Comments on: Is There Such A Thing As Overmanicuring?

By: Sandi

Sandi — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 11:17:31 +0000

I’m with several of you, it’s paint or chew. Not only does painting stop the biting, but the fact that they DO look nice means I’m a lot more careful how I use both my nails and my hands. No more using my nails as tools for prying, poking or peeling at labels and such and no more letting my hands be dried out by water or weather. I do my manis (yes, nearly every day) while parked in front of the keyboard and always spend at least 20 minutes massaging oil into my tips before washing my hands (with Dawn! lol) and painting. Jojoba, vitamin E, almond cuticle oil…I use them all. So far it’s working. I wear mine a bit longer than most of you ladies seem to prefer, but nothing worthy of being dissed as talons and haven’t had a break in months (knock on my head).

By: Raye

Raye — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:54:00 +0000

If I don’t keep my nails painted they peel. However polish and remove take a toll on my already dry nails. I did some experimenting. I have VERY hard nails. My mom has very soft nails and does not wear polish. After my experiments I have found that mixing Soybean Oil and Vitamin E helps both our nails. (It does stink a bit) One day a week I leave my polish off and rub this mixture on top and under my nails and on my cuticles.During the week I put the oil under the nails tips every day or two. I let it sit there about five minutes and then wash it off. It has made an improvement for both mom and I but particularly for me with my hard, dry nails. You might want to give it a try!

By: womanchild

womanchild — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 01:59:00 +0000

Hey Cincy, I just recently found your blog!
I wouldnt say I was a nail biter as much an OCD cookie monster when it came to biting my nails!

Since I was probably 3 or 4 yrs old!

I tried quiting a few times but it just never stuck and when I didnt bite, my nails would split on the sides and then Id just start biting again.

Ive had great success now that Im 30. I think part of it is, our nails get thicker as we get older (Im 30 now). I dont file my nails except when it's absolutely necessary.

I try to keep polish on my nails as I know they feel and look protected. When I change my polish and they are naked, they just feel vulnerable.

I admit I get bored easily and it's hard for me to keep the same polish on my nails longer than 3 days. I primarily only use non-acetone polish remover.

I also have naturally oily skin/hair and I think that's another benefit for me (its got its downsides too believe me, still having acne at 30 sucks)

Anyway I agree w/many other that while caring for nails has its benefits, but OCD'ing your nails can do more harm than good.

the whole "less is more" adage works here very well.

~A

By: Cindy

Cindy — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:55:00 +0000

I'll just add one more to the chorus of people who paint their nails to keep from picking/biting them. My problem is that my nails are literally tissue paper thin, and an unconcious habit of picking at them, mine were always down to the quick.

I found a good vitamin that my aunt reccomended to me though (Source of Life), and now they're thick enough that with a hardener and polish they can grow. Seeing all the pretty polishes on this blog helps too, heh.

And now I've got 25 years of hiding my nails to make up for. =)

By: KP

KP — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:56:00 +0000

Cincy, can you blog about your nail routine? I started polishing regularly but now my nails are a wreck. I’ve broken 5 nails, one twice! over the past week. I’m willing to spend the money to get my nails healthy!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 08:26:00 +0000

HI. i dont have myspace and my outlook doesnt work, so there is no way of emailing u other than this. i have a huge request. I ABSOLUTELY ADORE your blog and check it daily. since you are the ultimate genius when it comes to color, i was wondering if u could identify something for me. i have been obssessing for the last couple of days. what is the gorgeous shade of red/burgundy nail polish that sarah jessica parker is wearing on SATC in episode 31 (where there’s smoke…) in season 3? if u could help, i would greatly appreciate it. u r my last hope since u r the nail polish guru! all hail, the mighty one! thanks so much. maybe u could come up with an alternative that is pretty damn close.

By: Ladylipstick

Ladylipstick — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:29:00 +0000

I just started taking Biotin myself. I do have a nail license, so there is really no excuse for my nails being the mess that they are! Just another case of “do as I say, not as I do!”

By: Diana

Diana — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:26:00 +0000

Count me as another person who started taking care of her nails to quit biting! And I also bit them for the same reasons you did: they were constantly breaking, splitting and peeling and biting was my habitual way of grooming. After keeping my nails *constantly* painted for the last 10 months, I can honestly say my nails have never looked better. They very rarely break or split any more, and so long as I put a coat of nail strengthener on under a coat of Stickey, they don’t peel either. I haven’t changed my vitamin regiment any, so I can only attribute the improvement to what I put on my nails.

So I think the idea that people with brittle nails are more likely to get regular manicures as a remedy is a better theory than that the manicures are causing the brittleness.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:59:00 +0000

I have Danny Devito Syndrome too. My saving grace has been Rejuvacote. If I didn’t take really good care of my nails, they would be a mess!

By: South African fan

South African fan — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 09:30:00 +0000

Dear Cincy. Ever since I have subscribed to your blog feeds I have been inspired to take care of my nails. Recently I have been applying nail polish every 4-5 days, using moisturising nail strengtheners, and even cuticle cream! I tend to struggle with breaking nails. Nowadays my nails actually grow and I find polish definitely protects them. My philosophy is that overdoing anything (even good things like exercising), is bad for one.