View full production brief
- Shows
- A calm editorial frame of an at-home cupping session — one person, relaxed, guiding a handheld cupping device in a slow stroke along an oiled thigh or calf, the skin drawn gently up into the cup. Composed and unhurried; a warm, spa-like mood.
- Subject / scene
- One person, natural skin, athletic-casual or a robe. A quiet, minimal AELVAY space — spa-meets-studio. No packaging, no clutter.
- Camera angle
- Eye-level or a slight high angle looking down the limb; 50–85mm look. The cup, the lifted skin and the sheen of oil all readable.
- Framing
- The working area and the device always in shot. Hands calm and deliberate. The round cup and the gentle dome of skin inside it are the hero detail.
- Lighting
- Soft, warm, directional key; gentle fill; no hard shadows; no clinical blue-white light. Let the oiled skin catch a soft highlight.
- AELVAY colours
- Neutrals only — #DFD9D2 walls, #B1A497 surfaces, natural skin. Any device light reads warm.
- Desktop composition
- Full-bleed 16:9 band, subject weighted to the right two-thirds, clean negative space top-left for the heading.
- Mobile composition
- A tighter vertical crop of the same frame — the cup and the limb centred — uploaded to the separate mobile field.
- Dimensions & aspect ratio
- Desktop 16:9, ≥ 2800px wide. Mobile 4:5, ≥ 1400px wide.
- Video duration
- Optional 8–15s silent loop — one slow, continuous glide of the cup along the limb. MP4 H.264, ≤ 10MB.
- Text-safe area
- Upper-left third clear on desktop; top 30% clear on mobile.
- Caption
- Controlled suction lifts the skin instead of pressing on it — a deep, decompressing massage.
- Alt text
- A person gliding a handheld cupping device along an oiled thigh, the skin drawn gently up into the cup.
- Upload — desktop image or video
- main_media (poster frame: video_poster_image)
- Upload — 390px mobile crop
- mobile_media
The basics
What cupping is, and how it works
-
A cup seals to the skin
An airtight rim; a pump draws out some of the air inside.
-
Negative pressure lifts the tissue
Skin, fascia and the top of the muscle are pulled up into the cup — pressure works upward, not down.
-
It decompresses and mobilises
Space opens between the layers, the fascia stretches, blood and fluid flow in, and fast skin nerves dampen discomfort signals [3].
-
Static or glided
Held still it works one tight spot and may leave a round mark; glided over oil it covers a whole area and rarely marks.
View full production brief
- Shows
- An animated cross-section of skin and soft tissue — stratum corneum, dermis, a layer of fascia, the top of a muscle, small blood and lymph vessels. A cup lowers onto the surface; air is drawn out; a pocket of negative pressure forms and the skin, fascia and superficial muscle lift up into the cup. Arrows show blood and fluid moving into the decompressed area. The cup releases and the tissue settles.
- Illustration view
- A shallow slice, cup entering from the top. Keep the "lift" obviously different from the resting state.
- Style
- Clean line illustration on flat #DFD9D2, 1.25pt #251A12 strokes, one warm accent (#B56A5C) for the blood / fluid movement, #7F7163 for the pressure arrows. Labels in the heading font, small caps. Not photoreal, not cartoon.
- Framing
- Cup and tissue centred; a short key naming the layers and the negative-pressure zone.
- Motion
- 12–18s seamless loop, calm easing. Seal -> air removed -> tissue lifts -> blood and fluid move in -> release -> settle -> repeat.
- AELVAY colours
- #DFD9D2 ground, #251A12 lines, #B56A5C blood / fluid, #7F7163 pressure arrows and secondary labels.
- Desktop composition
- Full-width within the text column, 16:9.
- Mobile composition
- Same artwork at 4:3 — labels legible at 360px (min 11px type); stack the key if needed.
- Dimensions & aspect ratio
- 2400 x 1350px, or vector. Video: MP4 H.264, ≤ 12MB, 1080p.
- Text-safe area
- 8% margin all round for labels.
- Caption
- Negative pressure lifts and decompresses the skin, fascia and muscle, and draws blood and fluid into the area.
- Alt text
- Diagram of a cup creating negative pressure that lifts skin, fascia and muscle and draws blood and fluid into the tissue.
