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Bold, and Beautiful
The metro-sexual man is as interested in his appearance as
his female counterpart. In this race of being groomed, the bold is slowly morphing
into the beautiful as well. Priya Krishnaswamy reports
 As
the lady is blatantly becoming bolder, the gentleman is all geared to become
beautiful! We live in a time when it pays to look your best, especially at the
workplace. And if your job is based on your appearance, then it becomes inevitable.
The concept of masculinity has changed over time depending on the culture and
attitudes of that time and metro-sexuals are a part of this evolution. Most
men probably coif in the privacy of their own bathrooms with creams and lotions.
But it is true that when it comes to personal grooming, men need to take as
much care as women, especially since they use shaving creams and after shave
on a daily basis.
Grooming League
One of the keys to success is good grooming. Powered by fashionable
television and movies, the Indian male is becoming more aware of his appearance.
Officials at Gold Touch Beauty Parlour and School, among the better known beauty
parlours in Bangalore, agree that over the past few years, the number of men
opting for facials or manicures have increased significantly. "When the
men's section at Gold Touch opened five years ago, most of our customers came
in for a shave or a haircut. But now quite a number of them come in for beauty
treatments as varied as eyebrow shaping to waxing or facials."
Kulu Phokela of the Shahnaz Beauty Parlour & Saloon, Bangalore is of the
opinion that grooming is essential for both men and women. "Since the past
few years, Indian men have been as keen in presenting their well-groomed persona
to public as Indian women. For well-dressed men, shaving or a haircut had always
been a necessity. But now a regular manicure and a pedicure are an absolute
must." The salon with branches all over the country offers beauty treatments
to both men and women.
No surprise then that the male grooming market is worth Rs
800 crore today, the bulk of which is earned from regular shaving products,
hair dyes and styling gels. Most manufacturers are pushing unisex products like
shampoos and hair colours. Metro-sexuality may be too fresh a market for big
attention as yet but for many smaller players, these gender experiments hold
enough interest for induction.
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For Your Hair
- One of the speedy methods to look younger is
to colour your hair. There are a lot of hair colour solutions (L'Oreal,
Wella) that can be used both at saloons or at home that cover grey hair
with close to natural looking results.
- Balding is another common problem faced by men.
Try a new shorter hair cut and come to terms with accepting your changing
look. However, when men begin balding, there may be growth of excessive
hair in the nose, ears or back. Take care to trim or wax the unwanted
hair for a cleaner look.
Hands and Feet
- Well-manicured nails and toes contribute largely
in stretching out to good grooming habits. Make time to clip and file
your nails at home. Most saloons offer quick manicures that can relieve
your hands of all its weariness.
- Foot odour is a common problem among many men.
Scrub your feet daily after removing your footwear for the day and dry
them completely. You could also insert a pair of Odor-Eaters Insoles
into your shoes that will absorb wetness and odour. Since men inevitably
end up wearing shoes for most of the day, the feet becomes relatively
softer and is sensitive to the hard scrubs of the saloon. Take care
to talk to your beautician before he lays hands on your feet.
Shaving
- Eliminate razor burns and nicks by keeping your
razors sharp. This enables a closer shave and prevents skin damage.
It is almost mandatory to use an aftershave. This has a cooling effect
on the skin and helps prevent rash.
- Don't forget to trim the edges of your sideburns
so that they don't look uncared for.
Skin
- The best way to prevent wrinkles and look younger
is to protect your skin from sun damage by using a daily moisturiser
with sunscreen.
- Bleaching helps remove tan and gives a clearer
texture to your skin.
- Regular facials can activate the blood vessels
and help prevent premature aging. It also relaxes the face muscles and
tones up the skin.
General Tips
- Iron your clothes. What you don't speak, your
clothes will.
- Wear light coloured, under-stated cottons in
summer. Such clothes absorb less heat and largely prevent sweating.
- Wear a deodorant.
- Good oral hygiene means a confident smile and
a confident person.
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Budgets For Grooming
 For
many professionals, setting aside a monthly allowance for grooming is now part
of the fixed expense. Says J Harikrishnan, a software professional at iGate
Technologies, "Today's women prefer men who are not only well dressed but
well groomed as well. To keep with the times, manicures have become a bare necessity."
A lot of youngsters who form the major percentage of the metro-sexual males
are regulars to saloons. Phokela says, "They can be very fussy and choosy
about the grooming that is to be done to them. Sometimes, it is easier to treat
women than cajole the new age man."
Hair colouring is one segment that has gained much popularity. L'Oreal has a
wide range of products for hair colouring of which there are a few that cater
only to men. "Most men who come to us want to try out new hairstyles with
a new hair colour. They are very adventurous and don't mind trying out everything
that is available," says Sheela from the Gold Touch.
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