The manzilian: Is your guy up for it?
IN a clip making the rounds on social media, talk show host Steve Harvey is flummoxed at the explanation an aesthetician gives for a manzilian, basically a brazilian wax for men, that she says is quite popular. She explains that she makes a decent living at her job, but still, the thought of men getting this particular treatment spooked Harvey, and his audience.
But, from way back in 2007, the clean look was an aesthetic entertainer P Diddy was pushing as he admitted that he shaved his nether regions for his partner’s benefit. And if you check with local aestheticians, they’ll tell you that several of their clients are men who go for the same clean look women go for with their waxes.
“I’d say about two in every
10 of my clients are male,” said aesthetician Nicola Meredith. “They come in for the same services women do, and for the same reason — they want to be hair-free because it looks better, feels better, and is more hygienic.”
She says the manzilian is complete hair removal of the areas at the upper thighs, pubic area, genitals, and butt, and she has no reservations about waxing men as “a client is a client, and all you see is the hair and concentrate on how to remove it”.
What’s women’s take on this? We canvassed a few women waiting for services in a multiservices salon in Kingston last week, and these were their responses.
Amanda, 24:
My boyfriend shaves and I help him reach the difficult areas sometimes. I’m fine with that as hair grosses me out. I don’t know how I’d feel about him going to the salon to get waxed though. I don’t know if I’d be OK or not OK, I just don’t know how I’d feel.
Nicolette, 32:
I bought a wax kit on Amazon the other day because I’m tired of paying so much for waxing, and I managed to use it on myself and I like the results. To be honest, I immediately thought of practising on my husband and I wouldn’t think it was weird because I plan to have him wax the areas on myself that I can’t reach. It’s just hair removal, no big deal.
Anna, 40:
No way! I’m uncomfortable even coming here and seeing male clients — it’s weird sitting in the chair to do my pedi and there’s a man next to me. That is still taking some getting used to, so the waxing thing is definitely too freaky for me. No, no, no!
Lianna, 24:
I’ve seen men have appointments at the place that I do my waxing and I wasn’t weirded out. Now that I think about it, though, it’s probably kind of odd. But social media has us exposed to all kinds of different things, so younger people would probably be OK with it while older people would probably have a problem.