Men now going for full-wax treatment
Thursday November 08 2001
It's official. The smooth chest has been voted this season's essential fashion statement for men. Catwalk models at Versace and D&G paraded more bare torsos at this season's collection than a Popstars audition with the likes of Dior deploying fuzz-free as the advertising gamut in the latest fragrance campaign.
Simply shaving as far as the neck no longer seems to be enough. The aesthetic imperative of male body grooming is what is at stake. Dermabrasion and laser hair removal have become as standard today as yesterday's cut and blow dry. But how much do these fashion dictates affect our own fellas? It's time to see how low Irishmen are actually willing to go in the name of good grooming.
Despite the incessant media hype, it appears that the business of men's grooming in Ireland has been a bit of a late bloomer. Rebecca Talpin, beauty therapist at Dublin's Blue Eriu, is quick to note that Irish men are nowhere near as open as their English counterparts about parting with unnecessary hair. "A lot of guys are still embarrassed to come in if it's a particularly female environment," she admits, "but once they come through the doors they are great clients and are very open to accepting recommendations and learning about personal grooming."
Unless of course he is one of the few men who admit, like my friend John, a 27-year old producer, that "even getting a lonely fragile chest hair plucked will reduce you to tears and girlie-like screams".
Fittingly enough Irish health spas and beauty clinics are learning to create a more user-friendly environment for the unseasoned male client. Re:fresh based in Dublin's Westwood Health Club provides an exclusive range of treatments and products specifically aimed at men. Its Homme Phytomer pre and post-shaving lotions help inhibit hair growth and prolong periods in between waxing. Obviously this tailored approach is working as its male clientele has increased the past year.
More men are gradually starting to avail of back, neck, leg, shoulder and chest waxes according to therapist Therese Dolan. "There has been a departure from the macho scene," she says. "Men are starting to take more pride in their appearance and are capable of outstripping their female counterparts in the grooming stakes."
Ironically enough, it seems as if most women are the main instigators of this trend and are usually the ones to book grooming sessions for their partners especially before heading off on holidays. Pecs waxed, will travel.
So have our attitudes towards masculinity taken a U-turn? Is boy band smooth really the new black or will chest wigs be the equivalent of the '80s revival? Word on the street gives smoothies the thumbs-up.
"If it's only a few hairs I could live with it," claims Helen, a 28-year old CAD operator from Galway. Michelle from Boston agrees. "My vote is for the smoothie," says the 27-year old lawyer. "Maybe a little hair but not anything your jewellery gets stuck in." Hairy backs, however, fared worse with comments ranging from "the biggest passion killer known to womankind" to "sleeping with a carpet".
The only place where a well-cultivated crop of hair received any support was on top of the head. So prepare to bare all lads. Remember: think glossy... not matte.
- Annemarie O'Connor
