Like most men, we’re just too busy to get fancy treatments at a spa. At least that’s what we tell ourselves. What we mean is we’re too embarrassed to try anything more exotic than a massage in case our mates accuse us of going soft.
But a lot of men in Abu Dhabi think differently. They want to look their best in front of friends, family and, most importantly, their business partners and they’re willing to try all kinds of treatments, a lot of which are offered at Samer Salon and Spa.
Popular with wedding groups who want to look their best on the big day, Samer offers a selection of treatments, from simple Jacuzzis and haircuts to Moroccan baths, manicures, pedicures and facials for the more brave.
We went for a Moroccan bath, a shave and a manicure and pedicure. First up was the bath. After 10 minutes left on our own as the hissing pipes filled the steam room with a thick fog, in walked a man with more muscles than Sylvester Stallone, carrying a tray full of strange looking lotions. We were instructed to sit on the bench before he proceeded to shower us all over. He then smothered our body (leaving few areas uncovered) with a soap made from olives – which was to help with the exfoliation process.
Next up we were told to lay face down on the bench. Expecting a nice soothing massage, we were a little surprised to be rubbed all over with a rough, exfoliating mitt which looked a bit like an oven glove.
He worked this mitt all over, using more elbow grease than we’ve spent polishing our car, and again leaving very few areas untouched. Naturally, this could be an awkward situation for many men, but his polite, mild manner meant there was no need for either of us to feel embarrassed.
Several times the mitt was held triumphantly in front of our face, revealing all the grime he’d rubbed off. It seems boa constrictors shed less skin than us grubby blokes.
A keratin mixture was then applied to our hair and a milk potion was rubbed into our body (to help moisturise after the exfoliating) and more of the olive concoction was painted onto our face. We were then left to steam for another 10 minutes before having it all rinsed off.
Next up was our stubble. Our request to have a clean shave was at first met with confused looks. It seems most men go for designer cuts here and we were offered everything from a moustache to a simple line underneath the chin area. Our barber caked on the shaving cream and the ripping sounds as he expertly moved the blade down our cheeks was particularly satisfying.
He then applied talc before slapping on a cologne that had us yelping in the chair like an electrocuted tomcat. But it really was the smoothest shave we’ve ever had and our face felt vibrant for hours afterwards
We’ve always believed getting your nails done is just for girls but our manicurist Mario was having none of it. Good nails are important, he said, especially for business meetings, hygiene and health.
First, he unveiled a bag full of silver instruments you’d expect the killer in the Saw movies to brandish. But these bad boys trim your nails and remove your cuticles. Our nails were then buffed into submission and
45 minutes later were so shiny we could almost see our reflection in them.
A vitamin liquid was applied with a brush and the improvement was remarkable: our fingers looked bright, tidy and most importantly, clean. ‘These are your real nails,’ said Mario.
The staff are relaxed and friendly, the location not too flashy or intimidating and the prices aren’t extortionate. On returning to the TOAD office, the team cooed at our fresh face and seemed more than a little bit jealous of our perfect nails. You’ll feel younger and it even took years off our knuckles. However, if you have sensitive skin, you might want to skip the full shave. Two days later we were scratching more frantically than a record DJ. And make sure you’ve got plenty of time for your appointment: our treatments took almost three hours to complete.
Haircuts start from Dhs50, other treatments start from Dhs70. Samer Salon and Spa, Al Muroor Road, behind Red Cresent (02 642 2264).
