How to Choose Massage Oil
Many forms of massage require the use of massage lotion or oil to provide glide. Without lotion or oil, you wouldn’t be able to do soothing effleurage or petrissage strokes. These strokes are the foundation of Swedish massage. Massage oils are preferred by many massage therapists because they have fewer ingredients than lotions. This means they’re purer and you’re less likely to get allergic reactions from the people you’re working on.
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Instructions
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Consider your needs for the massage. Many oils stain. If you are worried about staining, you can get a non-staining oil. These oils have been tampered with and aren't in their natural state.
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Consider the consistency of the oil. There are many natural oils on the market that can be used for massage. They all have different properties. Some are more appropriate than others. For example, sesame oil, which is often used in Ayurvedic massage, tends to be thick and heavy. Oils like almond oil and grapeseed oil are light and odorless. Jojoba oil is also light, but some might consider it to be too light. It is good to use on acne. Sunflower oil is light and odorless, but goes bad quickly. Apricot kernel oil, on the other hand, has a very long shelf life, and is good to use if you’re planning to keep the oil for a long time. Avocado oil makes an excellent moisturizer if the person you’re working on has very dry skin, but it is also quite heavy. Olive oil is another thick, heavy oil. The smell is quite strong. All of these oils, except jojoba oil, can be found in the cooking section of most health food stores. Jojoba oil can usually be found in the beauty section. They are pure oils that are not tampered with.
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Decide if you want to mix essential oils into your massage oil. If you want your oil to have a scent, you can add a few drops of an essential oil such as lavender oil. You can also blend a few essential oils together. For example, pink grapefruit, mint and basil make a nice-smelling combination. Olive oil’s smell tends to be too strong to mix with essential oils. You can buy massage oils that have already been scented from a massage supplier.
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Store your oils correctly to prevent them from going rancid. Oils should be stored in a cool, dark place.
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Tips & Warnings
Find out about any allergies the person you're massaging might have. For example, if they're allergic to nuts, you shouldn't use sweet almond oil to massage them.
