At the passing of oil and the gentle soothing sensation that flows from the rub of hands on a nubile body, there is no denying the fact that more than just a massage may actually happen in a beauty parlour, especially when the service is being rendered by the opposite sex.
In Nigeria, the annual turnover in Spa business is estimated at about N30 billion. The industry is thus a major contributor to the beauty and health business not only in Nigeria but across the globe. This rapid growth of the industry is an indication that going for a warm, soothing rub is no longer the exclusive preserve of the rich but also the upwardly mobile who seek outlets to relieve themselves of stress. It is becoming a common sight to see members of the middle class visiting massage parlours mostly at weekends.
With increased patronage, especially a situation where the opposite sex has to be the masseur conducting the massage, the flow of body warmth can exude some sensuous feelings which can develop into something else if the guards are let down.
Young physiotherapist shares experience
For a 25-year-old female graduate of Medical Rehabilitation from the Obafemi Awolowo University, who pleaded anonymity, necessity has become the mother of invention. Frustrated by the long wait for job placement in a government hospital she had applied to, she took to offering private home services to people in need of physiotherapy treatments.
“My clients are usually men. Some of them are old and some are in the middle age with cases of low back pain radiating to the legs. What I do is to apply topical gels, rub in analgesics or powered substances,” she said.
She then relived an experience she had while massaging the thighs of an older patient. According to her, the experience serves to emphasise the point that apart from being a rejuvenating therapy, there is much more that can occur when a young lady’s cradling hand soothes the hailing legs of a male adult.
She said: “There have been cases where in the process of doing my work, some of my patients get aroused. There was a particular patient I was working on in Ketu area of Lagos and his manhood suddenly stood erect. I actually felt for him because from the look on his face, he was visibly embarrassed. What I do in such cases is to suspend treatment and allow my client to gain consciousness.
“It is not all about them wanting sex. It is just a natural reaction. I handle such occurrences as a professional. If the case is getting out of hand, I discontinue the treatment of such persons.”
A 65-year-old retiree, one Mr Quadri, also spoke to our correspondent on the pleasure moments he had encountered while receiving home treatment for a nagging leg problem.
He said: “There was a time I invited a physiotherapist to do some home treatments on me as advised by my personal physician. She was young and fresh from school, and truth be told, I enjoyed the movement of her hand on my skin, unlike the coarse hands of those male therapists in the government hospital I was first referred to.
“I had leg pains and she had to massage my thigh. There was a day she was at it and I started getting aroused. The first time, it was very embarrassing, but I took it calm as a man, knowing that these things often happen in the most funny time and moment. But I guess it didn’t go down well with the young lady.
“Even though I didn’t approach her for any sexual relationship, she left under the guise that my son should be able to administer the massage after some tutorials. She said she wanted to help me save cost, but I knew she stopped coming to my house to treat me because of those awkward moments. After all, I was not complaining about the money.”
Spa owners share experience
But the experience is not restricted to physiotherapists. Cosmetologists who own Spa and beauty parlours have similar experiences. A deep, rhythmic stroking of the skin to help balance the flow of essential life energy should be the essence of visiting a Spa. But this is not always the case, as interaction with Spa owners who spoke to The Nation revealed.
As it is with male clients craving for ‘happy hour moments’ during massage sessions in most beauty shops, so it is with women too, who often times want some excitement and cuddling.
“The funny request for ‘happy hour’ is rampant among male clients. It happens with women too, but in smaller proportion,” says Mrs. Ruth Zobeashi, CEO of Ruthiana Perfection Parlour on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.
The experienced masseur said in situations where customers begin to get aroused during massaging moments, she tries to calm them down by speaking with them in a professional tone. Continuing, Mrs Zobeashi observed that people have different reasons for undergoing massage.
“Some people feel that a Spa is a place where they can come and ease off, while others feel it is a place where they can get a woman’s touch. But a Spa is not meant for that. You are supposed to come for relaxation.
“When you notice that the client is getting aroused, you try to calm him/her down. And if such a person is still not cooperating, you walk the person out or you call your security to walk the person out.”
Reacting to the opinion that it may not be professional to walk a client out, she said: “We have stubborn people, but majority of them are men. For some of them coming to a Spa, they have the mindset that they should be able to get so much more.
