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Real Men Get Shoe Shines, Not Pedicures

It's a sign of the impending apocalypse when grown men in Richmond, Va., take on the metrosexual mannerisms of Washingtonians and New Yorkers: fussing too much over their clothes, drinking wine while they watch sports, and paying good money to get manicures, facials, therapeutic massages and razor cuts.

But that's what it's come to here in the Holy City -- er, make that the Unholy City. To top it off, a guy with a good redneck nickname Chris "Bo" Taylor is the instigator of this madness. He owns Razors in Shockoe Slip, which he calls by the euphemism, "a grooming lounge for men."

Ecessive grooming for men appears to be a spreading disease. According to Doug Childers, writing in today's Metro Business , men accounted for 31 percent of the client base of all spas in the United States -- up 20 percent from 2001. "Men realize that spas are not just about pampering but a necessity to living a healthy lifestyle, and they are making spa visits a regular part of their wellness routine," says Lynne McNees , president of the International Spa Association .

Haircuts and shaves make up the bulk of Razors' business, but "spa services" account for 20 percent-and-growing share of its sales. Says Taylor: "It's a lot less taboo for men to take care of themselves and have proper grooming. We've certainly grown in the last year."

It's less taboo in our society for people to do a lot of things. But that doesn't make them right!

Among the most popular spa services for men are deep-tissue massages and facials. "A lot of times, men exfoliate too much through shaving, and facials help to calm and soothe the skin," says Jill Roberts , spa manager for Legends Salon and Day Spa in Carytown. "For waxing, it's backs and the middle of the brow, and lately I have seen chests becoming a lot more popular."

Exfoliating skin? Ooh, poor babies!

Waxing the unibrow? What ever happened to taking a razor to the ol' Neanderthal brow?

It's bad enough that advertising executives and investment bankers -- who barely register on the machismo meter -- are falling for this nonsense. But it's a sad day when soldiers start getting manicures! Thanks to Childers' in-depth reporting, we discover that the Legends Salon frequently offers discounts to military personnel -- "which has proved popular with the growing population at Fort Lee."

Repent, for the end is near.