What to Wear During a Massage: A Simple Guide

Wear whatever you’ll be comfortable undressing to. Most people remove their outer clothes, keep their underwear on, and lie beneath a towel or sheet — I only ever uncover the part of the body I’m working on. For a home visit there’s nothing to buy or prepare: arrive as you are, and have something loose to relax in afterwards.

Undress to your comfort — that’s the real answer

The honest truth is that there’s no dress code for a massage. The phrase therapists use is “undress to your comfort level”, and it means exactly what it says. Some people are happiest keeping their underwear on; others prefer to remove it so I can work freely around the hips and lower back. Neither is right or wrong. What matters is that you feel relaxed enough to let your muscles soften, because a body that’s tense from self-consciousness is much harder to work on.

You always undress in private while I step out of the room or turn away, and you’re under the towel or sheet before I begin. From that point on, whatever you’ve chosen to keep on is invisible and largely irrelevant to the session.

How draping works

Draping is the professional standard I follow every single time, and it’s worth understanding because it’s what makes the whole question of clothing so low-stakes. You lie on the table under a large towel or sheet. As I move around your body, I fold back just the section I’m about to work on — one arm, one leg, your back — and everything else stays covered. When I’ve finished an area, I re-cover it before moving on.

That means at no point are you fully exposed, whatever you’re wearing underneath. Proper draping keeps you warm, keeps the session strictly professional, and lets you relax without a second thought. If you’d ever like more coverage, you only have to say so and I’ll adjust.

Underwear: on or off?

This is the question I’m asked most, so here’s the practical version. If you’re coming for a back, neck and shoulder session, or a gentle relaxation massage, keeping your underwear on makes no difference to the work at all. If you’re booking deep tissue for the lower back and glutes, or a full-body treatment where the hips matter, some people find it easier to remove underwear so I can reach those muscles without fabric in the way — but I can always work around it with draping if you’d rather keep it on.

There’s no expectation either way, and no “correct” answer. I’ll adapt to whatever you choose, and I’ll never make you feel you’ve made the wrong call.

Still unsure what suits you? Message me on WhatsApp before your appointment and I’ll happily explain what works best for the type of massage you have in mind.

What to wear for a home visit

A home visit is the easiest scenario of all. You don’t need to dress up or change before I arrive — I bring the table, fresh linens, oils and music, and set everything up in a few minutes. When the space is ready, you undress in private to your comfort level and settle under the towel.

The only thing worth thinking about is afterwards. Your muscles will be warm and relaxed and your skin may have a little oil on it, so loose, comfortable clothing — something you’d lounge in at home — is perfect. Many people book a home visit precisely so they can drift straight off to bed once I’ve packed away. You can explore the full range of massages I offer to decide which one you’d like before we sort out the timing.

Should you shower or use lotion beforehand?

A quick shower before your appointment is a nice courtesy and helps you feel fresh and ready to relax, but it isn’t essential — don’t stress if there’s no time. I’d gently suggest skipping heavy body lotion or oil on the day, since a clean, dry surface lets the massage oil glide properly. Light everyday deodorant and perfume are absolutely fine. If you’ve just come from the gym or a padel game, a rinse helps you settle, but again, only if it’s convenient.

At my studio

If you come to my studio instead, the same principles apply — you’ll have privacy to undress, fresh linens, and full draping throughout. Wear whatever is comfortable to travel in; there are no changing-room formalities to worry about. The studio rate is AED 300 an hour against AED 400 for a home visit, and you can see how the two compare on my pricing page.

Jewellery, glasses and hair

A couple of small practicalities help the massage flow. It’s worth removing watches, bracelets, rings and necklaces before we start — they get in the way of long, smooth strokes and you won’t want to feel them pressing in. I’ll happily wait while you pop them somewhere safe, and glasses come off too, of course.

If you have long hair, having a soft hair tie to hand is useful so I can work on your neck and shoulders without pulling anything. None of this is essential, but it makes the hour smoother and lets you sink into it without small distractions.

Does it differ for men and women?

Not really — the same principle applies to everyone: undress to your comfort, stay draped, and keep on whatever you’d like to. Men most often keep their underwear on, as do many women; some people prefer less for full access to the hips and lower back.

As a female therapist I’m mindful that comfort and clear boundaries matter to all my clients, and the approach is identical whoever you are. Both women and men are welcome, and every session is strictly professional from start to finish.

For a first massage, keep it simple

If this is your first-ever massage, don’t overthink the clothing question. Turn up in whatever you’re wearing, tell me at the start if you’d rather keep more on, and let the draping do its job. There’s no etiquette to get right and nothing to feel self-conscious about — I’ll guide you through each step, from where to put your things to how to lie on the table. Comfort first, and everything else follows from that.

A note on comfort and boundaries

Feeling a little shy, especially before a first massage, is completely normal — I hear it often and it’s nothing to apologise for. Everything about how I work is designed to put that worry to rest: you undress in private, you decide your own comfort level, you stay draped throughout, and the session is strictly professional and by appointment. As a female therapist I’m mindful that this matters even more to some clients, and I always err on the side of more coverage, more warmth and more communication. You can read a little more about me and how I work on my about page.

The short version

Wear what lets you relax, and undress to the level you’re comfortable with. Keep your underwear on or take it off — your call. Trust the draping to keep you covered and warm. And for a home visit, simply have something loose to slip into afterwards. That really is all there is to it.

When you’re ready to book, send me a message on WhatsApp with your area and preferred time, and I’ll take care of the rest — no deposit, cash on the day.