What is dry cupping, and what to expect

Key takeaways

• Dry cupping uses suction only. At RHEA it is never wet cupping, and the skin is never cut.
• Cups glide over oiled skin or rest for a short moment, as part of a full oil massage.
• It can leave round reddish or purple marks that often fade within days, sometimes up to a week.
• Skip it on broken skin, sunburn, bruises or a fresh injury. Check with your doctor if you take blood thinners, have a medical condition or are pregnant.
• A cupping massage costs the same as any other: AED 400 for 60 minutes, travel included.

Dry cupping, in plain words

Cupping is an old technique found in many traditions. In a massage, a cup made of silicone or glass is placed on oiled skin, and gentle suction draws the skin and the muscle just beneath it slightly upwards into the cup. The therapist then glides the cup slowly along the muscle, or leaves it in place for a short moment.

Dry cupping means suction only. Nothing is cut, and nothing is drawn from the skin. At RHEA, a cupping massage is always dry cupping as part of a classic oil massage. Wet cupping is a different practice and is not offered.

Most people describe the sensation as a strong pull or a lift, the opposite of the pressing feeling of a hand or an elbow. It is a different texture of massage, which is why people who already enjoy firm work are often curious about it.

What happens at home

Your therapist arrives with the cups, a professional table, fresh linens and oils, and sets up in about ten minutes in a clear space of about two by two metres. A living room, a bedroom or a hotel room all work.

Before anything starts, you agree where the cups are used, usually the back and shoulders, sometimes the thighs or calves, and how strong the suction should be. You can also choose cupping on only one area and a classic massage everywhere else.

The session starts with oil and broad hand strokes so the skin and muscles are warm. Then the cups come in, gliding along the back or resting for a moment. You stay covered with linens except the area being worked on. The session finishes with hand strokes, and the table is packed away afterwards.

The marks, and how long they last

Cupping can leave round marks where the cups were used. They can be pink, red or a deeper purple, and they are usually not tender. They are temporary and often fade within days, sometimes taking up to a week. How visible they are varies from person to person and from one session to the next.

Gliding cups and lighter suction tend to leave lighter marks than cups left in place. If you want to keep marks to a minimum, say so at the start, or ask for cupping only on the back, where clothes cover it.

Plan around them. If you have a beach day at JBR, a pool party, a wedding or a photo shoot in the next week, either skip the cups this time or keep them to areas that will be covered.

Who should skip it or ask first

Cupping at RHEA is a wellness massage, not a medical treatment. It is not the right choice for everyone, and the cups are never used where they could make things worse.

• The cups are never used on broken skin, sunburn, bruises, a rash or a fresh injury. After a long beach day, check your back for sunburn first.
• If you take blood thinners, check with your doctor before booking.
• If you have a medical condition, a skin condition or have had recent surgery, check with your doctor first.
• If you are pregnant, check with your doctor or midwife, and consider a gentle pregnancy massage instead.
• If you want a soft, quiet session with no marks at all, a Swedish massage is the better choice.

Cupping, deep tissue or sports

People often compare cupping with firmer massage styles, because all three tend to focus on the back, shoulders and legs. The difference is the sensation. Deep tissue uses firm, sustained pressure from forearms and knuckles. A sports massage adds stretching and is planned around training. Cupping lifts instead of pressing.

If you have never had a firm massage, start with deep tissue or Swedish and try cupping on a later booking. If you already like firm work and want something different on a tight upper back after weeks at a desk, cupping is a good next step.

Many people who train regularly book cupping on a rest day, with the cups on the legs or back. It is a matter of preference rather than a better or worse option.

Before and after the session

Before: eat lightly, drink some water and wear something comfortable. A quick shower is welcome but not required. Mention anything on your skin, such as a fresh tattoo or a mosquito bite, so the cups avoid it.

After: drink water and keep the rest of the day easy. Skip a very hot shower, a sauna or a steam room for a few hours. Some people feel a little tender for a day where the cups were used, which usually passes quickly.

For a cupping session, many guests add Muscle Relax Oil (AED 45) or the Nourishing Ritual (AED 90).

On length: 60 minutes is enough for cupping on the back and shoulders with a short full-body finish. Ninety minutes leaves time for the legs as well, and for a slower start, which many first-timers prefer. You can always book cupping on one visit and a Swedish massage on the next, and compare how each one feels for you.