2005
Guide to Men's Spa Services
or, "What happened to 2004?"
By
James Whittall
MenEssentials President
Published January 2005
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 is 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 clearly is not a convenience for busy executives with unpredictable schedules. But the man who depends on good grooming for 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 clearly 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 rec room environment appeals with amusements such as foosball, sports television, men's magazines, and Xbox game consoles. MVP's service menu is a little on the thin side – in fact, there are only six options, and one of them (neck trim) is free. Regardless, the Hall of Fame Haircut is a real deal at $25 for consultation, shampoo/condition, steamed towels, scalp massage, cut, style and blowdry. Color blending ranges from $25 to $35, excluding tip.
Anna's straight razor shave is reputed to be mind-blowing, but you must call for an appointment as this service is offered only on a part-time basis.
While MVP is short on services, its always-open mantra (11-7 Monday to Friday, 9-6 Saturdays, 11-5 Sundays and most holidays) means you'll receive a very decent cut and style waiting for you when you need it.
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