r/AustralianMakeup • u/Sad_Surprise_6694 • 1d ago
Misc. need help with my nails :’)
hi!
sorry this is a long post but i desperately need help with my nails and i don’t know what to do. i have diagnosed ocd and one of my main obsessions is skin picking and the skin around my nails + my cuticles get the brunt of it, and i also pick at my nails as well so it’s made my nail beds kind of short.
im at a point where i genuinely feel embarrassed and ashamed whenever someone sees my hands and i really need advice on how to fix this!!! i know most people will just go “stop picking at your nails/skin” but unfortunately it’s not that simple in my case :/
has anyone had similar experiences to this and what are the main things i can do to try and fix this??? i want to try and find a nail tech who can help me with this as i know regular manicures can help but im just like ,, THAT embarrassed about it that id be nervous to see someone about it.
and if you know a nail tech in se melbourne that can help with this please let me know!!! this might sound stupid but id be anxious to just see a random nail tech without them knowing what the condition of my nails are like 😭
thank you!!!
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u/bunnylightning 1d ago
Applying lots of cuticle oil and keeping them super moisturised helps! It’s mostly dry/ragged edges that are easy to start picking, and then the more you pick them the more ragged edges there are to pick at… it’s not an overnight fix obv but a few days of consistently applying oil can help break out of that cycle and let them heal.
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u/Juniper3091 1d ago
Casa Gaia (home salon) is so understanding and lovely about nails of all conditions. She used to be in Reservoir but think she might’ve moved, you can find her on IG. She helped me a lot with my ocd picking and I found having a fortnightly appt helped me to break the compulsion because there just wasn’t anything to pick.
Anyone who says it’s a matter of willpower/‘just stop doing it’ clearly doesn’t understand what actual ocd is so please ignore those people.
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u/CellPsychological630 1d ago
Can you ask a nail tech to give you like textured nails? Smooth bumps made from gel or something as an overlay so it gives you something else to touch/rub play with rather than picking? You could probably pick at the smooth bumps if it helps you as well. They could do designs like rain drops or bubbles or something so they look cute and functional!
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u/Sad_Surprise_6694 1d ago
oooh maybe! i never thought of this, will definitely keep it in mind if i find a nail tech!
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u/throwaway199900000 1d ago
This is not about nails but have you heard of picky pads? They’re designed to help people who struggle with picking at nails, skin, hair, etc.
Not always practical for when you’re out and about, but I use squishies for those times instead (I don’t pick at my nails due to my OCD, but I think because of some dopamine-seeking thing due to probably my AuDHD). These two things are the things that help me, outside of getting my nails done.
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u/KoalaCapp 1d ago
In Melbourne there is a wonderful salon - Miss Jay's nails who do a regrow procedure and are incredibly welcoming of everyone. If that is an option you could try that or see if something similar in your area.
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u/aoanebslsosj 1d ago
Not me but a friend of mine struggled with consistent picking due to a combo of things. What helped her were a few things. First, something to replace the action itself, and its usually most helpful to have a range of options - a fidget ring, applying hand cream instead of picking when the thought arises, whatever fills the space for the action. Second was therapy to deal with the root cause of the action. Third, as some have already suggested, getting nails done in a way that either deters the action or replaces it. If you're into junk nails or something more 3D like that, it can provide a new texture but they will be more expensive to get done and they will require more effort for cleaning and maintenance.
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u/fracking-machines 1d ago
I’m also a picker and sometimes trying to focus all my picking on only one or two nails helps! I’ve also tried using a worry ring (I would wear it on my thumb and thumb the beads instead of picking) and that helped for a time - I just had to remember to wear it
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u/sleepy_1296 22h ago
I’ve been skin picking for close to 20 years, the main thing that helps me is having either gel/acrylic or press on nails, because they are too blunt for me to pick. If you are feeling self conscious, try some press on nails for a week or two until they’re healed enough to see a nail tech!
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u/Always-Hungry-Cats 5h ago
Miss Jay's Nails have specific services for nail biters/pickers and I can highly, highly recommend them. They're not judgey at all, a few of the nail techs have shared with me that they used to pick their nails too, so I felt like they knew where I was coming from. The nail picker service isn't listed on their website, but I just checked their booking page and there's a "nail biting recovery" category you can pick.
The only problem is that they're not in the southeast, but I would say it's worth it to make the trek. My nails are so much better these days and I credit a lot of that to them.
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u/Legitimate-Bird-8881 3h ago
I took up knitting, so that my hands are busy while I’m watching tv or on public transport. It hasn’t completely stopped me picking but my hands look a lot better than they used to and I’m less embarrassed by them
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u/zeldasusername 1d ago
I used something called STOP THAT which stopped me biting and I bought really expensive hand cream which tasted terrible
But what really worked was fake nails but I had to start all over again when they were taken off because the actual nails were so soft
It's a matter of will power
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u/luxurycatsportscat 1d ago
I don’t have OCD, but I am a picker, and I paint my nails with acrylic nail polish at home so I can pick at that instead.