as her wedding in 2013, she managed to grow her nails, but the habit returned shortly after. She also tried various nail strengthening products, acrylics, and gel manicures. While builder-gel manicures, also known as BIABs, provided some structural support, they were ultimately a short-term fix, and she would relapse into biting her nails when faced with deadlines.
This persistent habit led her to constantly apologize for her hands, a behavior she realized was deeply ingrained. A turning point came when visiting her mother in the hospital. An elderly woman on the ward apologized for her hands to King, a stranger, prompting King to reflect on her own lifelong apologies for her nails.
Following this encounter, King decided to stop apologizing for her hands and to stop letting embarrassment dictate her self-worth. She is now taking a course on basic nail care, hoping to make peace with her nails and potentially take pride in her hands. She concludes that breaking the habit of letting embarrassment about her nails govern her self-worth is more important than stopping the nail biting itself.