Unfortunately, not everyone is blessed with talons that are enviably strong and long.

"Very few women have perfect nails - childhood biting can weaken nails, lifestyle factors and air-conditioning can dehydrate nails, and many women complain of having stained nail beds, either from smoking or continuous use of badly formulated nail colours," says Leighton Denny, nail technician to the stars.

He insists that 20 minutes a week is enough for beautiful and healthy nails.

"The most attractive person can become much less so if their hands and nails are not well kept - from bitten-down nails to chipped polish," he adds.

"A manicure every two to three weeks is not a lot of time to take out, and manicured nails give a good impression."

l Manicurists normally cut my cuticles back during a manicure. Should I do that myself?

"Never ever cut cuticles yourself. They act as a barrier to keep bacteria from entering the body, so they need to stay put. Cutting them will make them harden and start to grow up the nail," says Jodie Hay from Miss Nail Bar.

She adds: "Always push cuticles back after a bath or shower with rubber pushers, and use a cuticle oil at least twice a day to soften them."

Splash out on rich creamy formulas such as Dior Creme Abricot, £15 or 20 Euros, Eve Lom Cuticle Cream, £15 at Space NK (020 8740 2085/www.spacenk.com), or Bliss Manicure's Best Friend, £15 of 24 Euros (0808 100 4151/www.blisslondon.co.uk).

Lush's Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter, £4.50 or 7.95 Euros, and The Body Shop's Almond Nail & Cuticle Balm, £5 or 7 Euros, are bargain finds.

Oil-based treatments are very gentle on poor cracked cuticles. Victoria Beckham loves Creative Nail Design Solar Oil, £9.95 (0113 216 2994), and RYOR Nail Regeneration Oil, £4.80 (020 8693 3195/www.ryor.co.uk), works just as well.

l My nails chip and break very easily. What can I do to strengthen them?

"Dry nails tend to be brittle and chip more easily," explains Dr Ravi Ratnavel, Neutrogena consultant. "Avoid overexposure to detergents and harsh chemicals such as those found in household cleansers.

"Always use rubber gloves with cotton liners when doing household chores, and massage the skin around the nails daily with a moisturising hand cream."

He also recommends using a nail hardener - try Nails Inc A&E, £10 (020 7499 8333/www.nailsinc.com), Trind Moisturising Nail Balsam, £5.95 (01622 859 898), or Nailoid Results Tough 'N Up, 4.50 at Boots and Superdrug.

If your nails breaks, Leighton suggests cutting them all down to the same length. "They will look manicured, even if they're not," he says.

l What is the correct way to file your nails?

Jodie says: "Always file nails in one direction. 'Sawing' them back and forth creates heat that splits and damages the nail. The best nail shape is 'squoval' - square sides with a rounded top."

"File nails using a soft grade natural nail file. Coarse emery boards can be damaging and cause the nail to split and peel," Leighton warns.

l My nails are dry and flaky, with ridges, so when I apply nail varnish, I don't have a smooth base. Any tips?

"Gentle buffing is a really good way to smooth nails. It also stimulates growth," Jodie says. "Only do this once a month as regular buffing can weaken them."

Polish nails with Miss Nail Bar Super Shine Buffer, £1.95 at Superdrug, Ms Manicure Shine 'N' Go Buffer, £1.99 at Boots, coated with a cuticle cream, or Elite Models' Triple Functions Professional Polisher, £3.49 from Superdrug.

Special base coats like Dior Diorlisse, £14 or 20 Euros, and Leighton Denny Undercover, £10 or 16 Euros (0845 004 2053/www.leightondenny.com), will fill in ridges before you apply varnish.

l My nails take ages to grow. Are there any quick fixes?

Kate Moss uses Bo'chel Revive & Grow, £7.95 at Superdrug, a pick-me-up for peeling and weak nails.

Other growth treatments include Nails Inc. Kensington Gardens with sea kelp and oyster shell, £10, and Qtica Natural Nail Growth Stimulator with active garlic enzymes, £16.95 or 25 Euros (0800 111 6647/www.nailcareclub.com).