In the past, there has been a very stereotypical image of a man, he’s a bit rough around the edges, slightly unkempt and focuses on his work rather than his appearance. However, men are starting to realise the value in and even joy of male grooming. Over the last 20 to 30 years men have become much more comfortable with looking after their appearances and focusing on themselves.
The term metrosexual has come into common use in recent years and means a man who spent time, energy or money and keeping up a tidy, trendy and fashionable appearance.
The time is synonymous with shopping, manicures and pedicures, fashion, hairstyling and really anything that was traditionally seen as a female interest. However, more and more straight men are starting to accept metro-sexuality with open arms, finding taking care of themselves improves their happiness, their lives and their sense of self-worth.
Increasingly in the last decade or so there has been an influx of investors and stakeholders entering the male grooming industry, with the likes of Dollar Shave Club and Manscaped amongst others entering this fledgling market (source: Connectd). More men than ever are investing in their appearance and grooming routine and thus, investors and companies are entering the market to get a piece of the money being spent in this space.
Key areas that are growing within this space include male hair removal, facial hair and beard care and teeth, with 21st Century men more conscious of their appearances than ever before and ripe to be marketed to.
Hair Removal
One trend sweeping the male grooming scene is hair removal. From eyebrow threading to waxing body hair, Hair removal is very much in. Many men are beginning to choose to remove or groom their body hair, areas like their backs, shoulders, chest, ears, nose, even private areas. Many men (and women) enjoy the look of a hairless body, especially when body hair is patchy or very long.
Because of the recent advancements in laser hair removal in the UK, men have a number of options when it comes to removing their body hair. Traditional methods like shaving can be very difficult when it comes to body hair because certain areas of your body can be hard to reach by yourself, not to mention that the effects are short lasting.
This means many men are choosing instead to wax or even use laser hair removal to get rid of body hair. Laser hair removal is a particularly good option if you’re looking for a long-lasting way to remove body hair.
Facial Hair Care
Instead of just the weekly trim, modern men are looking after their facial hair by using specific products like facial hair oils. Using oils on your facial hair regularly can improve the texture of your facial hair and make it look and feel smoother and softer. It is also important to have a regular session with your barber to leave you looking fresh.
Manicures and Pedicures
Many older men have worn ragged, cracked and chipped hands, feet and nails as a strange badge of honour, but no more. Men are starting to take care of the hands and feet by getting regular pedicures to maintain good nail health and make themselves look more appealing. Not only does a manicure or pedicure improve the look of your hands and feet but it’s also a fantastic choice if you’re wanting to make yourself feel looked after.
Oral Care
Your smile is always one of your best features, so it makes sense that many men are starting to look after their smiles more than just brushing their teeth twice a day. Many modern men are working a professional cleaning or even whitening into the grooming routines to keep their smile stunning.
