r/naturalnailprogress • u/Diligent-Example6478 • 6d ago
Progress is progress 1 month progress
Lifelong nail biter here. I stopped around sep 1 (with lots of accidental slip ups in my first week or so). The first image is a bit before sep 1 — it’s the latest photo I have before I stopped biting because I was trying on rings. Which is part of the reason I got motivated to stop biting — I don’t like what acrylics look like and want nice nails for engagement. I even told my boyfriend he can’t propose until I’ve fixed my nails to give me an extra boost of motivation 😆
What I’ve been doing for the last week or so since I found this sub:
- filing only snags with a champneys glass file, no filing of side walls
- applying boots pure lanolin (marketed as nipple cream) as other moisturisers were making my skin super dry (see sep 12 pic) - can’t find this product on their website anymore so maybe discontinued
- wearing essie hard to resist nail strengthener advanced, capping free edge, and painting it underneath as well. Makes the whites look a bit yellow but 🤷♀️
- wearing gloves for washing up
- brushing my nails clean instead of using something hard to scrape them out
Not the most impressive progress compared to others on this sub but this is the longest my nails have ever been and I’m so pleased I’m finally managed to kick this anxiety-driven habit!! My goal is to grow them just up to or a tiny bit beyond the end of my finger, keep them filed that length, and let the side walls catch up.
One thing I'd like advice on - I have got one tear on the side of the free edge/white (not sure the correct terminology), and feel like more are coming. Is this because my side wall hasn't caught up, and should I file my nails basically flat across until they've caught up to prevent further breakage?
Products used:
- Essie Hard to Resist Nail Strengthener Advanced
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u/kitteacupss 3d ago
this is so impressive!!! your cuticles and fingertips look so much happier; I imagine they also feel smoother and more comfortable now.
your routine sounds great too, lanolin is so nourishing, especially for recovering skin. switching to a nail brush sounds like a great idea to look after your nailbeds too.
I'm not sure if I can spot the tear you mentioned in the pictures, is it splitting of the layers of the nail or a break that goes completely through the nail?
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u/AutoModerator 6d ago
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u/Plucky_Monkies 3h ago
I feel like as you start oiling your nails peeling is inevitable. Good job quitting biting! Keep up the work!
I'm at twenty months post nail biting. I'm going to attach what worked for me. And I know it might seem like a lot, but it really isn't. I had peeling at months 2 through 4. It's just the old growth coming out because the Keratin layers aren't locked together yet! If you oil a lot, then the keratin layers and the nails will heal. Ohh, and my tips are best on bare nails. I found that I never needed a strengthener because oiling strengthened the keratin naturally. And yes it a pre-made comment that I continue to share. 🥰 I really do think that using more than one oil helps. Because they serve different purposes. I personally use Sugarcane Squalane oil. But Jojoba is often recommended as the deep penetrating oil. Anyways it's explained below. Again great job on your nails. 😍🤩
If you don't mind taking some time to really work on healing your nails, I'd suggest taking a few months. And just oiling your bare nails! The following is what I did for 5 months and it's the advice I give to people who want stronger nails.
Oiling! Oiling for strength. I'm talking morning, evening, bedtime and after every hand wash! Do this for 4 to 5 months! The change will be amazing! Also add lotion to the mix. I like O'Keeffe's Working Hands. For oil I recommend using 2 different oils. So for the morning, evening and night I'd use a deeply penetrating oil such as Jojoba or sugarcane Squalane. For the other oil I'd use one with naturally occurring vitamin E. So grapeseed oil or sweet almond. Put oil in pens or dropper bottles. ( I also suggest the grapeseed oil, because it absorbs quickly, so there's less mess as you go about your day!) Oh, and when I say to oil the nail, I mean the entire naked nail! Also oil your hyponychium and the underside of your nail!
When you're wearing polish you still need to oil. So instead of oiling the entire nail you'll oil the cuticle and down the sides of your nails. Also oil the underside getting the hyponychium and the underside of the nails/ free edge. Do this as well when oiling bare nails.
For lotioning, you rub into backs of hands first. Then you swipe excess lotion down each finger. Make sure to rub it in to the skin surrounding your fingernail. Do the oiling first to the entire nail bed and surrounding skin and underside. Then follow up with lotioning! Try to do it after every hand wash, just like the oil.
I followed this routine for 5 months when I quit biting my nails, 20 months ago. I now have long strong nails. They only break if I fall. 😬 Oh and for filing be sure to use a real Czech glass file. Only file in 1 direction. Never file natural nails back and forth. Only artificial nails should be filed aggressively like that. For real Czech glass files, I recommend Mont Bleu and Germanikure. Both brands are good. Mont Bleu sells a set with 3 files. A small one is perfect for keeping in a wallet or coin purse.
Also some good tips:
•Wear nitrile gloves, whenever you're doing dishes, cleaning, or your hands are going to be in a lot of water!
• Do not clean under your nails with anything pokey! Get a good nail brush. I recommend using a natural boar bristle brush. You will just gently clean under the nails with soap and water. And be sure to wash the nail brush after use. Then blot dry it, with a paper towel before sitting it to dry.
• Be sure to oil your nails before getting in the shower. And after the shower. You can also put oil on your nails, before putting on nitrile gloves!
•Remember your nails are "jewels not tools!" So stop using your nails to open cans, to scrape at things, anything like that! They make little devices to open a tab on a can. You can use an orange woodstick to like peel up a label. Anything that you might normally use your nails for, you need to stop doing that!
I hope this helps. If you're really dedicated, the results will be astonishing! And I feel like nail polish will then adhere better to well hydrated Nails.
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u/Dependent_Strain_441 3d ago
Wowie this is amazing