SHE PICKS HER NAILS

Dear Jellybean,

I've read the posts on biting your nails, but I have a different problem. I pick at my nails. It doesn't matter if I have nailpolish on or anything, I always pick at them. My mom noticed and smacks my hands each time she sees me doing it, but it just doesn't work. Any suggestions? Btw, I used to bite my nails until I got braces.

Dear Writer,

Join the club. I used to do that too - and trust me, it looks gross and icks people out. Personally, I stopped when a friend gave me an awesome suggestion. "Go get an expensive manicure," she said. "Then your fingers will look so nice, you won't want to ruin them by picking at them." She was right. And she also forgot to tell me that the manicurist would totally embarrass me by asking me, "What happened to your poor fingers? They look horrible!" I don't know if this kind of embarrassment would work for you, but it sure kicked me out of my picking habit for good.

It may help you simply to know that people secretly look at your hands and think, "Ew, disgusting!" If you're at all image-conscious, that thought should help to stop you, every time you go to mindlessly pick at your poor, helpless fingers.