How to Get Healthy Nails (Even If You’re a Chronic Nail Biter)

Confession: I used to be a nail biter.

Not just a cute little “Oh I do it when I’m nervous” kind of biter..more like a squirrel with rabies gnawing at an almond. 

I’d sit in class, biting off tiny slivers of nail until they looked like I’d been stranded on a desert island. No polish. No shape. Just regret.

But I was done hiding my nails.

While everyone was out here chasing the summer body, I was chasing summer nails. Soft pinks, glossy finishes, the kind of look that makes holding an iced coffee feel like a personality trait.

From stubby and shy to polished and proud.

 Here are the 3 nail habits that changed the game for me. No salon trips. No 40-step routines. Just simple things that worked.

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Habit #1 – Your nails are skin. Treat them like it.

This sounds weird, but hear me out.
I used to only focus on the nail itself, the hard part. But if your cuticles and nail beds are dry and crusty, no amount of polish is saving you.

So I started doing what the chic girlies on TikTok do:

• Cuticle oil every night, like a bedtime ritual.
• Hand cream constantly. Bonus if it smells like expensive vanilla cupcakes.
• Gloves when I’m cleaning (this took me years to accept, but bleach and hot water? Nail murder.)

The difference? Wild.

My hands went from “never seen moisturiser” to “soft, glowy, and looks like she reads poetry.”

If you want healthy nails, it starts with hydration.
And I mean more than just drinking water (although… do that too).

Habit #2 – Short nails can still be a look

I used to think nail goals meant long, coffin-shaped acrylics that click when you type.
But every time I tried extensions, they’d pop off in weird places (usually while opening a Diet Coke), and I’d end up with bandages and trust issues.

Now I keep them short, slightly rounded, and intentional.

My go-to at-home manicure routine:

• File and shape
• Push back cuticles (gently, we are not doing surgery)
• One layer of strengthening base coat
• Two coats of polish (neutrals or pastels = elite)
• Glossy top coat
• Cuticle oil again (because why not)

It’s simple, it lasts, and it still gives main character energy

Short doesn’t mean boring. It means you can text faster and still look put-together.

Habit #3 – Your nail colour is your mood board

I used to grab random polish shades without thinking.
Sometimes it worked. Sometimes I looked like I’d dipped my fingers in melted crayons.

Now, I choose nail colours like I’m planning an aesthetic:

• Milky pink = soft girl / clean aesthetic
• Deep red = villain era / expensive energy
• Beige or latte = quiet luxury / “I own a steamer” vibes
• Clear with shimmer = ethereal / fairy in a good way
• Pastels = springcore / you own a picnic blanket

And for summer nails? I go for sheer corals, jelly pinks, white tips, or even a glazed donut finish if I’m feeling Hailey-core. Light, fresh, and 100% hot girl picnic energy.

Even my neutral nail ideas feel personal now.

I pick colours based on my mood, my outfit plans, or what kind of week I’m manifesting.

It’s not just polish. It’s a vibe check.

SO…

Hydration is holy
Short nails are underrated
Your polish is your personality

My nails still aren’t perfect.
Sometimes I smudge them five minutes after painting them.
Sometimes I pick the wrong shade and spiral.
Sometimes I inhale too much polish and start smelling colours. 

But they’re healthy, they’re cute, and most importantly, they feel like me.

If you enjoyed this post, I’d love for you to stick around and discover more beauty secrets. Thank you for trusting me.

All my love 

– Tess <3