Pre-Tide & Post-Tide Care
Before Your Visit — Arrive Like the Tide
Before Your Treatment: Massage
Arrive 5-10 minutes early — time for the health form and a quick chat about what you want.
Fill in the health form honestly. Pregnancy, surgery, injuries, medications, allergies, anything active. It changes what your therapist can safely do.
Flag anything significant when you book. Pregnancy, high blood pressure, diabetes, a clotting disorder, recent surgery or cancer treatment. It gives them time to plan and to book you with the right person.
Skip alcohol before. It thins the blood and can leave you lightheaded.
Eat lightly an hour or two before — not hungry, not over-full.
Drink normally through the day. No need for extra.
Shower if you're coming from the gym. Courtesy to whoever's working on you.
Leave jewellery and valuables at home.
Come with a brief. Sore areas, pressure you like, anything to avoid.
Know your options during the session. You're draped throughout, and you can ask for lighter or firmer pressure, more support, a warmer room, or stop at any time without explaining yourself.
Plan a quiet window afterwards. You may feel floaty or sore for a few hours.
Rebook if you're unwell. A cold, fever or open wound is not a good day to be treated.
Before Your Treatment: Facial
Arrive 5-10 minutes early — time for the health form and a quick chat about your skin.
Fill in the health form honestly. Skin conditions, allergies, medications, anything active. It changes what I can safely use.
Flag anything significant when you book. Pregnancy, recent Botox or fillers, prescription skincare, Roaccutane.
Tell me what's on your skin. Retinoids, acids, vitamin C, scrubs — and anything you've used in the last 3–5 days. Ingredient clashes are the main risk.
Pause your actives beforehand. Retinoids, acids and scrubs off for roughly 3–5 days, longer if you're sensitive.
Skip alcohol before. It increases flushing.
Don't book straight before a big event. Redness and breakouts are common in the first 24–48 hours. Two weeks out is safe.
Skip waxing, threading or laser nearby for about a week either side.
Come with a brief. Dryness, breakouts, sensitivity, anything to avoid, and whether you'd rather skip extractions.
Know your options during the session. Ask me to go gentler, skip a product, or stop at any time — no explanation needed.
Rebook if you're unwell. A cold, fever or active cold sore is not a good day to be treated.
Before Your Visit — If You're Pregnant
Tell me when you book, not just on the form.
Say how far along you are, and whether it's a straightforward pregnancy. First trimester, second, third — each has different rules. Also flag anything else: high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia or a history of it, gestational diabetes, blood clots, placenta previa, previous premature labour or miscarriage, multiples.
Before I treat you during pregnancy, I need written consent from your GP or midwife. This applies to every pregnancy, whether it's straightforward or not. A note, an email or a text message from them is all we need — whatever's easiest. Not sure how to go about it? Ask when you book and i'll help.
Book earlier in the day and don't rush. You'll be slower and more tired than usual. Give yourself room on either side.
Eat something light and drink normally. Don't arrive hungry — low blood sugar plus lying still is a bad mix — and don't arrive over-full either.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing. You'll be more comfortable afterwards, and it's easier to dress when you're relaxed.
On facials, tell me what's on your skin. Pregnancy can change your skin and your reactions, and some ingredients are avoided during pregnancy.
In the Calm — Your Time, Your Call
Massage
The start. I confirm your form and asks what you want, then leaves the room so you can undress to your comfort level. You're covered throughout — only the area being worked on is uncovered.
The session. Most massages start gentle and go deeper as your muscles warm up, and I will check in on pressure. Talking is optional; going quiet isn't rude.
The end. I will tell you when the treatment has finished and I will leave you to relax for 5 minutes and will return with a glass of water for you. Get up slowly.
What You Can Ask For
Pressure — lighter, firmer, deeper, at any point, as often as you need.
Areas — longer on your shoulders and back, or skip your feet, hands, scalp or abdomen. No reason needed.
Support — pillows under your knees, neck or ankles, a bolster, or a change of position.
The room — warmer, cooler, music off or changed, lights dimmed.
A pause or a stop — for the loo, for water, or to end the session early. No explanation expected.
Feedback — "that's perfect" and "a bit less there" are equally useful.
You're in charge of the session. If something doesn't feel right, you're free to say so or to stop.
Facials
The consultation. I will look at your skin, asks what you want, and checks what you've been using. Mention sensitivity, recent actives and anything to avoid.
The session. Usually a cleanse, warm towels, gentle exfoliation, a mask, face and neck massage, then moisturiser and SPF.
