With spring break quickly approaching and the summer break just three months away, some students have booked their vacations well in advance while others are still trying to decide where they want to go.
Regardless of the destination, preparation can be just as important as the trip for some students, and the process is in full swing as students aim to look their best for some fun in the sun.
That means men, too. While women are known for hitting the salon and spa to look great on their vacation, the men aren't far behind.
"(Men) want to look good on the beach," said Shelley Martin, employee at The Tan Essentials.
One place benefiting from the men's need to get in shape quickly is the gym. Gold's Gym has seen an increase in the male turnout since the start of the new year, which is normal, said fitness consultant Zach McCrory.
"Towards the end of January and the beginning of February, you'll start seeing (men) come in a lot," McCrory said.
McCrory said men have started going to two-a-day workouts to get in more work in a short period of time.
The goal for men, McCrory said, should be to tone the body and to balance the workouts.
"If you focus on one body part, then you have one body part that's getting bigger and the rest of it is staying the same," McCrory said. "Balance is everything, and you want to stay proportioned."
Dieting is also a big part of the men's routine, McCrory said.
"(Men) will start dieting, trying to clean up your diet," McCrory said. "Not so much fast food and going and eating a lot more chicken and a lot more fish."
In addition to working on their muscles, men also want to work on their skin.
Tanning beds have become increasingly popular with men, Martin said.
Men usually make up about 10 percent of the salon's customer base, Martin said, but that number goes up in the beginning of the year.
"We always do get a little bit more heavy with male population for Spring Break tanning," Martin said.
Martin said she believes the convenience of tanning salons makes them more appealing to male students.
"It's easier to tan here than it is to lay out in the sun, because before spring break it's not that warm," Martin said While traditional tanning beds are still the popular choice for men, Martin said the salon now offers spray tanning, which a few male customers have already used.
"We're starting to try and promote (spray tanning) a little bit," Martin said. "Some people like sunless better than actually laying in the bed just because of the health option of it."
Some men are also getting rid of their body hair, which is better known as "manscaping."
"As we get closer to Spring Break, we definitely have a whole lot more people come in for waxing," said Alison Bonner, director of One Eighty Wellness Spa.
Bonner said the spa offers chest and back waxing for men, with the latter being the more popular choice.
This is the second year the spa will be open for Spring Break, and Bonner said she expects more men to take advantage of its services.
"I'm sure we're going to have more guys come in this year than we did last year because I think (waxing) is becoming more acceptable," Bonner said.
For some men, the preparation for spring break and summer trips wouldn't be complete without the proper attire. Ryan Robertson, senior in building science, said men's clothes could depend on what kind of trip they take.
"I've been on cruises a few times for spring break and I had to bring nicer clothes for that," Robertson said. "If I just go to Destin or something, then I just wear regular clothes."
However, if guys are going beyond the basics to prep for spring break and summer vacations, they are keeping it quiet.
"I think (men) kind of keep it secret," said Margaret Ann Killam, junior in public relations. "If guys do do something for spring break, you don't hear them talk about it."
However, Killam said going overboard can be unattractive to the opposite sex and cautioned men to not go too far.
"I know very few girls, if any at all, that want the Fabio-looking or David Hasselhoff body," Killam said. "We don't want the overly dark, processed-looking skin with washboard abs."
Killam said men can be attractive with their personalities as well as their physical attributes.
"Don't worry about (getting the perfect body) because the girls are worried enough for everybody," Killam said. "Don't stress out about it."
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