Pedicures, Manicures, Facials… Oh , My!

Long, long gone are the days when pedicures, manicures, and facials were the domain of women alone. More and more men are realizing the benefits of these spa treatments, too. Manicures and pedicures not only make nails look well-groomed, but they can also go a long way in helping preserve nail health, especially in active men. Similarly, facials can help men not only look their best but also take care of their skin, for unlike women, men face the ordeal of shaving their faces often. Frequent shaving can potentially cause bumps, irritation, and chronic redness along the way. However, the combination of exfoliation, essential oils, masks, and moisturizers applied during facials will help address shaving’s side effects and make a man’s skin super smooth. Here are some fun facts culled from dermatology and spa experts on the benefits of manicures/pedicures and facials for men.

Manicures/Pedicures

1. That well-groomed look: Trimmed, clean, and buffed nails are a great attribute for any guy.

2. Healthy hands and feet: During the manicure and pedicure experience, your hands and feet will be exfoliated to remove any dead skin build up that has the potential to cause problems down the road.

3. It just feels good: Getting a manicure/pedi cure allows one to relax in a nice massage chair; soak your feet in a warm, jet-powered foot spa; and enjoy a stress-relieving leg, foot, hand, and arm massage.

4. Put the MAN in MANicure: There is a common misconception that manicure/pedicures must include polish. For some, polish can be a matter of self-expression; for others, a clear polish or no polish will suffice.

5. Don’t neglect your feet: If you’re active, your toenails are particularly susceptible to damage. Treating your toenails with the same amount of attention you would any other part of your body will help keep your toenails healthy and avoid problems, like broken or missing toenails, in the future.

Facials

1. Increases blood flow/circulation: Facials are a powerful means to increase circulation of blood around your face and deliver revitalizing blood to enrich the vitality of your facial skin. When blood circulation slows, our skin’s health is impaired, experts say. Aging leads to slowed circulation, which inevitably results in dull, tired-looking skin. By increasing the blood flow to skin cells, men will naturally achieve a healthy glow because their cells are receiving the nutrients and oxygen they need.

2. Promotes healthy, clear-looking skin: Men’s skin tends to produce more oil because of higher testosterone levels, which inevitably leads to blackheads and pimples. What’s more, most men don’t often exfoliate, which is an essential step in keeping the skin looking healthy and clear. Receiving a facial treatment can reduce the amount of oil on skin, keeping it cleaner. Taking care of your skin, including getting regular facial treatments, will also make shaving easier.

3. Clear up problem areas: With proper preparation and skin softening techniques, your aesthetician will use a skilled method to gently extract clogged pores, blackheads, and impurities without causing harm to your skin during a facial. The process only takes a few minutes, but it works wonders on the smaller blemishes that won’t go away on their own, experts say.

4. Create smoother skin for better shaves: The constant routine of shaving takes a toll on sensitive skin, eventually leading to bumps and irritation. A bonus to the exfoliating part of skin treatments is its deep-cleaning properties.

5. Stress reliever: Facials will immediately de-stress you both physically and mentally, which is essential to winding down after a long day at work. Plus, according to skin experts, studies show that stress can lead to unhealthy skin – so what better way to eliminate stress and promote healthy skin than a facial? There are hundreds of pressure points on your face that are connected to various systems in your body. When these pressure points are massaged, your body responds. A good facial massage can affect the functioning of the other organs as well.