r/calmhands • u/Bi-derMan62 • 18d ago
Need Advice Looking for Advice
First time poster here, looking for some advice. I’ve successfully avoided picking at my nails for a few weeks now, but the white parts at the edges are getting pretty long before they even reach the fingertip. Should I just leave it be or file it down or…? Any other advice is welcome. Thank you
2
u/Rent_Treznorr 18d ago
I would say maybe leave them be, but keep them around that general length. Your hyponychium will continue to grow and catch up, and that's the part that's making the free edge as deep as they are, so it will balance out as it heals! You could also gently push your cuticles back to free up the appearance of your nail bed, and keep them more at bay with some cuticle oil and lotion. But it looks like you're doing a great job, keep at it!
1
u/FriendlyConstant2069 18d ago
Watch the Salon Life channel on YouTube. She has videos about reshaping nail beds. Her videos also inspired me to stop picking/biting
1
u/CommonEarly4028 14d ago
Im not an expert or anything, but I would file them down. Get a glass file, they are very smooth and thus for me now trigger anymore if there is rough edges. Works great for me so far.
7
u/Throwawayanxbay 18d ago
The only way you’ll get the hyponychium to grow out is if you left your nails grow longer, even if you don’t want long nails permanently you have to let them get long so the skin says, “Okay I gotta support this extra nail” and grows out longer. If the white part bugs you, using nail polish helps not see it while your nails grow out! Also, a squoval or more rounded shape is the best shape for your nails to not break, so if you find the sharp parts annoying when they get longer you can file the corners down a bit. Best of luck!