Page 14. Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, March 3. 1993 A Monthly Fashion and Beauty Review *** Poil: Most women prefer clean-shaven men Mon thinking about donning a new look by growing a beard or moustache may want to reconsider, suggest the results of an Angus Reid poll on personal -rooming preferences. The poll reveals that Danadian women across all age groups are more likely to give ;heir man a higher sex appeal rating if he's clean shaven. Sixty-one per cent of the «omen surveyed say clean- shaven men are sexier, while just 26 per cent favour men with a weard or moustache. Conducted by telephoné in December, the poll was :ommissioned by the maker of Edge Shave Gel (S.C. Johnson & 3on) to explore shifting trends in nale-female personal grooming oreferences and habits. The poll surveyed 773 women and 729 men throughout Canada. Judging by the younger -eneration's poll responses, Deards and moustaches could be >n the way out altogether. More :;han three-quarters (77 per cent) :f the women surveyed.under age 25 find clean-shaven men are sexier. Similiar preferences are 3vident for single women across all age groups, with 71 per cent stating men with beards and moustaches have less sex appeal. The poll also explores what men perceive women's oreferences to be -- and with the axception of men over age 55, nost are right in tune with what iomen like best. Eighty-two per cent of men iurveyed under age 25 say Nomen find clean-shaven men iexier, the highest ranking given )f all the age groups polled. "The findings certainly point to he renaissance of a clean-shaven ook for the nineties," says Wendy 3ryan, research manager at ngus Reid Group. "The poil aise dismisses the stereotype that it is women who 'ss over themselves for hours in he bathroom, while men opt for a uick shower and shave," adds 3ryan. When asked who ties up the >athroom longest in the morning, 16 per cent of the men surveyed )oint the finger at women. Yet the poll shows less than a four-minute spread in the time spent by the two sexes. Poll results also indicate that men's outlay on personal grooming products -- about $27 per month -- is exactly the same as what women spend. Monthly expenditures by men and women under age 25 top the scales at $37 -- almost double the amount spent by those over age 55. "The idea that women load the medicine chest with high-priced personal care products while men stick to the basics no longer reflects reality," says Josie McDonagh, spokesperson for the producer of Edge Gel, S.C. Johnson & Son. McDonagh says she is most surprised by the poll result that showed how fiecely loyal men are to personal grooming brands. Just short of 90 per cent of men say they prefer to pick and choose leading toiletry products from across a variety of brands, rather than buy across a single line of products ... regardless of price or the man's avocation. In addition to Edge and Soft Sense shave gels, S.C. Johnson groduces several other major rands including Agree and Halsa shampoos. Poll results are considered accurate to plus-or-minus 2.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Yes, you can eat, drink and be merry We've all heard or read the statistic that between one-third and one-half of all meals are now eaten outside the home. But have many of us stopped to calculate just how many meals that is? If you are a statistically 'normal' individual, eating a healthy three meals per day, you will consume somewhere between 365 and 730 meals in restaurants, cafeterias, fast-food outlets and other people's homes this year alone. Good thing 1993 isn't a leap year. "For some of us, eating out requires no more thought than deciding where to go and what to order," says Marie Ludwick, area director of Weight Watchers for Southern Ontario and the Maritimes. "For the weight- conscious, however, dining out ..................... .......... ............ aM a::::::::: ............. ........................... ...................... iý!ý!ýn .. .. ... ........ . . .............. ............ By Lucie Rochette New developments in hair care can get rid of an unwanted perm without damaging hair. Dube Hair and Skin on Dun- das St. E. is currently using a new product, the Paul Brown straight-perm treatment. This system straightens hair without damaging it. Unique to this area, Dube just recently introduced the service. The shop's hairdressers have taken classes on how to use the system properly. Donn Dube saw the treatment at a hair show he attended. "I love it," he says. "It's an idea that has been a long time in coming." Dube says that the system has been around for a few years, but that it is new to Canada. The treatment was developed in 1986 by hairstylist Paul Brown çf Hawaii to helo his clients straighten and protect their hair from Hawaii's winds and dry climate. The main ingredient in the solution is kukui nut oil mixed with natural plant extracts. The treatment takes about two or three hours to complete. A perm solution is added to pre-mixed Fotanical ingredients. This mixture changes the PH level of the perm solution to 7.5, making the solution very mild. Because of the mildness of the solution, the process is very safe. It does not damage the hair with many harsh chemicals. The solution is spread on sec- tions of the hair and those sec- tions are placed on long pliable boards that keep the hair straight. The boards take pressure off hair roots and keep the hair taut. The cost of the process starts at around $100 and varies depending on hair length. brings in a whole newlevel of decision-making. "Because people can't always control the menu or the ingredients in a restaurant or at a fiiend's, smart dieters will plan ahead by knowing what types ef food wijl be available, and making some t. de-offs at home to allow extra fle 'bility when dining out. "We have all seen people so worried about what they are eating, that the social aspects of dining can sometimes be lost of them," said Ludwick. "With a little planning beforehand, you can focus on the people and conversations while dining out rather than on the food being served. At Weight Watchers, we call it 'savvy socializing.' To help make your meals outside the home enjoyable rather than fretful, Ludwick suggests the following strategies to savvy socializing. • ,Don't let other people pressure you to order or eat more than you want. If they say, "But my dear, you simply must try the specialty of the house," try some, but off their plate. • At a buffet, choose only foods that are best for you, based on your personal food plan.