It would make them harder. Have you thought about going to Sally's and getting either a gell or an acrylic kit. You can get them for less than $20 and it would be enough to keep you in nails until you broke the habit. You can paint the gell on and then spray. You can also get a kit that has a brush on "glue" and a small jar of acrylic powder. You dip the painted nail into the powder and then spray will the same setting spray. It is fairly easy. Marti has the instructions on her webpage. The kits also come with instructions. I would read both if you have never had the experience of acrylic nails before. Be sure to get some of the finer grit files at Sally's as the one's that come with the kit are much to coarse. Good luck.