Have a special someone with flawless skin and a penchant for fashion? Or one whose habits are slightly feminine? You just might be with a metrosexual.
Nope, he’s not a Calvin Klein model, though people would most likely mistake him for one. You bet he knows that too, because he walks the streets with a swagger, like he came out of an Esquire centerfold. Sporting bright, exfoliated skin, meticulously groomed stubble, immaculate teeth, and hair that is indestructible even by atmospheric re-entry like Brandon Routh’s in Superman Returns, you take pride in the fact that you fell into the shapely arms *and abs* of a metrosexual man.
Metrosexuals are a new and still-emerging breed of men who came into being at the turn of the century. They can best be described as single, well-educated, urban-dwelling men who are well in touch with their sensitive side, and who also pride themselves as being more cultured than their Y-chromosomed brethren.
However, the most distinctive quality of metrosexuals—as per public perception—is their predisposition toward vanity. Vanity that is often seen in their tasteful clothing choices and hours spent making themselves look good.
Metrosexual guy in the house
If you think you’ve got men figured out, you might be surprised to discover that the average beer-guzzling, NFL-watching man is much different at home than your Ken-doll metro guy. While he is real eye candy, and the perfect man to drag to high-profile social gatherings, keeping up with the metrosexual lifestyle requires a lot of effort from him, and results in a few domestic quirks. Keep these things in mind when you live with a metrosexual, or decide to move in with him.
#1 Your bathroom shelf space gets smaller. A normal guy might only have his deodorant, shaving cream, and aftershave occupying his tiny portion of the bathroom counter—meaning you get to hog the rest of the space with all your beauty products.
Living with a metrosexual man, however, is like reliving the scenes of your college dorm bathroom. Keeping his good looks requires a lot more than just shaving cream and, as a result, your bathroom will look like its being shared by two women.
#2 Your shared closet will be just that. Metrosexual men are known for being stylish, and are likely to have double the amount of clothes in their wardrobes than the average dude. We’re not talking about thrift store flannel shirts, here. These guys are very particular in choosing clothes, so were talking about suits, silk ties, cravats, cufflinks, shoes—the whole shebang.
#3 Expect him to borrow your beauty products every now and then. “Hey girl, I lost my chapstick. Mind if I borrow yours?” is something you’d normally hear from one of your girlfriends. However, if your boyfriend is metrosexual, expect to hear something similar, because chances are that both of you are using the very same brand of a beauty product. It could get worse: you might, one day, find that your newly-bought pack of facial cream is almost empty.
But that aside, you could benefit from him because…
#4 Now, you have someone who totally understands your beauty needs. Needless to say, you will have someone other than your sister or girlfriend who can relate to why you need to daub your face with caustic ingredients to look beautiful. It can only get better, because now you can ask him to shop for you or ask him which brand is better. [Read: Why you shouldn’t be ashamed of what you do for beauty]
#5 You can add overnight spa and massages to your date activities. Now, wouldn’t that be wonderful? While a normal guy wouldn’t even dare step foot in the beauty salon, the metrosexual guy would go so far as to lead you by the hand, as you spend your day blissfully romanticizing while the two of you get pedicures.
#6 No more whiny boyfriend during your shopping day. Although a normal guy would go on and on, complaining about why you need 40 minutes to choose which shoes to buy, a metrosexual boyfriend is the perfect shopping companion; he completely understands your dilemma, and will gladly give his very refined fashion advice.
#7 You won’t need to worry about him being underdressed. Metrosexuals may be vain and a bit dandy, but they sure have style and taste. Expect him to look his best at any time, any day of the year. Dressing appropriately is one of metrosexual men’s best assets, as they know when to tune down to casual or go full blast with their secret gala night threads.
#8 He keeps a healthy lifestyle. Metrosexuals are not the type to sit on the couch all day, guzzling beer and chomping on leftover pizza. Keeping a healthy body is essential to his good looks, so expect a considerable amount of greens in the fridge and some gym time in his schedule. He could even influence you to do the same and develop a healthier lifestyle. [Read: Why physical attraction plays such an important role in a relationship]
#9 He also keeps looking at himself in the mirror. Call it vanity or otherwise, metrosexuals spend a lot of time looking at the mirror. Probably more than women do. It could be to check if every strand of his hair is right where it should be, or just to reassure his killer good looks with ridiculous third person self-talk. It might get annoying, at times, when he works to catch a glimpse of himself from anything that manages to produce a reflection.
#10 He’s the perfect companion when PMS strikes. There’s nothing more comforting in this world than having an extra sensitive *and good-looking* guy to comfort you when your uterus is being flogged with barbed wire and your emotions are going haywire.
Metrosexuals are the gentler kind of the male race who will give you care and understanding during PMS, and will be more than willing to cook your favorite dish for your cravings, and cry with you as you go through those mood swings with romantic drama DVD marathons.
[Read: The 12 types of guys you’ll meet in college]
There is more to being a man than testosterone level, alone. The perception of the modern man has changed significantly, and if a metrosexual man is what you’re looking for, good for you. After all, what matters isn’t how brute-like he behaves, but how well the two of you bond together.