How much do you have to undress for a back and shoulder massage?

[MagneticRubberDucks]

I’m probably overthinking this but I need advice so I know what to wear.

I’ve never had a professional massage before,
so I’ve no idea how much I’m supposed to undress for the massage.
99% of my wardrobe is dresses, so if it’s normal to just strip off to underwear that’s fine, but if you are only supposed to remove top clothes I should try to find a skirt and wear instead.

i’m already a bit anxious about stripping off for a stranger so I’m just massively overthinking it but I would appreciate hearing other’s experience.

If it's in a massage chair, then probably you would want to wear trousers/a skirt. But if it's on a bed it will probably be down to pants. Maybe confirm if it's in a chair or not.

I’ve had 2. I had to strip off everything on top. They wouldn’t be able to do a proper massage with bra straps.

both ladies were lovely though and put me at ease, saying they would pop out and for me to take everything on my top half on then lie down on the couch. They knocked on the door to check I was ready before coming back into the room.

I had one last night (and have before) I would go top and trousers but make sure they are comfortable ones. Don't want waist bands digging in. I just wear leggings. Also means they can tuck a towel into your waist band if they're doing your lower back.

For the bra I take off my bra but when I lie down and she gives me a little towel for my modesty.

Its no big deal though, she has lots of clients and is a professional she's not looking at my boobs lol.

It does depend a bit but if you are lying face down on a massage bed then stripped to knickers is most comfortable. Some places use a sort of chair with a support where you wear clothes on your bottom half. And the best massage I ever had was done with me dressed sitting in a chair.

A big bit of training in massage is what is called 'towel technique' which is moving towels around to ensure that bits not needing to be exposed stay covered with towels.

Wear separate top and bottoms. Take everything off the top half. They don't stand and watch you do it. They'll leave the room and let you get undressed and unusually leave you a blanket or towel on the bed to lie under for when they come back in.

Thank you all so much.

i don’t own any jeans, actually I’m pretty sure the only trousers I own are gym leggings and they are are brightly coloured so I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing them out and about.

I had a dig around in my wardrobe and managed to find a skirt so I’ll wear that with just a plain tshirt.

Thanks again.

It can vary but they will need to get to your lower back so nothing with a tight waistband as they may move it down a little and then tuck a towel in. Your lower half will be under blankets/towels to keep warm.
I tend to take everything off top half and take off my jeans, leaving granny pants on. I'm just more comfortable lying on the table like that without the chance of anything digging in. I sometimes leave my socks on too because I get cold feet lying still!

Wear your funky gym leggings with pride!

I go fairly often for a shoulder/back massage and I strip down to my knickers.

Always stripping down to the knickers. Anything trouser/leggingwise it often too hight waisted to properly massage the lower back.

I must admit, I often find it hillarious when the person doing the massage is doing the towel-dance trying to wrangle a bathsheet size towel so that you can move without them seeing anything.

That actually reminds me to go and book a massage again.

I’ve had loads, at loads of different places, and have always stripped down to knickers.

I just take top off, lie down with bra on and he unclips it. I'm more comfortable like that and usually in too much pain to get my arms up my back anyway. Leggings he just pulls down a bit if he needs to.

I have had a few and usually just strip down to underwear, they usually just unclip bra when needed.

You can ask them, say you've not been before and ask what is best to wear, how much you'll have to take off.