From haircut to full spa day: Grooms are levelling up
Grooming is no longer just about a last-minute haircut the night before the wedding. Many men are starting early, turning grooming into a small but steady routine rather than a rushed afterthought
Dhaka weddings have always been grand — but something new is happening in the groom's chair. A self-care routine that began quietly is now transforming how couples prepare for their biggest day.
Wedding season in Dhaka has always been busy for salons, but the rush used to centre almost entirely on brides. Now, grooms are stepping into the chair with equal intention — booking facials, hair spas, beard shaping, and even full-body relaxation sessions. The idea is simple: the groom is in every photo, every stage, every memory. So why shouldn't he look and feel his best?
It's no longer just about a last-minute haircut the night before the wedding. Many men are starting early, turning grooming into a small but steady routine rather than a rushed afterthought.
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Salons, in turn, are upgrading their services to match this new demand.
Abhi Mallik, a businessman and soon-to-be groom, confessed he didn't think he'd ever book a pampering session.
"I genuinely thought I'd just do a haircut before the wedding, as everyone does," he said. "Then suddenly there are fittings, rehearsals, relatives coming from everywhere, and I realised I'm going to be on camera nonstop. I don't want to look drained in every frame. And honestly — it's my day too. I want to feel good standing there."
He booked a grooming session for the first time in his life and came out surprised, not by the products, but by the mood shift that followed.
"Wedding week messes with your head. You're dealing with ten things at once. Sitting in the chair while someone fixes your hair and skin felt like hitting pause. I walked out calmer. And that calm shows on your face."
That 'pause' factor is something salons say grooms are actively seeking now. At Studio Ombre in Banani, the team says men aren't walking in asking for a glow-up that changes their face.
They're asking for a cleaner, sharper, more rested version of themselves.
"It depends on when your programme gets started," the Studio Ombre team said, "but we prefer grooms to take a service about two days before the event. That timing keeps everything fresh without feeling rushed."
They noted that grooming isn't one-size-fits-all anymore because wedding week itself isn't. Studio Ombré offers different grooming packages for different days — lighter prep for the holud or main wedding, and a more detailed, stage-ready touch-up for receptions.
The motive stays consistent: helping the groom walk into every event looking polished and feeling confident. "Reception nights are longer and more formal," one stylist explained. "The groom is greeting people for hours, taking photos till late. A proper touch-up makes sure he still looks sharp at the end of the night."
Their most booked option starts with a quick 'Groovy Express Facial' for instant brightness, followed by a 20-minute shoulder massage to ease pre-event stress. Then comes a fresh haircut or hair set, paired with a neat beard cut or shave, and finally an outfit setting for a crisp, camera-ready look. At 4000 Tk, it's a full reset without the fuss.
Persona Adams has seen a similar pattern. Their team said most grooms prefer a simple plan — a facial and hair set one day before, and if needed, a quick basic touch-up closer to the event. Nothing complicated, nothing overly styled - just enough to keep the look intact through heat, lights, and constant photography. The ultimate plan is comfort, confidence, and a version of themselves that feels true.
Honestly, this isn't just about self-care anymore — it's about photos. Dhaka weddings have become HD memory machines. The stages glow like concert sets, the cameras zoom in like a movie shoot, and relatives post full albums before the food even hits the table. The groom isn't in the background anymore; he's a co-star. And in HD, every tired eye, uneven beard line, and stubborn hair strand gets recorded forever.
That's a big reason brides are also cheering this shift on. Maliha Ahmed, a banker getting married this winter, said she wants her partner to take grooming seriously as well. "I want my partner to look good for the photos," she said. "These pictures stay forever with us as memories. Years later, when we look back, I want us both to feel proud of how we showed up."
That sentiment is becoming more common. Couples want to look like a team — coordinated, confident, and equally cared for. For years, beauty conversations centred on the bride. Now, the attention is on the couple, with salon visits turning into shared moments of calm before the wedding.
While brides still dominate the beauty landscape, the gap is closing. Salons are adapting by redesigning their spaces, introducing targeted men's services, and offering consultations with the same level of professionalism once reserved for bridal packages.
Whether it's glowing skin, a perfectly shaped beard, or simply an hour of quiet before the celebrations begin, every groom deserves the chance to look and feel his best.
