James Ockenden freshens up on men's well-being.

Facials are for girls, right? Not any more – with clubs such as VIP Wellness pushing the boundaries of male beauty treatments, pampering is no longer an assault on one’s masculinity. Indeed, there's nothing girly about getting a manicure in front of a 78-inch widescreen TV showing kung fu drama.

At VIP Wellness Club, the traditional Hong Kong male retreat meets the up-market western spa to create something both modern and yet as gloriously lavish as images of ancient Roman baths. And while the Romans may have had difficulty engineering hypocausts for the 13th floor of a Hong Kong skyscraper, Caligula himself would be impressed by the steaming opulence of this male sanctuary.

VIP’s spa area puts the ubiquitous “gym” spa to shame. Forget lukewarm dripping steam rooms: here the eucalyptus-aroma steam cavern runs at a blistering heat and features a plate-sized ice shower drench right inside. Adjacent is the large comfortable sauna complete with TV, and a Tylarium, a kind of steam/sauna hybrid, which is blissfully relaxing.

Set into the heart of the spa area is a lotus-shaped array of whirlpools set at different temperatures. The tubs range from relaxing hot through warm, to the icy plunge – rather akin to leaping into a fishing hole cut through the ice on a frozen Finnish lake.

Invigorated yet relaxed by the sweating and dunking routine, step into a dressing gown and slippers for the lounge, where drinks, dim sum and TV meet manicure, pedicure and foot massage.

After snacks and lounge treatments, you’ll be led unresisting to the private treatment rooms. Here again VIP Wellness aims to blaze a trail for male grooming. The DermaMax PhotoDynamic facial treatment is cutting edge, and uses light-activated biochemical agents and ultrasound to leave even the most jet-lagged Chevy firm and glowing. Meanwhile, the relaxed and unhurried signature treatment - the “VIP Chinese Finger-force Equilibration for the Whole Body Channels and Collaterals” massage – is unusual, powerful and highly recommended.
VIP Wellness is offering a special spa and massage price of $888 to CityLife readers. Foot massage, facials, manicures and tips are extra - expect to pay around $1200 for the full VIP experience.

VIP Wellness Club, 13/F, Autoplaza, 65 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon. Tel: 2311 2288