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Metrosexual is one of those funny new words that you probably feel rather silly saying aloud. But how else can you describe this type of pretty, well-kept heterosexual man that you see everywhere? After all, the word "dandy" isn't much nicer, is it?

The truth is, metrosexual men catch a lot of flack for caring so much about their appearance. But the real question is…do they deserve it? As always, the answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no. There are lots of great things about metrosexual men – and so lots of great things about dating them. But there are also some negative things to watch out for. Read on for some of the major pros and cons of dating a metrosexual guy.

Pros

Looks great. The biggest one goes first, right? Metrosexual men are generally very good looking. They care about the clothing they wear and how it looks on them. They care for their skin. Best of all, metrosexual men take very good care of their bodies – they eat well, they're active, and they work out. And this makes it so they look even better with their clothes off than they do with them on. Metrosexual men are eye candy at its finest.

Shares your interests. Dating a metrosexual man can also be a lot of fun, as they will share more of your "girly" interests than your average heterosexual man. A metrosexual will be able to talk to you about skincare or fashion in a way that most men cannot. And, as a bonus, a metrosexual guy probably won't spend the whole afternoon whining and tapping his foot impatiently when you go shopping together at the mall – because he'll be shopping, too.

Cons

Your self esteem must be high. If you're not perfect yourself, dating a perfect metrosexual man requires a healthy dose of good self esteem. Most women are used to attracting more attention for their looks than their man does – in essence, we're used to being the pretty one. But when your boyfriend's legs are softer than yours, his pores are cleaner than yours, and his fashion sense is better than yours, it's easy to find yourself feeling out of your league. If your self esteem is delicate, a metrosexual can do some damage.

Could be a warning sign. A person who cares for his appearance is one thing; a person who worships his appearance for hours in front of a mirror is another. Sometimes a man who spends too much time on his appearance is simply putting gloss over an empty shell – there's not much behind his pretty face. Metrosexual men can tend to be ego-maniacs or just plain shallow.

Of course, the same is true of vain women.

Gender roles are reversed. Okay, "reversed" may be a strong word for this, but it is true that gender roles are often softened when you date a metrosexual. As a woman, you're probably used to dating men who make you feel feminine. A metrosexual man may make you feel that way – especially when he's criticizing your choice of shoe.