Bite Your Nails? Twirl Your Hair? It Could Be Because You’re A Perfectionist

Bite Your Nails? Twirl Your Hair? This Could Be Why

kate middleton fidget hair, play with hair

by Emma Spedding |
Published on

Have you been known to twirl your hair in a meeting? Or sometimes find it hard to look up at the person you're talking to because there's a piece of skin next to your nails you reaaallllly want to pick? Well apparently this isn't just because you are an uncontrollable fidget, but could be because you're a perfectionist.

This year researchers at the University of Montreal published a study which explains that biting nails, twisting hair and picking skin could be a side effect of being bored or frustrated easily.

"We believe that individuals with these repetitive behaviors may be perfectionistic, meaning that they are unable to relax and to perform task at a 'normal' pace," said lead author Kieron O'Connor, Ph.D., in a statement about the research. "They are therefore prone to frustration, impatience, and dissatisfaction when they do not reach their goals. They also experience greater levels of boredom."

The study tested 48 participants, half of whom are nail-pickers/ hair-twirlers, and put them in four scenarios where they were provoked to feel bored, frustrated, stressed and relaxed. The participants were more likely to do these behaviours when they were stressed or frustrated, so "this means that condition is not simply due to 'nervous' habits."

O'Connor said to The Huffington Post of the research: "The positive effects of the habits are stimulation and a (maladaptive) way of regulating emotion. What triggers the habit is largely frustration and impatience so the action substitutes for more constructive action."

Earlier this year it was reported that fidgeting is actually good for you. A study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, found that fidgeting goes towards undoing some of the damage of sitting at a desk all day.

Well it's a great excuse for the next time you're told to leave you're hair alone - 'sorry, it's just because I'm perfect.'

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us