I went for a full body massage today, using up a voucher from Christmas. I stripped completely naked when I was left in the room and laid down covering myself with a towel.
The massage was great, but when she worked on my legs she moved them pretty wide apart. Essentially I am spread eagled and she was working pretty high up with probably a full frontal view. Just told my Mum about this as a funny anecdote and she is beyond herself laughing. Apparently you’re supposed to keep your pants on??
Just to clarify as well in case this gets misinterpreted as being seedy, I’m a woman, this was based at a physiotherapy studio, and it was a full body sports massage- I think it would have been pretty difficult to work on my glutes if I was wearing underwear.
Please help me clarify if I have committed a faux pas and accidentally flashed an unexpecting masseuse? Cannot find clear guidelines anywhere!!
ETA: got the gist but can’t seem to disable comments. General rule seems to be yes, sometimes no, always ask to be certain. Won’t make that mistake again!!
46 comments
Depends I’ve had a massage on holiday where they rolled my pants down I’ve had one in the uk where I left it on so I think it depends on the venue
If the masseuse never reacted, then they have probably dealt with it, before
Were they M or F?
It depends on the place, I’ve been to both kinds. If it’s a no-no the staff tend to mention it or state it as an invitation to get down to underwear. I also think that if they were uncomfortable they would be fine asking you to sort it out and then resume.
When I went for a full body , the masseuse told me everything off, but she readjusted the towel as she went to keep everything (barely) covered so I would think nude is normal
They sometimes provide paper knickers, but yes otherwise you keep knickers on
yesss- always keep your undies on!!! 😂 (well thats been my experience anyway)
Yes I’ve always kept my pants on lol (woman too)
It’s the comfort of the patron. Im always nude. My husband prefers to wear his boxers. Personal preference.
I leave mine on, but at one place they gave me a very skimpy paper pair to wear instead.
Thanks for the laugh, not just for your mum and now the Internet but also all of the staff at the massage place who will be pissing themselves on the team whatsapp.
You keep your underwear on, generally. I got asked to remove mine once and I immediately knew what kind of place it was, well actually I already knew given I could hear an Indian man getting wanked off in a cubicle down the corridor but I was minded to keep my pants on.
Yeah, you are supposed to keep your knickers on. I think you only take them off at that other kind of massage place!
Yeah, you keep your pants on. Your masseur will politely move the bum coverage out of the way for your glutes.
I always keep my knickers on 😂
Just ask the staff. UK seems to generally be on
Thong?
Reminds me of a time I was in Barcelona with a mate of mine. He’d got us staff discount rates at this really posh hotel, so we booked ourselves in for a massage each.
We turned up and there was one very attractive Spanish lady and one burly hairy bloke. I lucked out with the lady and my mate got the bloke. (Reminded me of the “lionel blair haircut” advert!).
I was stripped down to a towel, and literally 5 seconds into the massage I realised I had a fart brewing.
The lady was like “why don’t you relax more”.. I knew bloody well why! Anyways 15 minutes later she had nearly finished and then she did this weird stretch on my neck and my whole body just kinda shut off and I let rip the most massive stinker (did I mention how hungover I was?). I probably never had a chance with that lady, but any that I did was completely gone in that moment!
whatever the masseuse tells me to do lol
My local place in a smallish town just asked for underwear to be kept on. But I’ve always done a deep tissue massage which is really high on the pressure so that’s just easier.
If it’s a professional place just ask them and they’ll tell you what that want you to do. I asked before my first one and they said to keep underwear on.
Depends on the place and technique of the massage they’re doing
Well that’s funny because I left mine on for a massage and she said shall we take these off, I said Ok and whoosh off they came. I have never lost my pants that quick in my life! I don’t remember having to spread my legs particularly wide though.
It depends on the masseur and type of massage.
Some prefer no undies and they are very skilled at keeping you covered with a towel. Others prefer undies on for modesty / hygiene / whatever.
Ive only ever had one therapist react negatively to discovering I’d removed my underwear and it was a bit mortifying tbh! I asked before she left the room how much to get undressed as it was the first time with her, and she said “remove as much clothing as feels comfortable, and cover yourself with the towel”. I was having a full body massage and I hate it when a masseur gives me a wedgie moving my pants out the way so they can massage my glutes so I removed everything. I’m not shy and most previous therapists preferred no underwear so I was used to it being that way. This person was horrified though and her reaction made me feel so bad I didn’t have another massage for months!
It sounds like your masseur was fine about it so don’t worry !