The end. I will tell you when the treatment has finished and I will leave you to relax for 5 minutes and will return with a glass of water for you. I'll explain what was used and give you aftercare advice, then leave you to get up at your own pace. Flushed skin for an hour or two is normal.
What You Can Ask For
Skip a step — no exfoliation, mask or massage. No reason needed.
Gentler products if anything stings or tingles more than it should.
Lighter pressure on extractions, deeper on the face massage, or skip an area entirely.
No massage at all if you'd rather not have hands on your face.
The room — warmer, cooler, music off or changed, lights dimmed.
A pause or a stop — for the loo, for water, or to end early. No explanation expected.
You're in charge of the session. If something stings or feels wrong, say it — and if you'd rather not, you're free to stop.
If You're Pregnant
You'll be side-lying, not on your back or front. After roughly 16–20 weeks, lying flat on your back can compress a major blood vessel and make you dizzy, so I use a side-lying position with pillows and bolsters.
Say the moment anything feels off. Dizziness, nausea, pins and needles, cramping, a racing heart, feeling faint, or any pain — stop the treatment. This is not a case for toughing it out, and I will not mind.
Ask for more support. Extra pillows under the bump, between the knees, under the arm and head. More support is almost always more comfortable.
Pressure should be moderate, not deep. Deep tissue and strong sports work are off the table. So are certain areas and points — the lower back, ankles and feet, and the webbing between thumb and forefinger are worked around by practitioners trained in pregnancy massage.
Facials: skip the extras. No strong chemical peels, most acids, retinoids, or anything with a long list of unknowns. Lead with "I'm pregnant" and let them adjust. Facial massage itself is usually fine.
Heat is out. No hot stones, no hot towels over the abdomen, no steam, no heated beds and no hot tubs before or after.
You can stop at any time. Say it plainly if you want to end early and no need to explain yourself.
After Your Visit — Ease Back Out
Skin: Facials Specifically
Leave your skin alone for the rest of the day. No makeup, no touching, no picking. Let whatever product your therapist applied stay on.
Pause your actives. Retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide and scrubs — off for roughly 3–5 days, longer if your skin is sensitive. Your therapist will have their own window; theirs wins.
Cleanse gently and moisturise. A mild cleanser and a simple moisturiser. Nothing new, nothing exfoliating.
Sunscreen every day, but especially now. Treated skin is more sun-sensitive. SPF 30+ and stay out of direct sun where you can.
Cool compress if you're flushed or tight. A clean cloth and cool water, not ice directly on the face.
Don't book a wax, threading, laser or another facial for at least a week, longer for stronger treatments.
Body: Massage Specifically
Drink water through the day. Normal amounts, spread out — not a big glass at once.
Move gently, don't stretch hard. Light movement helps; deep stretching or a heavy workout the same day can make soreness worse.
Soreness is normal for 24–48 hours and usually eases with water and movement. Sharp pain, numbness or tingling is not — call the therapist.
Bruising can happen with deep work, especially if you take blood thinners or fish oil.
Skip alcohol today. It dehydrates and can leave you lightheaded after bodywork.
Eat something light. A proper meal is fine, nothing heavy.
Take it easy. No gym, no heavy lifting, no intense cardio for the rest of the day. A gentle walk is good.
Expect to feel odd. Floaty, sleepy, a little emotional, or mildly sore the next day — all normal. Water and movement help.
Warm shower or bath is fine — but skip saunas, steam rooms and hot yoga for the day.
Use heat on tight areas, ice on anything acutely sore. Soreness usually eases within 24–48 hours.
If You're Pregnant
Get up slowly. Roll to your side, sit up in stages, and take a moment before standing. Blood pressure drops and dizziness after lying still is more common in pregnancy.
Drink water through the day. Normal amounts, spread out — not a big glass at once.
Eat something when you get home. A proper meal, especially if you're feeling lightheaded.
Rest. No gym, no long walks, no heavy lifting for the rest of the day. A gentle stroll is plenty.
Skip the heat. No hot bath, sauna, steam room, hot yoga or hot tub for the day. A warm — not hot — shower is fine.
Expect a heavier tiredness than usual. Pregnancy massage tends to leave you more wiped out than a standard one.
Watch for anything that isn't right. Contractions or tightening, bleeding or fluid loss, reduced fetal movement, persistent dizziness, headache with visual changes, or swelling in the hands and face — contact your midwife, GP or maternity unit straight away rather than waiting. That last set especially: headache with vision changes and sudden swelling is a pre-eclampsia red flag and needs same-day attention, not tomorrow's appointment.
Keep your midwife in the loop at your next appointment about what you had done and how you felt afterwards.