Politicians obsessed with bikinis and pubs need to wake up
because the men in Goa have gone metrosexual. If the Dhavlikar duo, Sri
Ram Sene Chief Muthalik and all other self appointed moral police keep their
eyes open they will see pretty in pink men breaking the traditional trend to
follow western culture, however, with metrosexual men, there is no such
hullaballoo. Politicians in the west have already got on the metrosexual train
so it wouldn’t be a bad idea if our politicians follow suit.
Beauty treatments traditionally associated with female
pampering, such as facials, manicures and even body scrubs are increasingly
popular among men. Sumeet Bhobe, owner of Snip Salon and Spa feels that the
metrosexual trend caught on in Goa long ago. “Men coming in for services are
growing by almost 40% every year from the time the metrosexual trend started
way back in 2005-06. Men go in for pedicures, manicures, hair colour, skin care
like facials, peels and also body scrub,” he says.
Bhobe also feels that men spend equal if not more time
than women pampering themselves. Men, especially from the affluent class, that
can afford being metrosexual to a tee, spend a whooping 12 k to 30 k a month at
the salon.
International pop star and Goa’s self confessed metrosexual,
Oliver Sean, feels that the phrase ‘metrosexual’ has really caught on. “A lot
of the guys who used to go to salons for a cool haircut, buy best of clothes
and use skin cosmetics have all realised that they are all metrosexual,” he quips.
“It’s the age old saying – you can love others only if you love yourself; I
guess we metrosexual men have always lived by that,” he adds.
The driving force of the metrosexual revolution of the last
decade or so in Goa has also been increasingly physical. The fitness industry
is swiftly growing in Goa as it wants to cash in on this craze of
metrosexuality in Goa. Most men today want to have a lean fit body to flaunt
their depilated chests and six pack abs.
Norbert D’Souza, who runs a chain of fitness studios in Goa,
says, “Men want a lean toned body, that’s what most of them ask for when then enrol
themselves in fitness studios. The muscular body is outdated; men today want
the athletic look which includes lean abs and a defined physique.”
According to D’Souza, men are willing to go to any extent to
achieve their goal in their quest for the ultimate metrosexual look. “Men
undertake compulsive exercises, strict diets, supplements to achieve a more
toned physique so that they can flaunt their depilated pecs and abs”, he
opines.
The metrosexual trend is here to stay and as stated by
experts, the fact that it has survived for more than a decade in Goa, growing
every year, only proves that this phenomenon is more than a passing fad.
