Why do today what you can put off 'til tomorrow?

Left unchecked, I could live my entire life by that mantra. Something infinitely more important (or more interesting) always seems to catch my eye. And projects that should have been completed on time inevitably are delayed, then forgotten, then lost in the havoc that is my office.

So it was with the 2004 edition of our annual Guide to Men's Spa Services.

My research was completed. Sort of. The writing was well underway. A bit. Then I got a shiny new toy in the mail and decided instead to write about straight razors. And the Guide – the annual Guide – was predictably delayed, then forgotten, and finally lost.

Hey, it happens.

New Year, New Services
What's changed in the men's spa services biz since February 2003? Our last Guide described several emerging models that included the "men welcome" spa (to be avoided), the crossover spa (guys and gals in bathrobes), the hybrid salon/spa (traditional barbershop with perks), and the men-only spa (Turkish bath? You decide).

2004 saw the opening of many new hybrids across North America, while the other business models flatlined or retreated. So it would seem the "beauty salon for men," now more commonly known as the grooming shop, is an established and accepted part of guy culture.

Move over, Marlboro Man! A new male self-image, and businesses to serve it, are emerging.

HairM
818 SW 1st Avenue
Portland, Oregon
503.226.6066

One of the first grooming shops in the USA, HairM offers a short menu of hair and spa services delivered in a comfortably masculine environment. Exposed brick walls, chrome accents, darkly oiled woods, and neutral tones lull stressed-out executroids while suspended satellite televisions (a ubiquitous feature of grooming shops everywhere) keep sporting enthusiasts up-to-date with the latest ESPN happenings.

Club members ($395 annually) enjoy a full year of hairstyling services, 10% off retail purchases, and complimentary premium liquor cocktails while they wait for their treatments.

The lion's share of HairM's business is its King's Cut which features a neck rub, shampoo/condition, haircut, steamed towel facial and five-minute tea tree scalp massage. At a very modest $35, it's difficult indeed to find any better value.

HairM spa services include massages, hair removal, hand and foot detailing, and a smallish selection of packages ranging in price from $69 up to $255.

Capelli's Gentlemen's Barbershop
925 4th Avenue, IDX Tower, Suite 404
Seattle, Washington
206.587.0900

Voted "Best Men's Salon of 2004" by Seattle Magazine, Capelli's executive-club environment is a satisfying reprieve from the daily grind. Services are few and oriented more to the traditional cut, though you will find a very relaxing scalp massage thrown into the signature style and hot towel neck shave treatment ($35).

Capelli's "classic" haircut ($28) offers an interesting spin, in that you must pre-book your appointment every two weeks to maintain your professional appearance. This is probably not a convenience for busy executives with unpredictable schedules. But the man who depends on good grooming for his dollars will find Capelli's Classic to be an indispensable component of his semi-monthly routine.

Neck trims are free if you schedule them within three weeks of your last Capelli's service.

He's Not Here Barber Spa for Men
513 West Broadway
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
843.839.5595

Patterned after the traditional European barbershop, HNH offers one of the most complete and reasonably priced service menus I have ever seen. The shop is appointed with rich leathers, warm mahogany, and trimmed with gold and polished stone accents. Staff members are licensed master barbers or stylists who execute their treatments with a friendly yet professional authority.

The HNH Signature Cut and Style is your best value for the money. For $18, enjoy a relaxing hot towel facial, tea tree shampoo and scalp massage – or get the works with an additional hot lather shave for $30. Additional hair services, such as beard or moustache styling, hair removal, and color blending, range in price from $3 to $45, excluding gratuity.

Therapeutic Swedish, deep tissue, reflexology, and synchronized massages ($45 - $145) are available at HNH or your workplace, but you'll have to call well in advance if you want some in-office stress relief. Unique also to HNH is the hair preservation service, which consists of a Dr. Murad invigorating scalp tissue treatment ($25) with take-home pack ($55).

MVP for Men
1163 Kensington Cr NW
Calgary, Alberta
403.270.9593

One of the very few modern grooming shops to offer a traditional hot lather shave with straight razor, MVP's rec room environment appeals with amusements such as foosball, sports television, men's magazines, and Xbox game consoles.

The MVP service menu is a little on the thin side – in fact, there are only six options. Three of them are color blending and one (the neck trim) is free. Regardless, the Hall of Fame Haircut is a steal at $25 for consultation, shampoo/condition, steamed towels, scalp massage, cut, style, blowdry and something called the "grooming finale." Color blending ranges from $25 to $35.

Anna's straight razor shave is reputed to be mind-blowing, but you must call for an appointment as MVP offers this service only on a part-time basis.

While MVP's menu might be too brief, its always-open work ethic (11-7 Monday to Friday, 9-6 Saturdays, 11-5 Sundays and most holidays) means you'll find time in your day for a very decent cut and style.

Recommended Spas
Click here for a list of MenEssentials-recommended spas that offer products or spa treatments designed specifically for men.