Texted – and “asked for an evening massage” • Moaned and undressed naked
Men who moan, strip naked and give inappropriate compliments.
Now skin and spa therapist Johanna Hedlund has chosen to stop giving men full-body massages.
– When I got worried that a man had booked a massage, then I felt that I can’t have it like this, she says.
Two years ago, skin and spa therapist Johanna Hedlund opened her own salon in Umeå. Just a month later, she experienced her first – and perhaps most unpleasant – visit, which P4 Västerbotten reported on previously.
The man she was giving a massage stripped completely naked, without Hedlund asking. He praised her very much. He found it difficult to lie still on the bench and began to tug at the towel.
– He grabbed my hand when we finished. Then I would only have been open for a month, says Johanna Hedlund.
Skin and spa therapist Johanna Hedlund.
Skin and spa therapist Johanna Hedlund.
Photo: Private
The man texted: “Requested an evening massage”
After the visit, Hedlund blocked the man on Bokadirekt, but despite that he sent her several text messages – including at half past nine on a Friday evening.
– He asked for a massage in the evening and called it an “emergency”. I replied after his second message that I didn’t want him to contact me again, and then he hung up.
However, it was not the last time Johanna Hedlund felt discomfort during her treatments.
– Another man also undressed naked. Another has moaned and been generally disgusting. I don’t think you do that.
In August, Hedlund decided to stop giving full-body massages to men.
– When I got worried that a man booked a massage, then I felt that I can’t have it like this. I have chosen to start my own business and do this to make me feel good. Then I can’t walk around being scared and worried, she says.
– It’s about my work environment. I’m at the salon by myself, I don’t have anyone else there. Of course I can run out the door, but I don’t want to have to end up there.
“Never felt discomfort with a woman”
Hedlund says that she did not report the incidents because she is afraid of being questioned.
– The first time I thought of reporting it. But it’s terrible to have to say it – you’re afraid of being questioned. You don’t want to explain yourself, you just want people to understand. That’s a big reason why I haven’t reported.
Now Hedlund is considering focusing solely on women.
– Now it’s time to only offer treatments to women, but that has more to do with how I want to focus. It’s because I’m passionate about women’s health.