Oh for every massage I’ve ever had they ask me to remove my underwear or to put on their little paper thong. This has been true at hotel spas in the uk, on cruises, at spas in the US, and at physio appts in the UK
Surely they should clearly tell you beforehand? I haven’t had a huge number of massages but it has always been quite clearly stated by the staff at the start. Otherwise you are going to get misunderstandings.
Interesting reading these comments. I’ve literally always been told to remove everything, occasionally being provided with a paper thong thingy, and then the masseuse has moved the towel around with the dexterity of an origami artist. Never ever had a full body massage with my pants still on.
Ive always kept my pants on. Sometimes they give you little paper ones.
Yes but tbf she should’ve made it clear!
Doesn’t sound like it affected things why not be more comfortable 😅
I always assumed it was nude, that’s what the towel is for, right??
To great amusement at a massage parlour my friends wife had decided to take us to in Bangkok. Of all places. Anyway they proceeded to giggle and the girls chatted amongst themselves in Thai. When I asked what was so funny my friends wife explained it was because I’d taken my boxers off and it wasn’t that kind of massage parlour. The most uncomfortable massage I’ve ever had. 😂🤣
My friend is a sports masseuse and is very clear in her instructions,; “pants on, under the blanket” having previously walked back in to find some dude starkers on top of the blanket.
I’ve been getting massage with many different people for forty years and it has always been pants off except for one
It varies massively, so anyone saying yes or no is a bit clueless, so I just ask.
Every single massage I’ve had I’ve kept my pants on. At the place I go now they give you disposable ones to wear so they don’t get oil on your own ones.
I don’t think you’ve committed a faux pas at all. I tend to keep mine on if it’s the first time with them, or when getting a sports massage with a male masseur (I’m female).
I usually ask, and with the lady I’ve been going to for years I take them off and she said she finds it much easier to work on lower back and glutes (which are my problem areas) without them.
I also had a fully nude massage that the lady did with her feet, including my front. Minimal towel involved. It was in Europe though.
They usually say to remove as much as you’re comfortable with. I get rid of everything, but some other women prefer pants on. When I did massage some women left bras on which did make back massage annoying.
Most recent massage I went to she explicitly told me I was welcome to take off my bikini bottoms or keep them on, my choice.
My monthly massages are not ‘sports massages’, but I’m always naked and my masseuse is fine. She keeps the important bits covered
I wear running shorts. Quite like it when they get to the glutes, as most don’t bother. I’m happy with my body, happy to just strip off in front of them and not be covered. It’s functional..
My concerns would be about farting!
I leave my pants on but they get pulled down over my ass half the time when it gets to that part, but I do feel more comfortable having my hoohaa covered.
My masseuse also does stretches of my chests and arms at the end and I dont worry about my tatas being out shes probably seen thooosands.
So I wouldnt worry about it too much
Massage therapist here, I tell everyone to leave pants on. I can tuck towels in and move things around to get to everywhere I need to. I have had people take pants off, and I’m not bothered but most people prefer keeping them on.
Underwear yes everything else no ?
I’ve had many, many massages, from the relaxing aromatherapy type to a full sports massage. I’ve never removed my pants, nor has any masseuse suggested I could/ should.
This post has me wondering if having a massage is a as common thing as all these replies suggest, because I can’t say I’ve ever had any desire to have one. Not out of any prudishness but just genuinely don’t get the appeal if you’re not a top level sports athlete or something
I’ve always kept my pants on. If they want to work on my glutes they kinda tuck my pants into a wedgie but they’ll put a towel over it. I think I’ve only had one or two where they have wanted everything off
I’ve only had massages at the spa, but I was always told by the therapist to wear a 2 piece swimsuit, take the top off, leave the bottoms on, cover with towel.
Nude is generally accepted, pants on is fine too, if they want pants to remain on they will tell you generally
I’ve always taken everything off. Much more comfortable and relaxed that way.
I used to work as a massage therapist and tbh in my training it was HEAVILY encouraged to keep as many/ the more clothes on the better as you can technically massage through clothing / depending on the specifics. And like you mentioned your glutes so you can see the logic!
I don’t think your at fault here at all – it’s down to the person delivering the massage to open a dialogue and go through the pre and post set up, if anything it’s to save someone coming straight in and taking everything off with the door wide open and it’s just to keep everyone safe from this and that.
I do my own glutes through clothes sometimes and tbh you will be surprised how deep you can get with a bit of willpower 😂😂