Dear Readers: We received a large response about the habit of nail-biting. For my readers who have this habit, I hope the following responses help. — Heloise

NAIL-BITING

Dear Heloise: I was reading the letter from the lady who is very upset with the state of her nails due to her lifelong nail-biting. I was a nail-biter for a little over 50 years, until my wife suggested that I should come with her to the nail salon when she was going for one of her biweekly visits.

I was embarrassed, but Heloise, it changed my appearance and my direction! I was pleased with the way the nail technician was able to make my nails just about presentable the first time. From then on, I have never bitten my nails again, and I eagerly look forward to my biweekly visit.

I praise the nail lady and her ability to make an ugly, unpleasant physical feature into one that I can show off with pride. I would hope and suggest that your reader would try this, maybe with some fancy touch like glitter or a special nail design. This way, she will enjoy looking at her nails and have no desire to destroy them.

Good luck! — Barry G., Staten Island, New York

NAIL CLIPPING

Dear Heloise: Here’s a hint for those who have a fingernail-biting habit. Use a sharp fingernail clipper and trim all your fingernails as close as you can so that there is no nail for your teeth to get on. Use your clipper every day or every couple of days so there is nothing to bite. Continue clipping nails until you’re out of the habit of biting.

When you can, allow yourself a little nail growth! But remember to use the clipper to shape and trim snagged nails. If you start biting again, start using the clipper to trim all your nails again. Don’t use nail polish.

Also, use hand lotion before you go to sleep so you don’t wash it off right away. — Rita B., via email

LOST FRIENDSHIP

Dear Heloise: Like Vance R. in Anaheim, California, I lost a dear friend because of a political phone discussion that we should have never had. She is a very strong supporter of one of the candidates and asked me who I was voting for. I told her I didn’t like either candidate and why. I also told her that I might make my choice by whom was chosen to be their vice president. This didn’t please her either, and she said, “I’m begging you to please vote for this certain candidate. We have grandchildren and…”

I, again, started telling her my misgivings, and she hung up on me. I tried calling her back, texting her, and sending her emails and card messages. She does not respond. This is a person who called me daily while I was in rehab with a broken hip and almost daily after I returned home. We had been friends for a long time.

I had known that she had cut off her sister (for what reason, I know not), so I immediately knew she was cutting me off, too. It’s been several months with no response. I am sad, but she is unmovable. — N.M.B., Port Charlotte, Florida

N.M.B., stop trying to contact your friend. She is too controlling. Actually, you’ve lost nothing if your friendship was based on her demands that you do as she said. Make new friends and ignore her if she ever does respond. — Heloise

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Hints from Heloise run occasionally in Lifestyles. Readers may send a hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE, or email: Heloise@Heloise.com. Letters won’t be answered personally.