Hey man, nice manicure

Wake up early, quickly groom and exfoliate, then jet out the door to grab some quality time with the manicurist. After your nails are buffed to perfection, it's time for hair maintenance: your stylist rids your strands of any split ends. After having highlighting foils strategically placed throughout your hair, you look into the mirror. Oh no -- those eyebrows are definitely overdue for some professional attention. After an emergency waxing, you are finally ready for... guys' night out?

That's right: the gender of the ambiguous "you" is becoming increasingly male. If students find this shocking, than they probably haven't stepped into any Davis Square salons lately.

"We've seen, I'd say, an increase of 20 to 30 percent in men requesting coloring, highlights, or frosting lately," said stylist Franco Ingraiti of Ultima Hair Design in Somerville, which was voted "Best Place to Get a Haircut" in the Daily's 2001 Survey.

Ingraiti went on to emphasize that the change isn't stylistic. "The cut men ask for has essentially remained the same," he said. Rather, the influx of men into salons reflects a rising male preoccupation with fine-tuning appearances. Ingraiti also added that a lot of male Tufts students frequent his salon.

Manicurist Heather Femia of Square Nails Studio in Davis Square agreed with Ingraiti's observation that males are becoming open to working with their appearances. According to Femia, "men are more open to [manicures and pedicures]" now than they have been at any other point in her 12 years of experience. Femia estimates that up to five percent of her clientele is now male.

April's Hair Cutting in Somerville proudly endorses this male movement towards the middle of the gender continuum for traditionally effeminate salon services. The salon has posted a sign on its exterior encouraging men to partake in their body waxing services. The large placard reads: "We do body waxing! Bikini, legs, under arms, facial & arms -- Men and Women!"

The sign reflects society's acceptance of increasingly blurred gender roles. Men are finally catching on to a secret woman have possessed forever: one's appearance is an undeniably powerful -- and malleable -- asset.

A poor complexion, unruly brows, and ghastly cuticles are not something that one must tolerate. All of these genetic curses can be scrubbed, plucked, or buffed away -- for a price, of course.

Men are now reaping the benefits of a society that increasingly disregards preconceived notions of gender stereotypes.

This trend is not just the wishful notion of a population of hopeful females: it is, in fact, backed by numbers. A Mar. 17 People article reported that men currently make up 25 percent of the spa-going population.

A significant societal change may be able to account for this increased predilection for male pampering.

Gender theorist and Professor of Sociology Susan Ostrander offers several possible explanations for the newfound focus on polishing male physical appearance.

"Some men may feel less in control of their own lives than they used to," Ostrander said. "So they -- like women -- are seeking to control what they can, namely how they look."

Another explanation described by Ostrander as "[her] personal favorite" is that "women like men to look great, and [they] now feel empowered to ask for what [they] want and get it."

"I have really calloused hands and could use a manicure," one male University freshman said after being asked if he'd consider going for some professional grooming. "I wouldn't actively think to seek it out, but I wouldn't be embarrassed to try it out."

Sophomore Michael Fuerstman said that he'd agree to a facial if he didn't have to pay for the relatively expensive procedure. "I'd rather spend my money on more important things, like beer," Fuerstman said.

When pressed, however, Fuerstman conceded that he frequently solicited his girlfriend's assistance in plucking his eyebrows.