Why shouldn't men enjoy the level of salon services women have come to expect? Here, Billy B. shares his favorite grooming tips, techniques, and products.

Jul 1, 2005
By: Billy B.
American Salon

Billy B.
It's interesting being a man in the beauty industry. It's my passion and job to make women more beautiful. But what about us men? There are more days than not that I wake up jet-lagged and exhausted, look in the mirror and wish I could erase my exhaustion with makeup. But until society is ready for that (some companies, like Jean Paul Gaultier, have launched makeup lines for men, but they haven't caught on yet), there's little we can do in that regard.

Yet more than ever, men are getting into the swing of beauty. Makeover shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and even the label "metrosexual" have given us permission to primp more than ever before. I'm not saying that I'm ready to wear makeup myself, in part because as a makeup artist, it would be way too stereotypical of me. But I have some favorite places that cater to guys and have gotten hip to our beauty needs. The hottest spot I've found is Barber Bart in New York, an old world-style place that caters to the gentleman in all of us, whether you're a blue-collar guy's guy or a metrosexual. This chic, three-chair barbershop offers fabulous grooming services, starting with a refreshing tea tree oil shampoo, head massage and scalp treatment. Then you relax in a Japanese-designed barber chair while you receive a neck and back massage. Best of all, they offer the lost art of the straight-razor shave, complete with steam, hot eucalyptus-soaked towels and lavender oil to soften your beard. To complete the ambience, the great jazz background music takes you back to the days of the Brat Pack. It's definitely a destination for anyone planning a visit to New York, and it also makes the perfect gift for the man in your life.