For Bethan King, nail-biting was a secret she had long tried to hide. Despite her profession as a beauty editor, where she had access to the latest treatments and manicurists favored by A-listers, King often declined manicures due to embarrassment over her damaged nails.
"As a 45-year-old beauty editor, trying all the latest wonder-products and treatments is a perk of the job. Yet my nail-biting habit means I've even turned down a manicure from nail technicians the A-list have on speed-dial," King wrote.
Her habit began in primary school, initially as a way to avoid nail trims, but it evolved into a subconscious response to anxiety and stress. This continued through her academic years and into adulthood. King noted that an estimated 30 percent of people bite their nails, with anxiety being a significant trigger.
The habit's impact extended beyond aesthetics, posing risks of infections, tissue damage, and dental problems. King recounted various attempts to quit over the years, including using bitter-tasting nail polish in her teens, financial incentives from her mother, and mindfulness apps. While she managed to grow her nails for her wedding at age 33, the habit resurfaced shortly after.
Temporary Solutions
Professional treatments also offered only short-term relief. Strengthening polishes, acrylic nails, and gel manicures proved insufficient. Acrylics were too cumbersome for her daily typing, and gel manicures left her nails paper-thin and brittle once removed. Builder-gel manicures, known for their reinforcing properties, provided some support but did not address the underlying habit, which would re-emerge during stressful periods with mounting deadlines.
King described feeling like her hands always let her down, leading her to frequently apologize for their appearance. This pattern continued until a hospital visit prompted a shift in perspective.
A Moment of Reflection
While visiting her mother post-surgery, King offered to help another patient with her phone. The woman apologized for her hands, stating she had never had nice hands. This comment struck King, making her realize how deeply ingrained such self-consciousness could become, likely spanning a lifetime. It led her to re-evaluate her own habit of apologizing for her hands.
Following this encounter, King made a conscious effort to stop apologizing for her hands and to stop avoiding situations where her nails might be noticed. She has also enrolled in a course on basic nail care. The experience has encouraged her to focus on making peace with her nails and potentially taking pride in her hands, prioritizing breaking the habit of letting embarrassment about her nails affect her self-worth over stopping the nail-biting itself.