Up the ante

One man gets stripped, shaved and prodded for the ultimate male pampering experience.

A FEW decades ago, it would have been considered a big thing if a man used a proper facial cleanser to wash his face. Using a regular moisturiser and toner would have been regarded as venturing into an unknown territory.

These days, it’s no longer a big deal and pharmacies are filled with numerous male grooming products. Beauty centres that cater to men? They are mushrooming everywhere.

Your regular facials and spa sessions aside though, Star2 discovers firsthand just how seriously made-for-men endeavours take male pampering.

Full body waxing

I’ve been told that removing body hair can be a tricky issue. Firstly, there’s the question of how it should be done and secondly, how much hair should be removed. Well, I decided to take the plunge, man up to the task and get my whole body waxed!

From the chest, arms and legs, right up to the nether regions, Strip: Ministry of Waxing does everything. This established chain of waxing boutiques offers a wide range of hair removal services and yes, they cater to men too.

According to Strip, they do get male patrons coming in regularly to remove unwanted body hair. While most would only want hair removed from their back and chest, it appears that there’s a market for the “boyzilian” wax too. The boyzilian is the male version of a woman’s bikini wax, whereby hair from their privates, front and back, is removed. As with other parts of the body, all this is done using wax that’s applied on and stripped off to completely remove the hair.

The idea is unnerving, of course, but rest assured, one is attended to in the most professional manner. Nervous about shedding your clothes in front of a stranger? There’s no need to be, since the whole affair is absolutely clinical – akin to getting a medical examination, I would say.

The waxing expert that attended to me was brisk and efficient in getting all my body hair removed. If I might add, she looked almost bored throughout the whole session. I guess it’s true what they say, “she has seen it all”.

Surprisingly, I didn’t find it painful. At most, a sting was felt during the boyzilian when the hair was stripped off. Of course, this depends on the individual’s pain threshold.

I did experience slight itching when the hair started to grow back about a week later, but I was spared any problems caused by ingrown hair or skin irritations. This could be because of my strict adherence to their long list of post-waxing dos and don’ts. The verdict? To be totally smooth from neck down was certainly an unusual feeling. I might not have been the most hirsute of men to begin with, but to have absolutely no hair felt strange indeed.

Hygienic reasons aside, there are claims that a boyzilian could help visually enhance one’s “package”. However, I think the end result made me feel like a prepubescent boy more than anything else!

Strip: Ministry of Waxing outlets are located at Bangsar, Lot 10 and Solaris Dutamas in Kuala Lumpur, as well as Sunway Pyramid and The Curve in Selangor.

Cut and shave

While getting a haircut and shave is nothing unusual, getting one at Truefitt & Hill is a different experience altogether. This barber shop is a recognised name, known to be the oldest in its trade as the first shop was opened in London in 1805.

Truefitt & Hill has a famed reputation for its excellent barber shops throughout history. It has had the honour of serving the monarchs of Britain throughout nine consecutive reigns, and famous personalities such as Alfred Hitchcock and Fred Astaire, among others, were reported to have used their services.

One could argue that similar services are offered at any of the old Indian barbers in Malaysia. The difference lies in the service. Having done it in Truefitt & Hill takes you to a whole new level of luxury.

The shop in Kuala Lumpur is impressive. From the mahogany and walnut interior to the traditional leather barber shop chairs, it is as masculine as it can get. There is also a private parlour for anyone who wants added comfort as well.

My barber was a man from Syria. With regards to both the haircut and shave, his administrations were nothing short of superb. It was obvious that he was an experienced hand and nothing short of serious about a man’s grooming needs.

The haircut at Truefitt & Hill is exactly as a guy would expect: no frills and fussing about styles. After asking about your desired look, the barber got down to business quickly, followed by a hair wash after that.

The shave was another thing altogether. I generally don’t have much facial hair to begin with, but I could tell that the shave he gave me was closer than anything I could have achieved at home, minus the nicks and cuts, or razor burns, of course. The hot towel wrap and relaxing face massage certainly made it all the more enjoyable.

A facial hair grooming service involving the removal of hair from your ears and nostrils is also available, done by waxing. Eyebrows are also cleaned up, giving a cleaner feel thereafter.

If anything, the Truefitt & Hill outing made me feel a little like royalty. Especially where the shave was concerned, there is something to be said about doing it yourself versus having it done for you. What’s more, in an ambience as opulent as Truefitt, it seemed like the ultimate masculine treat.

Truefitt & Hill is located at Bangsar Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

Manicure and pedicure

Most men would probably not even notice the nails on their hands and feet, until they have grown past the lengths acceptable in polite society. However, it has been said that guys who do take care of their nails come across as more attractive to the opposite sex (or so I am told).

Nevertheless, the idea of going for a manicure and pedicure can be quite intimidating as it is seen to be the most feminine activity compared to the other two endeavours. The immediate image that sprang to my mind was one with a manicurist painting my nails in vibrant colours, accompanied by girlish appliqués!

What it actually entailed was trimming, shaping and buffing of one’s nails. For men, having a manicure and pedicure basically gives one a neater feel to the hands and feet. After a manicure, you will notice that your nails have never looked better.

At least, that’s what I felt after getting my nails done. I made a very careful decision about where I would have my maiden manicure though and settled on Creative Nail Boutique. Why? Simply because their outlets seemed the least girlie-looking compared to other nail salons!

The whole experience turned out to be unexpectedly pleasant. From the initial soaking of my hands and feet, right up to the light massage after, it was all thoroughly relaxing. Throughout the process, I had my nails trimmed and shaped, plus my cuticles (the strips of hardened skin at the base and sides of a finger or toe nail) pushed back. They then proceeded to polish and buff my nails for that extra shine.

If there was only one complaint, it would be that my nails looked too shiny after the treatment. Even without the application of nail polish, the shine stood out. For the next few days, I kept getting comments about my nails! It did feel nice having perfect-looking nails, but then again, my hands and feet never felt less manly. Maybe if they held off the buffing and polishing? Surely nice nails shouldn’t equate to having them looking all nice and shiny? Then again, I’m a guy, what do I know?

Creative Nail Boutiques are located at Hartamas Shopping Centre and Lot 10 in Kuala Lumpur, as well as in Damansara Perdana , and Subang Parade and Tropicana Mall in Selangor.