- Upload
- scientific_diagram
The techniques
Types of cupping
-
Static (parked) cupping
The cup is held on one spot for a few minutes for focused work; a strong setting is what leaves the round marks.
-
Moving or gliding cupping
A lighter cup slid slowly over oiled skin — a decompressing massage that covers a whole area and rarely marks. The everyday technique.
-
Manual vacuum cupping
The air is drawn out by hand with a bulb or pump; simple and quiet, with the suction set once per placement.
-
Electric and pulsed suction
An electric pump holds a set suction, can pulse it for a massaging rhythm, and usually adds warmth — adjustable as you go.
Benefits
What cupping is used for
Cupping lifts tissue instead of pressing on it. Every benefit below comes from that one move.
-
Sore, tight and overworked muscles
Decompression pulls fresh blood into tight tissue, and the strong pull competes with discomfort signals — a knotted or overworked area feels looser and lighter straight away [3].
Primary use -
Smoother-looking skin and cellulite
Gliding suction lifts skin and connective tissue, moves fluid and drives circulation; a controlled pilot measured a lower cellulite grade after thigh sessions [7].
Appearance -
Post-workout recovery
After hard training, negative-pressure cupping is shown to ease soreness and speed the return to normal movement [6].
After training -
Local circulation
Skin blood flow rose to roughly 16 times its resting level in the minutes after a cup was lifted [5].
Measured -
Fascia mobility and stiffness
An upward stretch the fascia never gets from downward pressure — it frees stiff tissue so the layers slide over one another [3, 6].
Decompression -
Fluid retention and puffiness
Low-pressure gliding toward the heart encourages sluggish fluid to move, so an area looks and feels less puffy [3].
Fluid movement -
Relaxed, at-home body care
One handheld tool and some oil turns a few minutes into a full decompressing massage — calming enough to be an evening wind-down.
At home
View full production brief
- Shows
- A clean scientific visual, in two or three small stages, of how gliding cupping affects the dimpled surface associated with cellulite. Stage 1: a skin cross-section with the fibrous bands and fat lobules that create the dimpled look, and sluggish fluid and slow circulation. Stage 2: a cup glides across, lifting and mobilising the skin and the connective tissue, with arrows showing fluid moving out and fresh blood moving in. Stage 3: the surface sits smoother and more even, with a short note that this is an improvement in appearance maintained with use.
- Illustration view
- A single skin-and-fat cross-section carried through the stages, cup entering from the top in stage 2.
- Style
- Line illustration on flat #DFD9D2, 1.25pt #251A12 strokes, #B1A497 wash for the fat and connective tissue, #B56A5C for the blood / fluid movement. Small-caps labels in the heading font. Honest and restrained — not a "before / after" beauty ad.
- Framing
- Stages left-to-right on desktop, stacked on mobile, with short titles.
- Motion (if animated)
- 10–16s loop: dimpled and sluggish -> cup glides, tissue lifts, fluid and blood move -> smoother -> reset.
- AELVAY colours
- #DFD9D2 ground, #251A12 lines, #B1A497 tissue, #B56A5C fluid / blood, #7F7163 secondary labels.
- Desktop composition
- Full-width within the text column, 16:9.
- Mobile composition
- Stages stacked, 4:5 — labels legible at 360px (min 11px type).
- Dimensions & aspect ratio
- 2400 x 1350px desktop, or vector. Video optional: MP4 H.264, ≤ 12MB, 1080p.
- Text-safe area
- 8% margin all round for labels.
- Caption
- Gliding suction lifts and mobilises skin and connective tissue, moves fluid and raises circulation, so the surface looks smoother.
- Alt text
- A skin cross-section showing how gliding cupping lifts tissue, moves fluid and raises circulation, leaving the surface associated with cellulite looking smoother.
- Upload
- skin_depth_diagram
Treatment areas
Where cupping is used
-
Calves
Tight from running, standing and walking; glide upward toward the knee.
-
Thighs
Large quads and hamstrings that take decompression well — and the area studied for cellulite.
-
Glutes
Deep and often tight; suction reaches tissue that hands and pressure cannot move.
