Hands Off: How to Quit Nail Biting for Good
Quitting nail biting is hard. If you’ve ever tried bitter nail polish, gloves, fidget toys, or habit trackers, you know the problem: they only work when you remember to use them or aren't convenient at all. Nail biting doesn’t happen when you’re paying attention, it happens when you’re stressed, focused, or bored, and your hands move to your mouth almost automatically.
That’s why Hands Off exists.
Hands Off is a desktop app that helps you stop nail biting and other Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) like skin picking or hair pulling. It works by using your webcam to monitor you while you work or study. The moment you start biting your nails, Hands Off notices and interrupts you with a popup on your screen. That instant feedback is what makes the difference: it pulls you out of the unconscious loop and gives you the chance to stop before the damage is done.
Instead of relying on willpower, Hands Off builds awareness. Every time you’re about to bite your nails, the app reminds you in real time. Over time, this repeated interruption rewires your consciousness about the habit. You begin to notice the urge earlier, resist it more easily, and eventually break free from nail biting altogether.
Hands Off was created by someone who struggled with nail biting for years. After countless failed attempts with traditional methods, the realization was simple: the habit happens unconsciously, so the solution has to be automatic too. That’s exactly what Hands Off provides, a quiet companion that steps in when you need it.
And while it’s powerful, it’s also private. All video processing happens locally on your computer. Nothing is recorded, nothing is uploaded, and your personal data never leaves your device.
If you’ve been asking yourself “How do I stop biting my nails?” or “Why can’t I quit skin picking?”, Hands Off is the answer. It is more than a habit tracking app, it actively helps you change your behavior in the moment.
Breaking free from nail biting isn’t about willpower alone. It’s about awareness, interruption, and building new habits. Hands Off gives you exactly that, so you can finally keep your hands off and grow the healthy nails you’ve always wanted.
