Nuru massage: the gel, the mat and where to find it

The name is usually traced to a Japanese word for slippery, and that word sums up the style. The gel is traditionally made from seaweed extract, often nori, mixed with warm water until it turns smooth and almost weightless. It has no colour and little scent, and it stays wet far longer than oil does.

Because the gel would soak through an ordinary massage table, nuru takes place on a waterproof mattress laid on the floor, often an inflatable one. The masseuse covers herself and the receiver in gel and moves across his back, legs and chest with her body. The contact is close and continuous, and that is what people searching for the style usually have in mind. It is a broad, slow technique rather than a set of precise strokes.

Nuru traditionally follows a clear sequence, and knowing it makes a first visit easier. It starts with a shower, which matters more here than for most styles because the gel works best on clean skin. Next comes the mat: you lie face down first, and the masseuse warms the gel and spreads it over both of you.

The main part is the glide itself, a slow full-body movement from feet to shoulders and back, before you turn over. At the end there is a rinse, since the gel has to be washed off completely. Allow time for that last wash and for drying off with a towel, because leaving still slick is uncomfortable. Each salon runs things its own way, so treat this as the usual pattern of the style, not a description of any one place.

Nuru shares ground with other styles, and the differences come down to medium and contact. A body rub, the American term explained on our body rub page, usually means oil and hands, sometimes with body contact, on a table or bed. Tantric massage is defined by its pace, its breathing and touch that builds slowly; the tantric massage page covers its background. Nuru is defined instead by the gel and the mat: full contact from the start, with the slippery surface doing much of the work.

All three sit under the wider heading of erotic massage in general. Because nuru means something specific, use the word itself when you get in touch, so the salon knows exactly what you are asking about.

• Shower when you are asked to, and do it properly. On a style built on skin contact, this is the basic courtesy.
• Trim your nails beforehand, since the masseuse is in contact with you throughout.
• Take off rings, watches and other jewellery before you start; the gel gets everywhere.
• Move slowly on the mat and let the masseuse help you turn over or stand up. A gel-covered surface is easy to slip on.
• Let her lead. Nuru depends on her rhythm and positioning, and she sets her own limits. Follow her guidance, keep your hands where she indicates and accept a no without discussion.
• Mention any skin sensitivity before she begins, so she knows about it from the start.

The guide to booking an erotic massage covers the general steps. For nuru, a few points are specific to the style:

• Ask whether the session uses a gel mat on the floor or a table, since that shapes the whole experience.
• Ask about the shower arrangements before and after.
• Ask how long to allow overall, including the rinse at the end.
• Ask how payment works, and bring some cash in case it is needed.
• If this is your first visit to any salon, say so; the first-time guide is worth reading beforehand too.

Keep the first message short and polite: the style you want, the day and a time window. Use the contact details on the salon's own listing.

AdultGuide lists salons, not menus, so the same erotic massage salons appear under every style. On this page we point to two signals that come from the salons themselves. One is the salon's own website title naming nuru: 41 salons in our listings do that. The other is a nuru tag the salon added itself: 16 salons have done so.

Bangkok has the most website titles naming nuru, 13 among its 41 salons. New York follows with 8 of its 23, then Las Vegas with 5, plus one salon there that tagged nuru itself.

In Europe, Budapest leads on self-added tags with 5, alongside 4 website titles, and Warsaw shows 4 of each. Prague has 2 tags and 1 title, London and Athens have 2 titles each, Lisbon has 2 tags, and Hanoi has 2 titles and 1 tag. Madrid has one salon that tagged nuru itself. Ho Chi Minh City, Chicago, Denver and Da Nang also appear on this page; open any city card to see every salon there and read each one's own description.

What is the gel made of? Traditionally seaweed extract, usually nori, mixed with warm water. Gels sold for the style vary, so if your skin reacts easily, ask what is used when you book.

Will it stain my clothes? The gel is water based and rinses off with water, which is why the final wash matters. Take your time with it before you dress.

Can I request nuru anywhere on this page? You can ask, but each salon decides its own styles. The salons whose own website title names nuru, or that tagged it themselves, are the clearest starting point.

Who sets limits during a session? The masseuse does. She sets her own limits, and a good session rests on following her lead.

Do you take bookings? No. AdultGuide lists salons city by city, and you contact the salon directly to arrange everything.