-
Lower back
Either side of the spine, never over it — a gentle way to work a tight lower back.
-
Upper back and shoulders
Where desk tension collects, and the best-supported area for cupping and pain [2].
-
Arms
Biceps, triceps and forearms, after training or repetitive work.
-
Neck and traps
The upper traps and the sides of the neck, worked downward — never across the throat.
View full production brief
- Shows
- An original AELVAY body map — a front-and-back figure (or two figures side by side) with the areas cupping is used on shaded and labelled: calves, thighs (front and back), glutes, lower back (either side of the spine), upper back and shoulders, arms, and the upper trapezius / sides of the neck.
- Illustration view
- Full figure, front + back. Neutral standing pose, no face detail needed.
- Stroke direction
- Thin arrows on each area showing slow strokes toward the heart. A small "avoid" marker over the spine, the front of the throat and bony areas.
- Style
- Line illustration, 1.25pt #251A12 strokes on #DFD9D2, treated areas filled with a light #B1A497 wash, stroke arrows in #B56A5C. Anatomical but elegant — not a textbook plate.
- Labels
- Area names in the heading font, small caps, on thin leader lines. A short key for the arrows and the avoid markers.
- AELVAY colours
- #DFD9D2 ground, #B1A497 area fill, #251A12 lines and labels, #B56A5C arrows.
- Desktop composition
- Two figures side by side (front / back), 3:2 or 16:9, labels in the outer margins.
- Mobile composition
- Stack the two figures vertically, or show the back view with the key below; 3:4; type ≥ 11px.
- Dimensions & aspect ratio
- ≥ 2400px wide, or vector. 3:2 / 16:9 desktop, 3:4 mobile.
- Text-safe area
- Outer 6% clear; keep leader lines inside the frame.
- Caption
- The areas cupping is used on, and the direction of the strokes.
- Alt text
- A front-and-back illustration of the body areas cupping is used on, with the direction of the strokes marked.
- Upload
- anatomy_diagram
Two techniques
Static and gliding cupping
One device, two ways. Most home sessions are gliding; static is for a stubborn spot.
Most electric handheld devices do both — a low, moving setting for everyday use and a stronger, static hold for a stubborn knot.
View full production brief
- Shows
- A simple side-by-side illustration. Left "Static": a cup sealed in place on one spot, a strong steady pull, a faint round mark forming, a short label "focused, may mark". Right "Gliding": a cup mid-stroke over an oiled area, a lighter pull, a motion trail along the limb, a short label "whole area, rarely marks".
- Illustration view
- The same limb or back in both panels, so the difference is only in how the cup is used.
- Style
- Line illustration on flat #DFD9D2, 1.25pt #251A12 strokes, #B56A5C for the suction / motion cue, #7F7163 for labels. Small-caps headings "Static" and "Gliding". Calm, not clinical.
- Framing
- Two equal panels with a thin divider; short titles above each.
- AELVAY colours
- #DFD9D2 ground, #251A12 lines, #B56A5C suction / motion, #7F7163 secondary labels.
- Desktop composition
- Panels side by side, 16:9, full content width.
- Mobile composition
- Panels stacked, 4:5 — type ≥ 11px.
- Dimensions & aspect ratio
- ≥ 2400px wide, or vector. 16:9 desktop / 4:5 mobile.
- Text-safe area
- 6% margin all round.
- Caption
- The same device, two ways — held still for a stubborn spot, or glided for a whole-area massage.
- Alt text
- A side-by-side illustration of static cupping, with the cup held in place, and gliding cupping, with the cup moving along an oiled limb.
- Upload
- body_anatomy_diagram
The research
Backed by science
- 656 Participants in a 2025 meta-analysis showing immediate pain relief
- ~16× Rise in skin blood flow measured just after a cup is removed
- 40 Women in the pilot where moving cupping lowered visible cellulite grade
- Centuries Of use across cultures, now in an adjustable handheld device
More on the evidence and its limits
View full production brief
- Shows
- A restrained editorial infographic behind the credibility figures — 656 participants across a 2025 meta-analysis showing an immediate reduction in musculoskeletal pain, skin blood flow rising to around 16 times baseline in the minutes after a cup is removed, a 40-woman pilot in which moving cupping lowered the visible grade of cellulite, and centuries of use across cultures. E.g. one headline figure plus small icon stats.
