On entering this oasis of well-being and eternal beauty you are issued a towel, a bathrobe, bath sandals and a set of paper briefs that, according to the self-sacrificing SZ reporter, are so brief that even the shortest word in the world is too long to describe them. But once four slippery hands begin massaging rosemary-scented oil into your quasi-naked body in a soothing sychronized motion the unbelievable becomes reality – you stop thinking. Of anything. Especially work.
The rooms are painted a discreet cucumber-mask green combined with soothing face-cream white and peeling-lotion coffee brown, the reclining leather seats are grouped around tables with stacks of magazines showing men with dazzling smiles and six-packs (not the liquid ones, the tummy kind).
The owners, Tünde and Malte Hartwieg, are planning to expand to other main German cities, claiming that men prefer masculine surroundings when they indulge in their softer side and vanities. “We don’t want to tart them up”, says Malte. “We want them to feel fresher and relaxed”.
QUOTE
"Es geht nicht ums Aufbrezeln", sagt Malte Hartwieg, "sondern vor allem um ein frischeres Aussehen und gelöste Verspannungen."
Possibly prompted by David Beckham’s example, men are becoming more body-conscious: Men’s beauty products saw a 10% increase in revenue between 2006 and 2007.
Source: Süddeutsche Zeitung 17 April 2008 (German link)
Oh wait, Maybe I can stop laughing long enough to