MEN are paying for costly cosmetic procedures such as laser hair removal and Botox in unprecedented numbers, with the less fair sex making up half the clientele at some city salons.

“Men are very vain,” said Lisa Sullivan, registered nurse and director of The Clinic at Bondi Junction.

“Perhaps men these days are a bit more body-conscious and for a lot of them, it is when they break up with their girlfriends and much of it is tied to self-esteem.”

Ms Sullivan, who also works at Skin clinic in the city, said those who thought “manscaping” was the reserve of homosexuals and metrosexuals were mistaken.

“For your Botox, most of them are professionals. For laser, there are lots of builders, bankers, all sorts. We get all the electricians, the plumbers. We do a lot of footballers.”

Sia Hendry, the owner of Laser By Sia, at Bondi Junction, said men made up to 50 per cent of clients, with most requesting hair removed from their chest, back or neckline. Men typically require more treatments than women - on average between six and 10 - starting at about $550.

Wes Doyle, 30, a transport manager from Coogee, said: “Hairy backs are not cool. I suppose I was just sick of waxing it leading into summer.”

In a recent survey of Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australia members, one in four reported an increase in hair removal treatments for men.