While most South African men think visiting a spa is for sissies, 21% more of them are doing it - even if it means keeping it a secret.
The fact is that more women - and men - are starting to view spas as a necessity to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle rather than a luxury pampering. It seems strange that well-groomed women and men will think nothing of spending money on quality clothing and shoes, but will baulk at spending money on their irreplaceable skins.
A recent survey by the South African Spa Association found that the industry revenue has increased by 261% in the past five years, with more men contributing to the overall clientele.
The association says that men are now realising that spa treatments enhance their exercise regime - that looking and feeling good is just as important as dressing well.
The Suncoast Hotel and Towers Spa has noticed that while KwaZulu-Natal men are more reserved about visiting spas than their counterparts in Joburg or Cape Town, there has definitely been an increase in the number of male clients in the past few years. In fact, their regular male clients now outnumber their female clients.
To celebrate this milestone, they have declared March as “Male Month”, offering some great treatments.
“Most men start their spa journey with a massage, but soon start to explore facial treatments and pedicures,” says a spokesman. “The least popular treatments are body scrubs and wraps. Most product houses now have dedicated treatment menus and product lines specifically for men.
“We have packages designed to assist with stress release, perfect grooming and sheer pampering, from the Babor Men’s Relaxing Treatment, which assists with the toll that daily shaving takes on the skin, to the Phytomer Rejuvenating Men’s Facial, which cleanses and moisturises, and includes a back scrub.”
Two Durban men share their spa experience:
Model and dancer Armand Boshoff
What was your first spa experience? It was a combination of a facial, exfoliation and a five-star hot stone massage. I remember being totally relaxed and treated like royalty. Apparently I looked like I had stars in my eyes. To be honest, I wasn’t much of a fan until I joined Damon Beard’s Man International team, although I did use moisturiser for my body and face.
What treatments do you have and how often? Waxing is top of my list every month - being full arm and full leg. Facials are done every second month. And my all-time favourite is the deep tissue sports massage I do every month.
What are the benefits? Waxing looks very neat, clean and fresh. Being groomed is a representation of who I am as an individual and an Ice Model because I am my own brand. Regarding facials, I’ve seen an amazing change in the quality of my skin. The sport massage reduces toxins and boosts circulation, which is especially good if you train rigorously.
Why do you think men see looking after their skin and personal grooming as a “woman-only” thing? This is such a big topic, with social pressures second to none. The mechanical conditioning of past generations, inundated by their limiting belief systems, has groomed our dads to see the topic as a woman-only zone. In my opinion, it’s an old-fashioned way of thinking and a lot of men are now understanding that looking after yourself means that when you turn 40, people won’t mistake you for being aged between70 and biltong. Like the old cliché goes... when you look good you feel good!
Print, radio and TV journalist Terence Pillay
Your best and worst spa experiences: My first spa experience was not at all great as the woman was not qualified and had no idea what she was doing. Funnily enough, consumer journalist Wendy Knowler had done a report on how she was duping people. But my next experience… wow! It was with Jennifer Eales when she first opened in Morningside and I had the whole shebang. I loved it.
What treatments do you have and how often? I have a facial once a month with an absolute genius of a woman at Estee Lauder at Edgars at the Pavilion. I use their products, so it makes sense to go to one of their consultants. I swear by the face wash, Idealist (which is a pore minimiser to even your skin tone), and moisturiser (with an SPF, of course). I also go for massage therapy with an Ayurvedic guy twice a month.”
What are the benefits? I work in television a lot, which means having to wear makeup. Regular facials allow my skin to breathe better and also help with hydration, which we need in our climate. I can always count on my best friend, designer Kathrin Kidger, to keep me in line. She’s like a chimpanzee’s mother… when she sees a blemish of any kind, she sorts it out. We’ve often been known to do “nose strips” together.
Why do you think most men see looking after their skin and personal grooming as a “woman-only” thing? It’s ironic how it’s the manly men, like farmers and sportsmen who are in the sun most of the time, who are most against having facials, when they actually need them the most. They even think putting sunblock on their faces is not masculine - and it shows. It’s silly to think that it’s okay for women to look after their skin, but men shouldn’t.
The Mercury