Soapy massage in Paris: foam in the shower, then body to body

The soapy massage, heir to the Thai bath

In Thailand, water is everywhere: in purification rituals, in everyday life, and in Songkran, the great water festival of the Thai New Year, every April. It is no surprise, then, that the country is associated with a style of massage in which warm water and foam play the leading role.

The soapy massage, also called foam massage, follows the same principle as the body to body massage: the masseuse massages you with her body. At our salon, this foamy glide takes place in the shower, simply on request, before a body to body with oil on the table. Shoda tells the longer story of the tradition in our guide to the Thai soapy massage.

What makes the foam so special

A light, airy glide

Oil envelops, foam brushes. Thousands of tiny bubbles form a light cushion between two bodies: the glide is airier, more sparkling, almost playful. Each pass leaves a gentle freshness, warmed again straight away by the water.

The warmth of the water

Warm water softens the muscles and slows the breathing down. In the shower, your body relaxes before you even lie down on the table. It is one of the reasons the soapy massage feels so good at the end of a long day.

The sound of the water

It is easy to forget, but the steady sound of running water has an immediate calming effect. It covers the noise outside, shuts out the city and helps the mind switch off.

The best of both worlds

Foam first, then oil: you enjoy the lightness of the water and the enveloping warmth of the body to body, in the same session and at the same price.

How a soapy massage unfolds at the salon

1. In the shower: the foam

Everything starts in the private shower. Your masseuse sets the water temperature, then works a gentle soap into a lather between her hands. She soaps her own body first, then yours: your back, shoulders, arms and legs. Covered in foam, she then glides against you under the warm water, in a slow, enveloping back-and-forth.

2. On the table: the body to body with oil

After a rinse, you lie face down on the massage table. A few Thai pressures loosen the neck and back, then your masseuse oils her body and yours and begins the body to body: long slides from the lower back up to the shoulders, passes along the legs. Then you turn over, and the massage continues on the front of the body.

3. The final shower and a quiet return

Back to the shower to remove the oil. Your masseuse hands you a clean towel, and you take a few minutes to come back to earth before stepping out onto rue de Bruxelles.

Soapy, shower or oil only: which should you choose?

	Soapy massage	Shower body to body	Body to body with oil
In the shower	Foam and a glide with your masseuse	Shared shower, your masseuse washes you	Shower on your own before the massage
On the table	Body to body with oil	Body to body with oil	Body to body with oil
Sensation	Light and watery, then warm	Intimate, then warm and enveloping	Warm, deep, enveloping
Ideal if	You love water and foam	You want to share the shower	It is your first body to body
Price	Same price	Same price	Same price

If it is mostly the shared shower that appeals to you, without necessarily the foam, choose the shower body to body massage. If you prefer the warmth of a scented oil, try the hot oil candle massage. Looking for nuru? See why we recommend the body to body with oil rather than nuru.

Why travellers love it

For visitors to Paris, the soapy massage has a very practical side. After a long-haul flight, a day on your feet between the Louvre and the Sacré-Cœur, or a heavy week of meetings, a warm, foamy shower followed by a body to body is often the fastest way to reset. Saint-Lazare station is only a 13-minute walk away, or two stops on line 13.

It is also a good choice on a cold, grey Paris afternoon. Hot water, soft light and slow movements: the city can wait.

Our tips for enjoying the foam

• Ask for it when you book. Write “soapy” in your message, so your masseuse knows she will join you in the shower for the foam.
• Mention sensitive skin. The soap is gentle, but if you have an allergy or eczema, it is better to say so when you book.
• Think about your hair. If you would rather not get it wet, just tell your masseuse at the start of the session.
• Drink a glass of water. The heat of the shower and the massage makes you sweat a little, so rehydrate before you leave.
• Choose 45 minutes or more. The foam in the shower takes a few minutes of your session: with 45 minutes or an hour, there is plenty of time left for the body to body.

A sensual massage with a clear framework

Foam, warm water and skin against skin make the soapy massage a very sensual experience. It nevertheless remains a professional massage, given by the book by trained Thai masseuses, in a respectful setting. Any indecent request or inappropriate behaviour, or simply any situation in which the masseuse sees fit, ends the session immediately, without refund. You can read the details in our house rules.

This is not a formality. It is what allows our masseuses to work with care and generosity, and our clients to let go completely.

Soapy massage prices

The soapy massage costs the same as the body to body, with foam, oil, towels and shower included: €100 for 30 minutes, €130 for 45 minutes, €150 for an hour. Everything is set out on our prices page.

Where to find a soapy massage in Paris

Our salon is at 42 rue de Bruxelles, Paris 9th, two minutes’ walk from Place de Clichy metro (lines 2 and 13) and five minutes from the Moulin Rouge. Coming from Saint-Lazare station? It is two stops on line 13, or a 13-minute walk up rue d’Amsterdam.

The salon welcomes you seven days a week, from 11am to 8pm. English is spoken: send “soapy”, the length and your preferred time by WhatsApp to +33 6 10 24 97 47 and we will confirm your slot.