For an oil-based massage such as Swedish, deep tissue or aromatherapy, you undress in private to your underwear and lie under a towel or sheet, which stays over you for the whole session. Keeping underwear on is standard in the UK and no qualified therapist will ask you to remove it. For Thai massage, shiatsu and Indian head massage you stay fully clothed, so wear something loose and stretchy.

Key takeaways

Underwear on is the norm in the UK
Most people keep their underwear on for an oil-based massage. No qualified therapist will ask you to remove it, and keeping it on does not compromise the treatment.
You undress in private and stay covered
The therapist leaves the room, you get under the towel, and only the area being worked on is uncovered at any point. This is called draping and it is standard practice.
Three treatments keep you fully clothed
Thai massage, shiatsu and Indian head massage are performed through clothing. Wear loose, comfortable, stretchy layers for those.
Wear loose clothes to leave in
Oil residue and relaxed muscles do not suit tight waistbands. Soft trousers and a loose top make the journey home far more pleasant.
Leave the jewellery and heavy make-up at home
Necklaces and bracelets have to come off anyway, and face-down positioning will not do your make-up any favours.
Sports massage often means shorts and a vest
The therapist may want to see you move, so bring gym kit rather than expecting to strip to underwear.
Say what you are comfortable with
You can keep a bra on, stay in a t-shirt, or ask for extra towels. A good therapist will simply adapt.

The short answer

Wear whatever is comfortable to travel in, because for most treatments you will take it off. What matters is what happens once you are in the room, and the answer there is simple: you undress to your comfort level, in private, and you are covered by a towel or sheet from that moment until you get dressed again.

The only decision genuinely left to you is underwear, and the honest answer is that it makes very little difference to the treatment.

How draping actually works

Draping is the professional term for keeping you covered, and it is a requirement of every UK professional code of conduct[1]. In practice it works like this:

  • The therapist leaves the room while you undress and get onto the table under the towel.
  • They knock before coming back in.
  • To work on your back, they fold the towel down to your waist. Your legs and lower half stay covered.
  • To work on a leg, they uncover that leg only, tucking the towel around it, and re-cover it before moving on.
  • When you turn over, they hold the towel up like a screen so you can move underneath it.
  • Chest and buttocks are never exposed. Glute work, where relevant, is done through the towel or with careful tucking.

If a therapist is casual about draping, that is a legitimate reason to end the session. It is a professional standard, not a courtesy.

The underwear question

Most people in the UK keep their underwear on. It causes no practical problem: the back, shoulders, neck, arms, legs, feet and scalp are all fully accessible. If the treatment involves the glutes or hip flexors, some therapists find it easier without, but they will work around it happily and will never ask you to remove anything.

Practical points if you do keep it on: wear something you do not mind getting a little oil on, and avoid anything with a lot of straps or fastenings. Bras can stay on, be unclipped under the towel, or come off entirely, whichever you prefer. Say so at the start rather than mid-treatment.

If you would rather stay in a t-shirt and leggings for a first session while you get comfortable, that is fine too. A good therapist will adapt the treatment rather than push back.

What to wear, by treatment

TreatmentWhat to wearNotes
SwedishUndress to underwearOil-based, towel draped throughout
Deep tissueUndress to underwearDirect skin contact helps the therapist feel the tissue
Sports massageShorts and a vest or t-shirtMovement assessment and stretching are often included
Hot stoneUndress to underwearStones are placed directly on skin
AromatherapyUndress to underwearWear clothes you do not mind smelling of the oil blend
PregnancyUndress to underwearSide-lying with cushions, generously draped
Lymphatic drainageUndress to underwearLittle or no oil is used
ReflexologyShoes and socks off onlyEverything else stays on
Thai massageLoose, stretchy clothingFully clothed on a floor mat, with assisted stretching
Indian head massageA top with an open necklineSeated and clothed; oil may be used in the hair
Couples massageUndress to underwearYou each change in privacy. See our couples massage guide

If you are not sure which treatment you want, 18 types of massage explained compares all of them.

What to bring and what to leave

  • Leave at home: necklaces, bracelets, watches, dangly earrings and anything you would be upset to lose.
  • Skip beforehand: heavy body lotion, fake tan and strong perfume. All three interfere with the oils and transfer onto towels.
  • Consider: a hair tie if you have long hair, and a bottle of water for afterwards.
  • Eating: a light meal an hour or two before is ideal. A large meal just before is uncomfortable face down.
  • Arrive early: ten to fifteen minutes, so the consultation form does not eat into your table time.

What to wear afterwards

Whatever you bring to change back into, make it loose. There will be some oil residue on your skin unless you shower, muscles are relaxed and slightly heavy, and a tight waistband or stiff collar undoes some of the effect. Soft trousers, a loose top and slip-on shoes are the sensible combination.

If you have had an aromatherapy massage, therapists usually suggest leaving the oils on the skin for a few hours rather than showering straight away. If you have had deep tissue work, a warm shower or bath later helps with the next-day stiffness.

If you feel self-conscious

This is extremely common and no therapist thinks anything of it. Some things that help:

  • Say it out loud. Telling the therapist you are nervous or that it is your first massage changes how they run the session.
  • Start with a clothed treatment. Indian head massage or reflexology gives you the experience with nothing to undress for.
  • Book 30 minutes first. Back, neck and shoulders only is a lower-commitment introduction.
  • Ask for an extra towel. Nobody will mind.
  • Choose your therapist deliberately. You can request a male or female therapist, and it is a completely normal request.

Every therapist listed on Massages Bristol is checked for qualifications and public liability insurance, and you book direct with them so you can ask these questions in advance. Browse the full directory, or find someone nearby in Clifton, Bedminster, Bishopston or the city centre.

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Frequently asked questions

In the UK, most people keep their underwear on and this is completely standard. A qualified therapist will never ask you to remove it, and they can work effectively on the back, legs, arms, shoulders and neck without it being removed. Some people prefer to remove it for glute and hip work, which is a personal choice.
Not unless you choose to be. You undress in private to whatever level you are comfortable with, get under the towel or sheet, and remain covered throughout. Only the specific area being treated is uncovered, and it is re-covered before the therapist moves on.
Bring shorts and a vest or t-shirt. Sports massage therapists often want to watch you move as part of the assessment, and treatment may involve stretching, so gym clothing is more practical than undressing to underwear.
Loose, comfortable, stretchy clothing that you can move in, such as joggers and a t-shirt. Thai massage is performed fully clothed on a floor mat and involves assisted stretching, so avoid jeans, belts, skirts and anything restrictive. Many studios provide loose cotton clothing.
It is appreciated but not essential. Arriving straight from the gym without showering is worth avoiding out of courtesy. Do not apply heavy body lotion or fake tan beforehand, as it interferes with the oils and can transfer onto the towels.
Yes. Necklaces, bracelets, watches and dangly earrings all need to come off, so it is simpler to leave them at home. Rings can usually stay on unless the therapist is working on your hands.
Yes. Many people do. It restricts access to the upper back slightly, so the therapist may ask if you would like to unclip it while staying covered, but you are under no obligation. Say what you prefer at the start of the session.

Further reading

References

  1. Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council. Code of conduct, ethics and performance. https://www.cnhc.org.uk/ (accessed 30 August 2026).

This article is researched by the Massages Bristol editorial team using NHS guidance, professional body standards and published research, and is checked against the practice of the qualified therapists listed in our Bristol directory. It is reviewed and updated when guidance or standard practice changes. It is general information, not medical advice: speak to your GP if you have a health condition that may affect treatment.