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MALE zone
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It's hotting up in the city's male zone as men make a beeline to the beauty dens to look good and feel great, says JESSINA ABOOBACKER.
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Photo by Vipinchandran
BEAUTY, IT seems, has finally found her way into the conservative mind of the Kochi male. And arm candy led him right into the beauty salon. Male grooming in the city has arrived.
Appreciative nod
And women appear to be appreciating this new appetite in men. "I get put off at the vision of soiled fingernails or unruly locks. Why shouldn't men desire to do all those things that make them handsome and striking? This way they will appreciate the reason why we women spend so much money and time at the beauty salon. This also can be fun when you have your spouse right next to you doing a pedicure or a facial," feels Parvathy, a bank employee.
Men in Kochi now empty a good share of their pockets at the large number of hair and beauty salons. They are into facials, shaping eyebrows; going in for advanced hair treatments where earlier a lavish use of perfume, cologne, or a hairbrush was what men did by way of grooming.
Tinsel world
Thenewfound popularity of macho-heroes of the tinsel world and with them showing off their well-formed bodies on billboards and magazines, Kochi men have followed suit. They are prepared to splurge a little extra on this extravaganza. "After all when they spend a lot on clothes, shoes, ties and other accessories why not on the body and face? A large majority of my customers come for regular facials, shaping eyebrows, pedicure and manicures. They come for henna treatment, hot oil massage, colouring, straightening of their hair. While most prefer to be discreet about it all, the truth is that almost all of them want this to be done. We have facials to suit all types of skin," says Sreekumar of men's beauty salon, Polonica at Panampilly Nagar.
Self indulgence
"It is all about self indulgence. I use a lot of grooming products. But I see to it that whatever I use is suitable to my skin texture and of course easy on my pocket," reveals Xavier a business executive. So they are now coming out of their shells and cracking the hang-ups. They are ready to try out the orange peel-off mask, the auburn locks tint, luxurious pedicure and different types of facials.
Facials are done after testing the need and type of the skin. Since men usually do not possess a fine skin texture they like to indulge only in herbal products, as a guarantee against side effects. During a facial cleansing is done, then bleach, followed by steaming and massage and eventually the face pack. There are separate packs for dry, oily, dark, tanned, and sensitive skin. "Most men come in for grooming before the D-day; a betrothal ceremony or the wedding. Then we advise them to come three days prior to the function to do the entire pre-grooming package which includes facial, hair treatment, pedicure, manicure. Then on the day of the function we do subtle make up, which comprises waterproof foundation and make up. Nothing should be obvious as most men do not like to look made up. It should blend well the skin tone," says Rajan of Ole, Grand Hotel.
It does not stop with a monthly visit to the salon. It continues at home with an assortment of grooming products. They use moisturisers, conditioners and other products, helping a male-grooming industry bloom. "Most of the men spend around Rs.1, 500 a month on pampering themselves. But most of them are unaware of the treatments available. We need to educate them regarding the benefits of each treatment. Usually they leave the entire job to us as they do not have much to contribute in the name of suggestion or opinion," informs Mr. Sreekumar.
Hairstyles
Men have also begun experimenting in hair styling and colouring. Some have even gone for audacious colours like blonde burgundy, mahogany etc. "It suits our men to the T. It is nice to see that men have decided to break the monotony and dare to experiment with looks. We get to see so many different styles around us. It is a breakthrough from the stereotype," feels Malini, a final year student at St. Teresa's College.
New look
"Modelling and films have created this consciousness, with the wet looks, the short crop, silky hair and such stuff. In the metros even the older folks are going in for this kind of look. This metrosexual concept has been embraced without any embarrassment," says Rahul John Jacob, a college student at JNU, New Delhi.
So Beauty is finally dating the guys in Kochi and wow, what a difference! They are all making heads turn.
Sans hang ups
THE METROSEXUAL man has hit the cities, Kochi included. Men have started falling in love with themselves, their urban lifestyle. They are not men who merely groom themselves in the best of ties, watches, pens and wallets, but is a sensitive human being, who is relaxed, emotional, stays connected to sentiments, sensations and feelings.
He is in love with both the yin as well as the yang. He is content to have his spouse contributing to the family kitty. He is agreeable to wake up from a deep slumber to change a diaper or rock the little one back to sleep. He will make bed coffee for himself and his wife if she is late to wake up. He has no qualms about exhibiting sentiments
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