“It is not that you would just send the person out. But after trying your best and the person does not calm him or herself down, you can walk him or her out. Some men would just come and say, ‘Sorry, do you have a Spa?’ And when they see the masseur, they try to ‘access’ the person. As a professional, you still go on with such massage.”
The woman, who has been in the business for over a decade, recalled her encounters with lesbians who want their private parts to be massaged during massage sessions. She confessed to walking such women out.
“Although some people will contend that it is not professional to walk them out, I resort to that after trying some other options. I always say you should know the reason why you are coming to a Spa,” she submitted.
But it is not only female masseurs that experience awkward moments with their clients; the male ones also do, particularly tattoo artists who have had cause to work on some sensitive body parts of the opposite sex.
A tattoo artist in Surulere part of Lagos, who pleaded not to be named, said he once experienced an awkward moment when he was still working with a certain Alhaji who operates a prominent tattoo shop on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.
He said: “It was a funny and awkward moment involving a junior colleague of mine when I was doing apprenticeship under a big boss. This guy was called in to hold a woman’s boob during a tattoo session and he got so uneasy that he was almost ejaculating. Our boss saw it and cautioned him against acting unprofessionally. We made a joke of that occurrence almost on a daily basis until I left the place.”
Other men who spoke with our correspondents affirmed that developing feelings for a business client is not good for business as services to be paid for would be done in gratis.
Against this tendency, smart Alecs, like another tattoo artist who simply identified himself as Mr. Victor of MainWorld Beauty and Cosmetics in Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, devised a means which he shared.
He said: “I try not to develop any feelings whatsoever because of the money involved. For me, it is strictly business. But after the transaction is completed, I can be up to some other excitements as the case may be.”
On the possibility of customers getting aroused during tattoo sessions, he said: “When I am working with customers who are getting sexually aroused, I tell such customers to calm down and trust me to do my work. One thing is that I usually make sure I control the situation.”
The entrepreneur, who is into skin care, tattoo drawing and body enhancement, told our correspondent that although many female clients often feel sensuous when their bodies are being smothered, it is not the same with tattoo because tattoo drawing is painful, so, the client is likely to be in excruciating pains. “Except you are working on the sensitive areas of the body and afterwards, the customer tends to be funny.
“But you must ensure professionalism and see to it that no string is attached. One should not latch on to every opportunity, else those women will send you back to your village in no time.”
Another tattoo and skin care professional, Mr. Micheal Ayomalame, who shared his views on the issue, said developing sensual feelings during a work session is not about the client but the person handling the process.
He said: “It is not about the client; it is about you. You know what is good for you, so you take your decision alone. You have to be professional when dealing with your clients. If you get involved in such a thing, it is going to spoil your image.
“Although he/she is the one offering himself/herself to you, you still try and control yourself. If you go ahead and do it, it means that any if other client comes with the same motive, you will keep doing the same thing to them.”
Although he conceded that sending a client away may not always be a professional approach as they may feel cheated since they have paid for the service, he advised that one should rather walk out of the session and leave the client to take their leave.
A tattoo artist at the Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, who identified himself simply as Chike, said it is natural for a man to get aroused if he visits a Spa and gets handled by a beautiful woman.
“Naturally, men are sensitive to women’s touch. If you visit a Spa and you see a beautiful lady, the moment she touches you, you feel it. Sometimes it is the clients that should be accused of guilty pleasures, since they make the passes”.
Asked if he has had any such experience, he said: “I just do my job first. If anything wants to take place thereafter, then we can discuss.”
Mary Adeoti, who operates a beauty parlour on Akerele Street, Surulere, says such feeling is usually expressed when clients are left alone with an opposite sex. She said the means she has devised to avoid such awkward moment is ensuring that she does not stay alone, especially with clients of the opposite sex.
She said: “As a masseur, I ensure that one of my girls is standing by, passing me some of the lotions we use. That way, both myself and the client are safe. Because sometimes, even if you think you have a strong resolve, you won’t know when you will fall into temptation.”
With confession of awkward moments and funny exchange of emotion occurring between clients and service providers in most beauty parlours, it would not come as surprise that some men often bar their wives from providing services to members of the opposite sex.
Dr Femu Ilevbare, a lecturer in the Department of Psychology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, told our correspondent that it is natural for such guilty moments to occur.
He, however, said it is unprofessional for any man or woman to fall into such trap, as there is no moral justification for it.
