Before I begin, I’d like to state that I consider myself a metrosexual man; yes I like lotions, nice clothes and pampering, but I also like fighting, vomiting and football... actually no I don’t, although football I can stand for a short time. The fact that I would need to state this indicates that at least in my own conscious, there are barriers still in place for heterosexual men to feel comfortable receiving treatment for purely aesthetic reasons.

Men feel comfortable about being‘repaired’ for physical and masculine injuries like broken legs, scars, punctured lungs or my personal favourite facial injuries. I once had to wear an eye patch when I was in my late teens and never before had I felt so male, images of Slick Rick, pirates and bare knuckle fighters are all acceptable as a young man growing up in Manchester.

But, I’ve accepted my meterosexuality now and am fine with it, I’m just not sure
whether everyone else is. Therefore I was, at least superficially, putting on an embarrassed front when I entered Senses Health & Beauty Clinique, being particularly loud, sniffing a lot and even contemplated grabbing my genitals to indicate that I was no less of a man that can be seen stumbling and mumbling down Bangla road of a night.

Perhaps sensing this, Amy the public relations and marketing manager tried to allay my ‘fake fears’ in getting a male facial treatment. “I have to tell my boyfriend to get treatment, but he says to me, I’m not gay. This is something we need to overcome.” She added “Mostly men’s and women’s skin are very different. Men need more hydration. Sometimes men smoke. It’s good to have smooth skin.”

Inside I was thinking, damn right it’s good to have smooth skin, I have saunas and have been known to exfoliate. On the outside I responded like an almighty penny had dropped, “Oh yeah, I suppose so, hell why don’t I give it a go, it’s early, I can fight and watch football later.”

So into a very clinical room did I venture, with clinicians wearing mouth masks and all manner of machinery adorning the white room. There was also a very large and hairy bearded man on one of the treatment tables. We exchanged glances and I resisted the urge to make light of the situation in a conspiratorial manner or affect a stereotypically homosexual demeanor.

I did neither and said hi. Once I shed my heavy cumbersome clothes, I slipped myself into a lovely little silk gown and lay on the table. Soft music plays in the background during the whole time, which enables one to drift off in an aura of calm.

The ‘cleansing and energizing treatment for men’ takes about an hour and comes in six steps, all products used are slightly Get in touch with your feminine side stronger and specifically designed to be used by men:

1. PURIFY: Gently prepares and purifies the face. The non foaming transparent gel texture
facilitates an easy and precise application for a total face cleansing. The skin is cleansed and free of tightness sensation.

2. REFINE: A scrub to eliminate dead cells, refine skin’s grain, improve cellular metabolism and enhance the complexion. Gently exfoliates, easily and efficiently. The skin is radiant, supple and comfortable.

3.MASSAGE: Works the gel of the Enzymatic Modeling Scrub so that it becomes a massage oil then continues with light movements on the face and neck until it has completely turned into a massage oil.

4. TREATING: Application of the mask. Stimulates and invigorates the skin by favoring the natural exchanges. Provides a great sensation of freshness. The skin is toned. The complexion is radiant.

5. ACTIVATE: Application of the skincare according to the skin’s needs. Non-greasy gel cream with anti-wrinkles, stimulating and soothing active ingredients, increases tonicity and regenerates the skin. It visibly reduces wrinkles and firms the skin.

The fourth step is what I was most secretly looking forward to. As the cool green cream that would later harden and become a mask on my face was applied it felt great, and I was genuinely a little sad when the treatment came to an end.

I left the room proclaiming what I in fact already believed quite strongly; why shouldn’t men look after themselves? Why shouldn’t we make an effort to look and smell good for our partners? Why should my girlfriend be the only one who gets facials?

It’s 2009 and my fellow Mancunian and suffragette Emily Pankhurst didn’t die for me to feel uncomfortable about putting on a silk dressing gown, and having a facial.

I was having a cup of green tea and reconnecting to ghastly reality when Graham Macmillan my ‘male facial comrade’exited the room with a wide smile on his face. He boomed, “It was very very good, my skin feels nice and firm, I will definitively be having it again.” He added while stroking his beard, “People have this hangup about going to a spa, but I enjoy
massages and have one every four days.”

Bonded by our experience, I concurred and gave him a stern handshake. So, the experience was good for Graham and I, but what about the poor delicate flowers who are used to treating lovely lady faces?

I hadn’t shaved that day and Graham certainly hadn’t for a few months at least. I therefore asked Ploy, the therapist as to whether being unshaved was a hindrance, she said, “They should shave first so when the skin is clean and shaved the treatment
is more effective.” I gave an apologetic nod and wince of my eyes and she continued,
“However, I like doing the therapy on men much more as the skin is not as sensitive
as women’s. Although men don’t tend to take as much care of their skin as women, they also don’t put on as many chemicals on their face.”

Indeed, I winked at the staff and left to indulge in some heavy drinking and hopefully
a scrap at the end of the night. I didn’t really, bars are such noisy and dirty places.
There are three Senses branches:

Cherngtalay Branch –
3/2-5 Moo 5 Srisoonthorn Rd. Cherngtalay
Thalang, Phuket 83110. 076 271759-60

Sheraton Branch -
Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket, 10 Moo
4 Srisoonthorn Rd. Cherngtalay Thalang
Phuket, 83110.
076 324 101-7

Boat Lagoon Resort Hotel Phuket
22/1 M. 2 Thepkasattri Rd., T.Koh-Kaew A.Muang.
Phuket 83200.
076-238 533