To Shave Or Not To Shave - Does Your Therapist Care?

Well, it is that time of year again... you're in a state of pure bliss, lying on a very cozy massage table, soaking up your much needed "me time," when your therapist uncovers your leg and you suddenly realize, "I FORGOT TO SHAVE!" At this point your anxiety level rises as you find yourself in a bit of a hairy situation, unable to find words to explain your way out of this "Sasquatch-like" state of existence.  But is this angst really necessary?  ​Here's the long... and short... of shaving before your session. 

In general, it is safe to say that most of us have a basic understanding that everybody (well, almost everybody) has some degree of body hair - head, neck, arms, arm pits, legs, back, belly, face.  You name it, you probably have it, to one degree or another.  It is a natural state for the vast majority of homo sapiens (aka: human beings).  Shaving, a culturally adopted form of personal "hygiene" (in the United States anyhow) and the habits surrounding the practice, are largely personal. As seasoned providers in the wellness field, we must say that we believe it's always healthiest to be "comfortable in your own skin"... leg hair included! 

Please remember ladies, massage therapists work on both male and female clients, and people from all different ethnicities.  And more than that, many therapists train in regions of the USA where "au-natural" is simply the way to be.  So while there are perhaps just a few instances where shaving might be beneficial (depending upon your therapist's personal product choice, the modality in use, or any concern you may have with excess product remaining on your skin), on the whole shaving is not in any way required to receive a professional massage.  It certainly does not make your therapist think less of you; nor will it negatively affect the vast majority of modalities available to you.  So next time you get caught at the end of a busy week having forgotten to purchase razors when you were at the store the last time, just take a deep breath, remember that you're massage therapist is human too, and simply R...E...L...A...X... after all, that is what you came here to do!