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Types of cupping therapy
"Cupping" isn't one thing. The cup can be left still or glided across the skin, the suction can come from a pump or a flame, and in wet cupping / hijama the skin is lightly punctured. The style shapes what a session feels like, whether it leaves marks, and often who performs it — an acupuncturist, a massage therapist, a physical therapist, or a hijama specialist. Pick a style below to see exactly which providers offer it, proven from their own site or their reviews.
🫙 Dry cupping
Stationary suction cups left in place to lift tissue and boost local circulation — the most common form.
🩸 Wet cupping / hijama
Controlled skin punctures draw a small amount of blood after suction — the Sunnah / Islamic practice of hijama.
🔥 Fire cupping
A flame briefly heats the glass cup to create suction — the traditional Chinese-medicine method.
💆 Massage (gliding) cupping
Oiled silicone or plastic cups are glided across the muscles for a moving, massage-like release.
✨ Facial cupping
Small, gentle cups used on the face to support circulation and lymphatic drainage.
🏃 Sports / myofascial decompression
Athletic “myofascial decompression”, often paired with dry needling or IASTM for recovery.
Cupping styles, answered
- What are the different types of cupping?
- The main styles are dry cupping (stationary suction cups left in place), wet cupping / hijama (light skin punctures draw a little blood after suction), fire cupping (suction created with a brief flame), massage or "gliding" cupping (oiled cups moved across the muscles), facial cupping (small, gentle cups for the face), and sports or myofascial-decompression cupping (used for athletic recovery, often with dry needling). Many providers offer more than one.
- Which type of cupping is right for me?
- It depends on your goal. For tight backs and shoulders, dry or fire cupping from an acupuncturist is common; for a relaxing, moving release during bodywork, massage/gliding cupping from a massage therapist; for sports recovery and mobility, myofascial-decompression cupping from a physical therapist; for skin and lymphatic support, gentle facial cupping at a med spa; and hijama (wet cupping) if you specifically want the wet-cupping practice. Browse a style below to see who offers it near you.
- Do all cupping styles leave marks?
- The suction-based styles — dry, fire, and static wet cupping — commonly leave round, discolored marks where blood is drawn toward the surface. They're normal, usually painless, and fade within days to about two weeks. Moving styles like massage/gliding and facial cupping tend to leave little or no marking because the cups don't stay in one spot. The marks aren't the same as an impact bruise.
- How much does a cupping session cost?
- Where providers publish a rate, a standalone session averages around $100, and roughly $30–$100+ overall depending on the style, the provider, and session length. Cupping is often cheaper added to a massage or acupuncture visit than booked on its own, and facial or hijama sessions can be priced differently. Always confirm with the provider before booking.