Oz men giving women a run for their money at the cosmetics counter!

Melbourne, Nov 11 : Modern-day men are spending thousands of dollars to look like a million bucks, suggests a new Australian research.

As per the study by IBISWorld, metrosexuals will reap more than 1 billion dollars for the hair and beauty salon industry in the 2009-2010 financial year, reports The Courier Mail.

Toni&Guy senior stylist Lyndsay Smith said men accounted for 40 per cent of its clientele.

Smith added that males paid 100 dollars every four to six weeks to keep their hairdos fresh.

"It''s quite a clean haircut and quite tight. Rather than going for the longer and shaggy look, they''re keeping it tighter," Smith said.

Toni&Guy apprentice Nicolas Tardiota admitted that he spent about 100 dollars a month on skincare products.

"Presentation is everything. (Hair) is number two after skincare," the 18-year-old said.

Studies have shown that men''s spending on cosmetics had skyrocketed to 48.4 million dollars a year from 5 million dollars two decades ago.

Ella Bache spokeswoman Francesca Caleffi said: "(Men) are definitely more informed now than five years ago." (ANI)