What to Wear During a Massage: A Simple Guide

Wear normal, loose clothes that are easy to take off, and plan to undress to your comfort under a sheet; keeping your underwear on is completely normal. Before you start, take off jewellery and your smartwatch, tie long hair low and skip body lotion. Afterwards, have something loose ready that you don’t mind getting a little oil on.

I’m Mei, an independent female massage therapist in Dubai. This page is about the practical side: what to wear on the day, what to take off, and what to have ready for afterwards. For how undressing and draping work during the session itself, read do you undress for a massage.

If you wear extensions, planning a body massage with hair extensions covers attachment points, scalp exclusions and keeping massage products away from the roots.

What should you wear for a home, hotel or studio massage?

Wear whatever you’re comfortable in; nobody needs special clothes. What changes between settings is what to have ready and how to set up the room.

Setting	Arrive in	Have ready	One tip
Your home	Whatever you’re already wearing	Robe, pyjamas or a loose T-shirt for afterwards	Turn the air conditioning up a couple of degrees
Hotel room	Anything; the hotel robe is ideal	The hotel robe and slippers	Hotel rooms are often kept cold, so adjust the thermostat before I arrive
My studio	Loose clothes that are easy to travel in	A hair tie, and make-up if you’re going out after	Avoid tight jeans; slightly oily skin and stiff denim aren’t a good mix

At home or in a hotel, you don’t need to change before I arrive. I make up your own bed with my massage blanket, fresh sheet and towels, and while I set up you can carry on in whatever you’re wearing. What to expect shows the setup step by step.

Why the air conditioning matters in Dubai

You lie still for an hour or more with most of your skin uncovered under a sheet, and a room that feels fine when you’re moving soon feels chilly. If you usually keep the flat at 21–22°C, set it to 24–25°C for the session and turn off any vent that blows straight onto the bed. It does more for your comfort than anything you wear.

What do you keep on during the massage?

Keep on whatever lets you relax; underwear on is the most common choice. You undress in private and lie under a sheet, and I uncover only the area I’m working on. The full explanation is in the undressing guide linked above, so here are just the clothing decisions.

• Underwear. On is completely fine for relaxation, back, neck and shoulder work. For deep tissue work around the hips and glutes, some people prefer it off, but I can work around it.
• Choose old or dark underwear. Massage oil can leave marks on pale or delicate fabric. That’s the one item worth choosing deliberately.
• Bras come off for back work. The strap sits right across the muscles I’m working on. If you’d rather keep one on, tell me and I’ll work around it, though the upper back gets less attention.
• Shorts for leg work? Not needed, and oil gets on them. Underwear plus the sheet does the same job.

In pregnancy, wear comfortable maternity underwear and keep a loose top nearby. Sessions are done lying on your side with pillows and a bolster, so you’re never lying on your bump. My prenatal and postnatal massage page explains the positioning.

After a birth, if you’re breastfeeding, wear a nursing bra you can easily take off and keep breast pads nearby. Lying face down with full breasts is uncomfortable, so feed or pump just before the session if you can, and I’ll offer side-lying for part of it.

Men usually keep boxers or briefs on. The approach is the same for everyone: strictly professional, properly draped, by appointment.

If you’d prefer to stay more covered

That’s easy to accommodate. If you wear a headscarf, keep it on: I’ll leave out scalp work and work the neck and shoulders around it, or over a thin layer. If you’d rather keep a light top on for the whole session, wear a soft, close-fitting cotton one that you don’t mind getting oil on, and I’ll focus on what I can reach well. Tell me when you book, and I’ll plan the session around it.

What should you wear for a massage on your period?

Keep your underwear on and use whatever you’d normally trust overnight: a tampon, a menstrual cup or period underwear. A pad works too if that’s what you prefer. I can lay a second towel underneath you, so there’s nothing to worry about on the sheet.

Lying face down is usually fine. If you’re crampy, I’ll keep pressure lighter over the lower back and abdomen, and gentle work there often feels soothing. Just mention it when you book or when I arrive; one sentence is enough. My guide on having a massage on your period answers the rest.

Hair, make-up, jewellery and fragrance

Small things here make the difference between relaxing and fidgeting.

• Hair. Tie long hair low with a soft scrunchie. A high ponytail or a clip digs into your head when you lie face up. If you’re having neck or scalp work, expect a little oil near the hairline and plan to wash it. Don’t book straight after a blow-dry.
• Make-up. Go light or take it off. The face-down headrest smudges mascara and foundation, and neck work moves it too.
• Jewellery. Take off necklaces, bracelets, rings and watches; they get in the way of long strokes. Small stud earrings can stay, but hoops catch during neck work.
• Smartwatch and phone. Off, or in another room. A buzzing wrist pulls you straight out of the session.
• Fragrance and lotion. Skip body lotion on the day, because oil needs clean skin to glide. Skip heavy perfume too, especially if you’ve booked aromatherapy, as it competes with the oils.
• Fake tan. Massage oil can lift a fresh tan and leave it streaky. Book your massage first and tan afterwards.
• Contact lenses. Usually fine. If your eyes dry out lying down, wear glasses and take them off when we start.

For a fuller lens-care plan, see contact lenses and massage, including dozing, clean handling and glasses for afterwards.

What should you have ready for afterwards?

Something loose, soft and not too precious, because a light film of oil stays on your skin. For an evening home visit, that means pyjamas, and you can go straight to bed. For the studio, it means the loose clothes you came in.

A few things worth having to hand:

• A glass of water within reach of the bed.
• A robe or big T-shirt if you’d like to sit up for a few minutes before getting dressed.
• Light, breathable clothes for outside. If you’re leaving the studio into Dubai’s summer heat, you’ll feel warm and slightly slow for a while.
• Time before a shower. A shower is fine whenever you want one; my guide on showering after a massage covers the timing.

If you’re unsure about anything for your particular session, a sling after shoulder surgery, compression stockings or a medical dressing, mention it when you book. Message me on WhatsApp with your area and a time, and I’ll tell you if there’s anything to sort out beforehand.