Red Flags in the Male Massage World — Let’s Talk About It

[+ Jamesp]

Alright, guys — let’s cut the oils and get real.

If you've ever booked a massage with another guy (professional or "professional") and something felt off, you’re not alone. The world of male massage providers has its own… let’s say unique flavor of red flags. 🫠

So in the spirit of community service and shared trauma bonding, here’s a short list of things that make me hit “block” faster than you can say “mutual respect”:

Red Flags I’ve Personally Encountered (and maybe you have too) 

• Price is either suspiciously low or laughably high

  • $120 for 90 minutes in a private room? Or $250 for a “healing touch” from someone who still types “ur” in business texts? Something ain’t adding up.

• Reviews that read like love letters

  • “It changed my life,” “I transcended time,” “I’ve seen him 37 times, and he’s changed my life.” Cool. But is every reviewer in a long-term situationship with him?

• Photos look like they’re from three different decades

  • One’s clearly from 2008. Another’s a gym selfie with a filter that doesn’t exist anymore. And then there’s a headless torso that looks AI-generated. Who am I booking, exactly? Benjamin Button?

• Requests a deposit before even confirming anything real

  • Especially when he says, “I don’t hold spots without deposits, bro.” Meanwhile, he’s texting from a prepaid number with no website and no proof of life since 2021.

• Turns hostile when you ask basic questions

  • If asking about rates, boundaries, or hygiene suddenly triggers a 3-paragraph rant about “fake clients wasting time,” run. You're not the first to dip.

• Barely trained, but acts like he's booked at Canyon Ranch

  • “I don’t have certification but I have natural hands and incredible intuition.” Okay Gandalf, but can you find a muscle group?

So here’s the ask:

What are YOUR massage red flags — specifically in the male-to-male scene?

Have you had a weird vibe turn into a great experience? Or ignored the warning signs and ended up wishing you could time travel back to 10 minutes before you texted “Sounds good”?

Let’s hear the stories. The cautionary tales. The unexpectedly great ones.
(And yes, if the massage started awkward and ended in a spiritual awakening, we want those too.)

Post below — anonymous if you must. We’re all just trying to avoid wasting money, getting ghosted, or having to fake emergency to escape mid-session.

[DunwoodyGuy]

Lol...I think some of my real reviews sound like the "love letters" you say are red flags. 

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

 

 

 

 

Edited Monday at 07:58 PM by Vegas_Millennial

[jeezifonly]

My red flags for massage are few.

•Under 35.

•Less than 5yrs experience.

•No table.

•Deposit 
 

 

[CuriousByNature]

I haven't hired a masseur before, but referring to himself as a 'masseuse' could give me pause.  Especially if English is assumed to be his first language.

[DunwoodyGuy]

3 hours ago, CuriousByNature said:

I haven't hired a masseur before, but referring to himself as a 'masseuse' could give me pause.  Especially if English is assumed to be his first language.

I've sent them messages when I see they've used "masseuse," telling them that many potential clients will assume they don't know what they're doing if they use that form of the word and not hire them. Some say thanks and change the word. Others get defensive or don't respond.

[Rudynate]

I don't have any.  If the first impression is good, I hire him.  I look at photos, I read his profile, don't pay too much attention to reviews. I categorically don't hire guys who advertise outrageously high rates. I have had, by and large, great experiences with massage guys.  A couple misses, but that's to be expected.

[braku]

My experience is with RMen. And I only hired once, so keep that in mind. I do a lot of looking and thinking though. Twice blocked from providers by just looking. First time, looked at a provider 2x before being blocked. The second time, after looking at a provider a dozen times. There was no communication with either. I take this kind of behavior, a red flag. And anything that indicates or states, "you're wasting my time", "time wasters".  

Any indication of easily angered is a red flag for me. I find easy going, mellow guys a real turn on! LOL.

My one hire was really great! 19 year-old blond bodybuilder, very handsome. He did indicate respectful in his bio and he was very respectful and tactful, even though English wasn't his primary language.

[Chien Andalou]

17 minutes ago, braku said:

My experience is with RMen. And I only hired once, so keep that in mind. I do a lot of looking and thinking though. Twice blocked from providers by just looking. First time, looked at a provider 2x before being blocked. The second time, after looking at a provider a dozen times. There was no communication with either. I take this kind of behavior, a red flag. And anything that indicates or states, "you're wasting my time", "time wasters".  

Any indication of easily angered is a red flag for me. I find easy going, mellow guys a real turn on! LOL.

My one hire was really great! 19 year-old blond bodybuilder, very handsome. He did indicate respectful in his bio and he was very respectful and tactful, even though English wasn't his primary language.

Rentmen allows you to set whether the history of your visits is visible to the provider. I choose anonymity for precisely this reason.