Q. I'm a die-hard nail biter. How can I stop?

A. The first thing to do, no matter how short your nails are, is to have a professional manicure. When you see how great your nails can look this will reduce the temptation to bite, as you won't want to ruin their appearance. Aim to have one at least once a fortnight to keep you on track!

Another trick is to always paint your nails, so that they look so fabulous you won't want to bite!

Lastly, keep cuticle oil in your bag or pocket. Every time you think you're going to bite, apply some on your nails and fingertips. It certainly won't taste very nice!

Plus, the action of massaging oil into your nail will stimulate the circulation of the blood to this area; this will make your nails grow stronger and healthier.

Q. My nails have recently become very weak, soft and flaky. Why is this and what can I do?

A. This could be due to a large number of reasons including diet, stress, illness, a change of medication, or the nail simply being dehydrated.

The main thing to do is to get moisture and nourishment back in the nail bed and to put a protective layer on them so that they do not shatter or flake to only one layer.

Also follow the five steps (shown below) to keeping your nails smudge and chip-free.

Q. How can I keep my nail polish smudge free and chip free for longer?

A. To ensure you don’t smudge your lovely painted nails, make sure they are dry before you go anywhere.

Before you paint your nails, there are also some quick tricks to make sure your polish lasts longer:

Step 1. File and shape

File the nails with long strokes using the length of the file in a see-saw motion. This will help shape the nails without damaging them. And never file to a point as this weakens the sides. If you split or break a nail whilst filing, don't tear it off as this could cause more damage.

Step 2. Soften and hydrate the cuticles

Massage a cuticle oil into the base of the nail to reduce breaking, splitting and cracking.

Step 3. Buff and shine

It's essential to buff and shine before you apply colour. To reduce the chance of splitting or breaking, follow the natural 'squovel' shape (square with rounded edges) of your nails.

Step 4. Base coat

This well help to protect your nails further and will make sure your nail colour lasts longer.

Step 5. Colour and gloss

After you've applied colour, always add a gloss for extra protection from chipping. Nails Inc polishes are easy to apply and chip resistant.