By Matthew Taylor TO any male who has ever worried about the words "beauty therapy", here's a home truth - men, just like women, want to look good.

What finally convinced me, however, was spending a couple of hours being truly pampered.

I had been volunteered to try out Saks' "New Man for The Millennium" system at their hair and beauty salon in Bolton's Churchgate. My initial consultation was with Scott, one of four experienced stylists at the salon, and almost a one-man stand-up routine with his witty comments.

I normally go to a God-fearing barber's to have a short-back-and-sides from a man who has been doing exactly the same cut on every man's head since the early 50s. So I was not at all sure what to expect from Scott but I needn't have worried.

In the event, we discussed in detail my hair and the best way to treat it and which were the best shampoos. He recommended an energising shampoo for my fine hair, which controls antistatic, and using the special Kerastase range. Apparently, water temperature is all important - Scott shampoos his hair in freezing water, brave lad.

Scott did a terrific job on my hair, a true wizard with the scissors. I also had my nails done at the same time, which involved a filing job on what remains of them after my incessant nail-chewing, and a cuticle cut.

I was then whisked off for my beauty therapy.

This was the bit I was most worried about - silly me. It was one of the most fantastic and relaxing experiences I've ever had.

Beauty expert Nichola talked to me about my life style to build up a picture of stress levels and general state of health, which I like to think is not bad.

I then lay down on her very comfortable massage table - leaving the trousers on but taking my shirt off - as relaxing music drifted to my ears.

The first part of the process involves cleansing and toner by Elemis, gently rubbed in during the massaging process, followed by a skin buff.

While it sounds very girlie, it is incredibly soothing if a little tingly on the shaving rash.

Nichola then applied a fruit rejuvenating face mask, which was a bit like being wrapped in bandages like an Egyptian mummy but very refreshing. And, rather than leave me with nothing to do while my face mask was sorting out my pores, Nichola massaged my hand.

I also had a few of my whiteheads removed, yuck, which was a little bit painful as they were dug out with a vicious-looking implement.

I was feeling extremely relaxed by this stage having had the express facial which takes about half an hour. When I was already feeling so drowsy I could have nodded off, I then had my back massaged with de-stress massage oil.

For half an hour of sheer luxury, there is simply nothing better. I was feeling so de-stressed I could barely stand up afterwards.

The salon offers individual treatment packages, but the cost of mine was £51 - £20 facial, £16 hair cut and £15 massage

No wonder women try to keep us men from it .... they want it all to themselves.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.