Dear Abby: My best friend has been secretly using Rogaine — I feel left out that he didn’t tell me

DEAR ABBY: I recovered retired that, down my back, my champion friend has been (secretly) increasing hairsbreadth for nan past year. He knows I person been balding for galore years. Although I person accepted my follicular fate, he knows I perpetually hunt for self-improvement successful my life. 

What bothers maine is that he didn’t stock nan accusation until I mentioned I was reasoning astir trying Rogaine. THAT is erstwhile he told maine he has been utilizing a akin merchandise for nan past twelvemonth and it seems to beryllium working. He moreover took disconnected his shot headdress (which he has been curiously wearing for a year), to show maine nan humble results. I uncertainty he would person shared this if I hadn’t raised nan subject.

I consciousness profoundly shafted by his secrecy, and I don’t spot it arsenic specified a backstage matter that it had to beryllium concealed. I do understand that he whitethorn person felt embarrassed to admit it bothered him and that he was taking steps to reside nan issue. 

What is nan norm of etiquette nether nan circumstances? Should a personification stock self-improvement methods that are modestly successful pinch a adjacent friend who would intelligibly use from nan accusation (assuming it is not truthful individual aliases backstage that it cannot beryllium shared)? — SHAFTED IN PENNSYLVANIA

DEAR SHAFTED: There is nary norm of etiquette that dictates anyone must stock this benignant of information. As adjacent arsenic you whitethorn deliberation you are to this friend, effort to retrieve that not everyone is comfortable talking astir aesculapian interventions they are utilizing for self-improvement. This includes integrative surgery, weight-loss narcotics and cures for baldness (a information suffered by members of some sexes). Your friend was bully to mention that he has been utilizing a merchandise akin to nan 1 you are contemplating, but he was nether nary request to do so.

DEAR ABBY: I precocious separated from my woman and person developed feelings for personification new, “Maria.” However, Maria has mentioned that she’s presently making love someone. Despite this, we talk passim nan time and person spent clip together, and she ever seems to bask our conversations and outings. 

I person expressed my feelings, but alternatively than opportunity I’m successful nan “friend zone,” she simply reiterates that she’s seeing someone. I’m confused and unsure of what to do. I person tried distancing myself, but she continues to scope out, and our conversations prime up again. Should I measurement backmost and move on, aliases proceed to prosecute pinch her while remaining respectful? — BAFFLED IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR BAFFLED: Tell Maria you for illustration her very overmuch but are looking for personification to person a romanticist narration with, which is why you will beryllium stepping backmost for a while. Suggest that if her narration doesn’t activity out, she should springiness you a call, and possibly you tin activity thing retired if you’re not seeing anyone. Then move on.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, besides known arsenic Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby astatine http://www.DearAbby.com aliases P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.