Does the thought of going for a manicure have you running for the nearest heavy object in an irrational show of machismo? Put down the couch for a moment, Spartacus, your digits need some attention.

Consider this: aside from rendering your hands and feet aesthetically pleasing, manicures and pedicures are actually health procedures. In addition to trimming nails and managing calluses, they also help to prevent ingrown toenails and fungus growth, which is important if you take into account the fact that in each foot there are over 250,000 sweat glands. Bacteria multiply in damp, dark places like the inside of your socks and can infect your toenails, making them both unsightly and unhealthy.

Getting your foot in the door

Once you’ve decided to invest in good hand and foot health, don’t sweat it, the experience is as painless and gender-affirming as can be. Male exclusive spas are springing up across North America (see list at right). At man spas you’ll find manicures and pedicures that include nail shaping, cuticle care, hand and foot massage and a coat of clear polish to finish. Gotstyle Lab is located in the back of a high-profile designer menswear store, the spa’s setting is unique because of the clothing store “front,” making it more accessible for the uninitiated guy to explore.

Gotstyle Lab’s menu reads like the to-do list of a bachelor on the prowl with offerings like “Foot Fetish” (a pedicure), “Quickie” (an express mini-massage) and “Big Rub” (a series of longer massages). Pamela Hackwell, Grooming Specialist in the onsite vintage-styled barber shop explains that the names go a long way in “softening the blow” for guys who might be a bit nervous venturing into the spa for the first time: “This way they can book their appointment over a chuckle.” It seems, however, that most men don’t have this problem. According to statistics published by the International Spa Association, 31 percent of spa-goers are men. Once the sole domain of women, the spa has become a haven for those guys who want to take care of themselves, relax and keep up with their wives and girlfriends who are reaping the physical benefits of esthetic services. And the spas have responded in a big way. Your inner Tiger Woods, for instance, will appreciate the “Golfer’s Massage” at Vancouver Island’s Aqua Terre Spa which concentrates on your shoulders, back and feet with the aid of warmed golf balls, and as an added bonus, you get a three-pack of Titleists to take home. At Mann in Montreal, stop in for some manly “Hand Detailing” or “Foot Work.” With places like these making the man spa experience more approachable than ever, there’s no good reason not to put your best foot (and hand) forward this summer.

Looking for a man-friendly spa in your area? Here are our picks:

VANCOUVER ISLAND

Aqua Terre Spa

At Pacific Shores Resort & Spa

1-1600 Strougler Road

Nanoose Bay, BC

250-468-2404

Calgary

The Getaway Spa for Men

#12, 630-1st Ave. N.E., in the Bridgeland Corner Plaza

Calgary, AB

403-210-0666

TORONTO

Gotstyle Lab

489 King Street West

Toronto, ON

416-260-0020

Stillwater Spa

At the Park Hyatt Toronto

4 Avenue Road

Toronto, ON

416-926-2389

Metro Spa

30 Hazelton Avenue

Lower level

Toronto, ON

416-866-8888

OTTAWA

Bodé Spa

100-17 Marlborough Avenue

Ottawa, ON

613-565-BODE

MONTREAL

Mann

449 Viger West

Montreal, QC

514-395-0707

HALIFAX

Cascades Day Spa

1405 Bedford Highway

Bedford, NS

902-832-3115