It’s one of the top three beauty resolutions among women.

Ragged, bitten nails aren't attractive, and neither is actually nibbling at your nails.

So why is it such a difficult habit to break?

The fact is that nail biting is a common stress-relieving habit but panic not, there are ways to break the cycle. Phew!

Psychologist Robert Epstein recommends using a nail filing technique.

“Buy 50 cheap nail files and scatter them everywhere you work and play,” he advises.

“When a rough edge begins to bother you, grab a file and sand the nail smooth. People rarely bite or pick at nails with smooth edges.”

Here are some other tricks to try out.

1. Coat your nails with a bitter-tasting nail biting polish. The nasty taste will discourage you from biting. You can also use a regular clear or coloured nail polish to prevent you from nail biting.

2. Keep your nails trimmed short. You'll have less of a nail to bite.

3. Get regular manicures. If you spend the money to keep your nails looking attractive, you'll be less likely to bite them.

4. Use an alternate technique to manage your stress. Try yoga, meditation, deep breathing, or squeezing a stress ball to relax you.

5. Put a rubber band around your wrist and snap it whenever you get the urge to bite your nails.

Good luck! © Cover Media