Lubricants for Hairy Clients

[Jolly Rancher <3]

What are the positives and negatives of using different lubricants with hairy clients... especially for deep tissue work?

Oil - Lotion - Creme - Wax - Talc - Other

I've read a lot of preferences but it'd be helpful to have more information and reasons why for all the options in one thread.

Thanks!

 

[onlycrazyboy777]

Lubricants for Hairy Clients

Hello sjulius3,

Welcome to the forum. Your poll is a good one and definitely worthy of discussion, but it might be nice if you introduced yourself and why are you asking. Are you a student, doing research, or just trying to figure out if there is a better way?

 

[msd]

Lubricants for Hairy Clients

This is a good question. I normally use jojoba oil but have found I prefer lotion over oil in this case. Still, I'm not totally happy using lotion. Is there a 'perfect' lubricant for hairy Harry's?

 

[mahleezah]

Lubricants for Hairy Clients

I've heard that oil-gel works best for hairy clients, however I have tried Biotone's oil-gel and I don't find it to be good at all. If anything, it seems to grip even more. I have had the best luck with lotions, but it can make deep tissue tricky. What I do is use the lotion to do some effleurage and petrissage and then if I need to do some d/t or trigger point work, I put a small hand towel over the area to give me some grip and work thru the towel.

 

[asrobs]

Lubricants for Hairy Clients

I've heard that oil-gel works best for hairy clients, however I have tried Biotone's oil-gel and I don't find it to be good at all. If anything, it seems to grip even more.

I use Biotone's "oil-gel" for Swedish - the fact that it has some grip is one of the things I like about it, however for really hairy clients, I just use more of it to get a good glide. For deep tissue, I use a deep tissue lotion (I'm not really beholden to a particular brand) just like I would on any client, however hairy clients who need deep work pretty much just have to accept that there will be some hair pulling.

 

[Bradly]

Lubricants for Hairy Clients

I prefer to use oil, but in a pinch will use "more" lotion.

In general, I dont like to work with cremes or wax. Actually, I don't use wax at all.

Talc, I would save for foot work, but generally use lotion here as well.

 

[teezera]

Lubricants for Hairy Clients

I prefer to use oil, but in a pinch will use "more" lotion.

In general, I dont like to work with cremes or wax. Actually, I don't use wax at all.

Talc, I would save for foot work, but generally use lotion here as well.

I've never used talc in massage. Can you explain how you use it and why?

 

[James L]

Lubricants for Hairy Clients

Talc for foot work can be nice. I don't use it but about once a year. Less glide, but not so much that you can't move around --- actually, I use corn starch, but I figured that it was the "idea" she was talking of and not specifically talc.

Does that help?

 

[confusion girl -hayley]

Lubricants for Hairy Clients

Talc for foot work can be nice. I don't use it but about once a year. Less glide, but not so much that you can't move around --- actually, I use corn starch, but I figured that it was the "idea" she was talking of and not specifically talc.

Does that help?

Sorta. I was trying to understand the point of using a powder instead of some other type of oil or cream. Thanks though!

 

[Alan]

Lubricants for Hairy Clients

I use oil

And fantasize about waxing his back while my hands turn raw.
It's like massaging with brillo pads

 

[HTacianas_II]

Lubricants for Hairy Clients

I use a cream, and it seems to work very well. I think one's choice of massage technique is more important than one's choice of lubricant. For one, I rarely use effleurage in areas where a client is very hairy. There are other methods that are equally relaxing and less likely to pull those poor hairs out. As a man with a manly chest, I am acutely aware of how it feels to have someone carelessly rip out my body hair, and prefer that they use techniques less likely to inspire violence towards the MT.

 

[roar_y {~[GCH]~}]

Lubricants for Hairy Clients

Talc for foot work can be nice. I don't use it but about once a year. Less glide, but not so much that you can't move around --- actually, I use corn starch, but I figured that it was the "idea" she was talking of and not specifically talc.

Does that help?

Sorta. I was trying to understand the point of using a powder instead of some other type of oil or cream. Thanks though!

Well, as a rule, I don't use a lot of lubricant when I work a foot anyway, as I apply pressure to specific points on the feet using firm and slow strokes or compression-like movements, generally with my thumbs. I'll work the foot through it's range of motion and also spread, twist and squeeze the foot. I pull the toes and work them in circular motions. Any sweeping type moves with more oil are generally done at the end of my foot work, if I feel so led. I have a tendency to be almost continually bending the foot over and around my thumbs (in some sort of position or another) the whole time I am working the different segments of the foot; most likely due to a class I took years ago in "structural reflexology" (although I don't really consider it a true reflexology course). It's definitely more than a rubby-rubby foot massage.

But, it's so very rare that I actually use the corn-starch. That, I'd say, would be a matter of preference. If you buy some and give it a try, I think you'll better understand what I am talking about.

If I can find my documentation of the course I took, I'll add the info here. It was many years ago, but I might have the paperwork somewhere in case they still offer the course, in case you'd ever like to get up close and personal with it.


10/29/10: UPDATE with course info FWIW-

• Karen Zaharatos, BS, LMT, ACR
  Applied Health Seminars
  Coconut Creek, FL
  1-877-411-2387
  Structural Reflex Integration for Massage Therapists

 

[bjb123]

Lubricants for Hairy Clients

I use a cream, and it seems to work very well. I think one's choice of massage technique is more important than one's choice of lubricant. For one, I rarely use effleurage in areas where a client is very hairy. There are other methods that are equally relaxing and less likely to pull those poor hairs out. As a man with a manly chest, I am acutely aware of how it feels to have someone carelessly rip out my body hair, and prefer that they use techniques less likely to inspire violence towards the MT.

lol That reminds me of the line I always tell new clients... "As I'm working, there will be areas that will feel sore, but it should feel like a 'good hurt'. If it turns into a 'If you keep doing that I'm gonna hit you hurt", then you need to tell me."

 

[Pompal 09.]

Lubricants for Hairy Clients

I have found that Santa Barbara is fantastic for hairy limbs/back.

 

[Rah-rah <3]

Lubricants for Hairy Clients

I have found that massage gel work well on hairy clients