Hygiene

One of the main complaints I hear from other massage therapists (and myself) is about hygiene.

Hair

Hair should be without gel, pomade, and stuff like hairspray when you want a scalp massage.  Massage oil and the products in your hair do not blend well, and can become a sticky, mucus-like mess.  You may not see it, but your massage therapist will have the new concoction stuck to their hands, and possibly rubbing it on other parts of your body.  

Spray-Tan

Spray tan is unnecessary for your massage.  If you have this stuff all over your skin, the linens will become stained.  The mixture of the massage emollient and your tanning lotion will begin to smear over your body and your massage therapist's hands and arms, possibly also staining their uniform.

Sweat

If you have hyperhydrosis (overactive sweating, typically excessive sweating on the feet and hands), please let your massage therapist know this.  They can help prevent it by giving you a handtowel, or uncovering the areas so that your hands and feet can breathe.  Hyperhydrosis can become so watery that when mixed with massage oil, can create a slick that is just too much.  If you prefer to keep your socks on because of this, let your therapist know.  

Feet

A study of approximatey 600,000 people was done, and 20% (roughly 120,000 people) said they did not wash their legs when they bathe.  The people that do not wash their legs, usually do not wash their feet either.  Your massage therapist will spend some time on your feet, and although they look clean because they are rinsed off, a lot of times the odor from sweat and bacteria is still there.  Please bathe thoroughly before your massage, and wear shoes that don't stink.  Your massage therapist most likely will not say anything, but I guarantee, if your massage therapist is adding hand sanitizer or essential oils to your feet, it's because they smell.  If your massage therapist would rather massage over the sheet on your feet, it is either smell and/or dirt.  

Some people indeed skip washing their feet while showering. It’s a curious phenomenon, as our feet are hardworking and often accumulate dirt, sweat, and dead skin cells. Here are a few reasons why some folks might neglect their feet during showers:

1. Neglect or Oversight: Sometimes, people simply forget to pay attention to their feet. The shower routine becomes automatic, and they focus on other body parts.

2. Assumption of Rinse-Off: Some individuals believe that the soapy water running down their bodies will naturally cleanse their feet. However, this might not be sufficient to remove all the grime.

3. Sensitivity or Discomfort: Feet can be sensitive, especially if someone has foot-related issues like bunions, corns, or ingrown toenails. The thought of scrubbing their feet might be uncomfortable.

4. Time Constraints: In our fast-paced lives, people may rush through showers, prioritizing essential areas like the face, armpits, and private parts. Feet might get left out due to time constraints.

5. Lack of Awareness: Not everyone is aware of the importance of foot hygiene. Educating people about foot care can make a difference.

Remember: Proper foot hygiene is crucial. Regularly washing your feet helps prevent odor, fungal infections, and other foot-related problems. So, next time you’re in the shower, give those feet some love! 🚿👣

Sunscreen and the Back

The same reasons some people don't wash their feet also go with not washing the back.  A lot of people can't reach their back.  Some people assume the soap from shampoo rinsing down their back is clean enough.  There have been many times I have applied massage oil to someone's back, only to have last week's sunscreen begin morphing into a boogery mess (imagine the sticky balls of glue on your hands when you were a child, or getting sticky rice on your hands and trying to get it off) rolling all over the back.  It does not come off.  It just simply moves with the hands.  

Another part of the back, and this is not what makes massage therapy luxurious, but some people have sebum and keratin plugs popping out of their pores upon the first massage stroke.  This is usually due to not properly exfoliating the skin when bathing.  Rest assured, the massage oil, gel, or lotion is not textured.  These things are like sandy balls that pop out of the skin of your back and roll around and you will feel it, and your massage therapist definitely will feel it.  Some people have 1 or 2 that come out, some people have hundreds.  To be quite frank, it feels disgusting.  Please exfoliate.

Full Make-Up

Some people cannot fathom leaving their home without make-up.  They feel naked without it.  I understand insecurity, believe me.  But, it is so unnecessary to have full make-up.  If you need your face massaged, make-up is not ok.  For at least a half hour, you will be face down, face smashed into a face cradle, and your therapist may be manipulating your neck, shoulders and scalp, causing your face to move in that face cradle.  You will be leaving mascara, lipstick, your foundation and your eyebrows all over the face cradle cover.  Most spas don't have disposable, paper face cradle covers.  They use washable ones, and when you leave your make-up all over the cover, sometimes those make-up stains do not come out.  So, in the trash it goes.