|
Brian Gets a Facial |
|
|
|
Written by Brian Joyner
|
 The building was nondescript. I know what happens in places like this, but I was a bit nervous as I walked in. There were a few guys sitting on leather sofas, huddled over a table. I thought they might be fraternity brothers, steeling each others' courage before it was their turn. After informing the attendant that I was there for my appointment, she offered me a drink. I settled on water and took a seat next to the frat boys. After a few moments, a tall brunette called my name. "Here," I said. She shook my hand, and escorted me to the rear of the establishment. No one raised an eyebrow, but then again, we were there for the same reasons.Admittedly, going to a day spa or salon doesn't sound like a macho thing to do (would Easy Rawlins or Dirty Harry get his chest waxed?) and getting a facial even less so, but before you pass judgment, hear me out: this isn't your momma's spa or your daddy's barbershop. All over the country, men are making manicures, pedicures, and facials a regular part of maintaining their appearance. For some guys, it's become as commonplace as a gym membership. More and more places are cropping up that cater to men's spa services. With these ideas in mind, I went to the Grooming Lounge in downtown Washington, DC, and got a facial.
The Grooming Lounge offers traditional barber services, as well as spa services such as manicures, pedicures, waxing, and massages. Recognizing that men might have some trepidation walking into a place with pink vinyl chairs and apple blossom in the air, the interior is masculine, with dark wood furnishings, and navy and chocolate tones. There are TVs showing ESPN, with espresso or root beer available, and Mr. Norris to give you a fantastic shoeshine while you wait. The staff's primarily female, attractive, and attentive. While there's some chick factor to consider, such as the smell of floral and herbal extracts in the air and soothing non-intrusive, Enya-like music, its audience is apparent. It's a modern place for guys, complete with barber chairs, although you won't find magazines of naked women.
"So, is this your first time with us?" she asked. I let know her that I'd been around, but never for anything like this. Now I wished I'd asked for something more than water. She could smell the fear coming off of me and quickly settled me down and told me what would happen. That relaxed me. Like I mentioned, I'd never had a this sort of service before. . . .
Arriving at the room, the esthetician, Amanda, instructed me to take off my shirt and watch and lie down on the table once she left the room. What does an esthetician do? It's a person who does facials, waxing, and plucking. I followed orders and climbed on the table, under the covers, and waited for her to knock. Once Amanda returned, she explained what she would be doing to my face: a deep cleaning, extracting (removing blackheads from beneath the skin of your cheeks, forehead, and nose), exfoliating (removing dull, dead skin from your mug), and hydrating, all accompanied with a periodic light upper-body massage.
She started by applying a hot towel, slathered on some cleansing product, and steam-cleaned my grill like it was upholstery. It was a bit tough to breathe, but the steam felt good. While she was working on me, we chatted about various things – from her recent relocation from NYC to my current skin care routine. She made a suggestion for dealing with my razor bumps, a common affliction for black men and those with curly hair, and offered an alternative to the shaving cream that I use but always have trouble finding. In addition to their jobs, at which they are quiet adept, the Grooming Lounge staff hawks products like Jay-Z drops rhymes.
She went to work and I knew I was done for. She was good, no doubt about it. I just took it. What else could I do?
Amanda's pleasant conversation came in handy during the extraction, a euphemistic term for squeezing out blackheads. She put a moist towel over my eyes, which blocked the light from a spotlight bright enough to interrogate a suspect on "Law and Order." Using tissue and finger pressure, she dug the foulness out of my skin. She reassured me that no matter how well you think you clean your face, blackheads are there, and continued to pop my face like it was one big zit. In between sessions, I received a warm towel to soothe and clean my face, which was feeling quite put-upon at this point.
Next was the exfoliation. The pineapple and citrus mask she applied smelled like fruit cake and tingled. "Tingled" might be an understatement, considering the work Amanda did on me digging out the blackheads, but it wasn't that bad. Throughout the whole process, there was a hand massage here, a facial massage there all to relax me and allow me to enjoy the experience. After giving me a hydrating mask to restore the moisture to my skin, she toweled my face clean. I looked in the mirror and my face had a glow about it. It was soft to the touch, dare I say, supple. Most guys don't spend a lot time touching their faces, but for those who do touch our faces, supple is a good thing.
The whole procedure took just over an hour and all the damage done to my skin by the elements and the environment had been lifted away. I had to admit, my face looked great. Amanda informed me that the products we discussed would be on a tray at the front desk when I left. Sure enough, when I got to the desk, they were there waiting for my purchase. Now, the bottom line: the cost for a facial at the Grooming Lounge ranges between $60 and $90. The products (Jack Black Beard Lube and Tend Skin Solution) were around $40, which costs more than similar products you might find at your local drugstore, but these are of a higher quality. So, would I do it again? Most definitely. Having a professional do this sort of maintenance a few times a year seems to be a good idea. You only have one face.
The brunette shook my hand again and left the room while I dressed. On the way out, everyone gave me a hearty "thanks for visiting." They knew I'd be back. Over lunch, some guy asked me why I looked so smug. I told them I had a little thing done. He nodded with recognition when I told him what it was. |
|
|
5 Ways to Be a Better Guy |
It’s eyebrowS, not eyebrow. Separate ‘em. Invest in a cocktail strainer. Should cost you under $5. Show some self-control. Let others finish speaking and enough interrupting already. You’ve got the belt loops. Now wear the belt. Keep your music at the office low. Not everyone wants to hear Fergie at 8:30 in the morning.
|
|
|
Your Body 
