A Man's Manicure and Massage
June 28, 2005 — -- Some curious names are cropping up on the schedules at spas across the country.
In between the Amys, Karlas and Debbies is a growing list of gentlemen on the calendar, as guys increasingly claim their own share of the spa scene.
And while they might cringe at the notion of pink toenail polish or a fruit-scented body treatment, men are embracing this traditionally female domain, boosting business for the spa industry and unwinding along the way.
"To have my pedicure done was like nothing I'd ever felt before," said 45-year-old Vito Schimdt. "And was something I would do again."
The New York-based homebuilder did more than get his toes cleaned up -- he participated in a weekendlong makeover at a hotel in New York, including etiquette classes, a wardrobe consultation and cooking class, as the hotel and spa industry looks for new ways to cater to its male clientele.
Schmidt admits he took some "ribbing" from his friends after his Metro Man makeover, but if he returns to the spa he probably won't be the only guy in the room. Men now account for 29 percent of the spa-going public, according to The International Spa Association, which began tracking the statistic five years ago.
It's one thing to schedule a massage at the end of a demanding week of hiking or golfing when sore muscles are crying out for help. It may take a little more persuading to encourage some guys to seek out a terry cloth robe in their hometown.
From men-only spas, such as Nickel in Manhattan, to day spas stressing the health benefits of a facial, there is a burgeoning list of possibilities for the man who may have first experienced a spa on vacation and wants some help getting rid of his stress.
"I'm glad there are more places I can go … it's not taboo anymore," said Paul Hirsch who occasionally visits a local spa in Chicago to unwind from his job in advertising. "I'm hardly any sort of 'metrosexual' but I do like to take care of myself."
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