If I mention sending the dad in your life to the spa for Father’s Day, you need to suspend whatever images that conjures up in your mind.
No, I’m not suggesting he don a white fluffy robe, sit in a tranquility room, and sip on cucumber water. That’s not how guys do it. In fact, most guys wouldn’t even go near the idea of a spa. My husband doesn’t like people touching him or talking to him in a soothing way. And I’m sure he’s not alone.
Note: I am the complete opposite. I’ll take a massage anywhere, anytime. Throw in a facial, manicure, pedicure, and a glass of champagne and I am putty in your hands.
What if you could create a spa-like experience that makes sense for guys? I truly believe that most men don’t spend enough time on self-care. In fact, if you mention the words “self-care” to a guy, he’d probably come up with a completely different and probably inappropriate idea. But I did drag my husband out to a new men’s salon in town last Saturday and he’s now ready to be pampered.
Introducing Hammer & Nails Grooming Shop for Guys
As I walked up to the salon, I noticed an “As Seen on Shark Tank” sign in the window. That at least told me they had enough of a concept to pitch it to the sharks. It turns out that founder, Michael Elliott, pitched his idea, got shot down, and then had multiple investors blowing up his phone soon after. And so was born his concept of a place where men can go for a little self-care and not be surrounded by pastel nail polish and months old People magazine.
“Our goal at Hammer & Nails | Grooming Shop for Guys is to give any guy a place to go where he can take care of his hands, feet and hair in a man cave environment.”
Michael Elliott, Founder
And so a franchise was born. Locations popped up in southern California, northern California, Miami, and, of course… Owings Mills, Maryland.
Bet you didn’t know that I live so close to a hotspot!
Actually the co-owners of the Owings Mills franchise actually own the rights to all of Maryland so I’m sure you’ll see expansion throughout the state.
How It Works
While you can walk in and get all kinds of services like haircuts, manicures, pedicures, and so on, the value of the salon is based on a membership. For $64 per month, you get two classic services (haircut, manicure, or pedicure) and 20% any other services you might be interested in. And you get your free drink.
Yes, it’s really is a man cave environment. From the oversized leather chairs to the flat screen TVs to the well-stocked bar, this is a man haven. When having a service, you’re entitled to your choice of beverage from soda, beer, or spirits. Apparently real men don’t drink wine.
Additional services include things like straight razor shave, beard trim, color “camo” for those stray grays, and even fancy things like aromatherapy and paraffin wax treatments.
My Husband Visits Owings Mills
My husband typically gets a $20 haircut (if I’m not doing it for him). He shaves only when he has to. And, much to my surprise, he’s never had a manicure in his life.
When we ventured out on a rainy Saturday night to check out the salon, my husband was probably anticipating a shave or something similar. It was fun to watch him sit and get his first manicure. He didn’t really understand anything that was going on or why his hands were soaking in little bowls but he proudly showed off his hands when he was finished.
And while he was having his manicure done, he could have easily slipped on the provided noise-canceling headphones from Bose and tuned into his favorite show on the screens strategically mounted towards the ceiling. Instead, I convinced him to splurge and sip on some Jameson’s while we tried to lip read what was happening on the Lifetime movie channel.
A Great Father’s Day Gift
Before we left the shop, Sean took all of the information about their membership. He looked at the typical price of a haircut ($40) and remarked, “their prices aren’t bad at all.”
Now, my husband and never paid that much for a haircut. (I, on the other hand, would consider $40 to be a bargain for my haircut!) But I loved that he really liked this idea. He even thought that he could maybe get a few guys in the neighborhood to go one night. And why not? Guys deserve a night out and how fun would it be to know your guy was being pampered?
If you’re in the Baltimore area, a membership might just be what the dad in your life needs. And if you’re not in any of the areas I mentioned, stay tuned because this franchise is scheduled to open a ton of locations very soon!
Hammer & Nails Grooming Shop for Guys, a men’s grooming shop that provides hand and foot grooming, haircuts and shaves in a man cave nirvana, opened its first location in Owings Mills, Maryland located at 10209 Grand Central Avenue Suite 112.
Just for You
If you want to check out the Owings Mills location, just drop my name when you head in and you’ll be entitled to a Buy One Get One service offering!