- Style
- Flat #DFD9D2 ground, #251A12 type, one #7F7163 accent. No photos, no logos, round and honest figures only, each clearly labelled with what it measured.
- Illustration view
- Landscape — the headline figure left, the supporting stats right.
- AELVAY colours
- #DFD9D2, #251A12, #7F7163 accent, optional #B56A5C for one key bar.
- Desktop composition
- 16:9, full content width.
- Mobile composition
- Re-flow to 4:5 — headline figure above the supporting stats; numbers stay large.
- Dimensions & aspect ratio
- ≥ 2400 x 1350px, or vector. 16:9 desktop / 4:5 mobile.
- Text-safe area
- 6% margin; nothing in the outer 5%.
- Caption
- Cupping, measured: pain relief, a large rise in local blood flow, and a smoother-looking skin surface.
- Alt text
- A graphic summarising the research behind cupping — pain-relief participants, skin blood flow, and a cellulite pilot.
- Upload
- study_graphic
The devices
AELVAY devices using Cupping Technology
Explore AELVAY Cupping devices
In practice
Using cupping at home
Suction, heat and timing stay with each device. These principles apply to any at-home routine.
What cupping feels like
View full production brief
- Shows
- A short real demonstration of an at-home gliding cupping session — spread a generous layer of oil, set the lowest suction and a comfortable warmth, place the cup, glide it in slow straight strokes toward the heart over the calf, thigh and glute, a few minutes per area, then wipe the head clean.
- Subject / scene
- The same minimal AELVAY space as the hero. One person, natural skin, relaxed. No voiceover.
- Camera angle
- A few locked-off shots — a wide establishing frame, a mid on the hands and the oil, a close on the cup gliding and the skin lifting inside it.
- Framing
- The cup, the oil and the treated area always readable; keep the strokes slow and toward the heart.
- Lighting
- Warm, soft, even; nothing clinical-blue. Let the oiled skin catch a soft highlight.
- AELVAY colours
- Neutrals; any device light warm.
- Desktop composition
- 16:9, full-width, muted autoplay loop or click-to-play.
- Mobile composition
- Provide a 9:16 vertical version if possible; otherwise 16:9 letterboxed cleanly.
- Dimensions & aspect ratio
- 16:9 (and optional 9:16).
- Video duration
- 15–30s. MP4 H.264, ≤ 20MB, 1080p, silent or soft ambient only.
- Text-safe area
- Lower third clear for an optional caption.
- Caption
- Oil on, low suction, slow strokes toward the heart — a few quiet minutes.
- Alt text
- A person doing an at-home gliding cupping session on the leg, moving the cup slowly over oiled skin.
- Upload
- demonstration_video (poster frame: video_poster_image)
Common questions
Frequently asked
What is cupping?
A body-care technology that uses controlled suction: a cup seals to the skin, air is removed, and the tissue is lifted rather than pressed. Used for tight muscles, recovery, circulation and the look of the skin.
Does it hurt?
No. With oil and a moving cup it feels like a firm, warm massage. Sharp or burning means the suction is too high — turn it down.
Will it leave marks?
Only if you hold the cup still or use a strong setting. Kept moving on a low-to-medium level over oil it usually leaves nothing. Any marks are painless, come from a little blood drawn toward the surface, and fade within 3–7 days — not an injury, and not a sign of toxins.
Can cupping help with cellulite?
It makes skin look smoother. Gliding suction lifts and mobilises the skin and the tissue beneath, moves fluid and raises circulation, and a controlled pilot measured a lower cellulite grade after thigh sessions [7]. It improves the appearance with regular use, not permanently.
Does it help muscle recovery and soreness?
Yes. Cupping is standard in sports rehabilitation, and recent trials show negative-pressure cupping easing soreness and speeding recovery after hard exercise [6]. Gliding cupping after training works like a recovery massage.
Where on the body can I use it?
The fleshy areas — calves, thighs, glutes, back and shoulders, and gently the arms and upper traps. Not the face, the throat, the spine or bony areas.
How often can I use it?
Short, gentle, moving sessions work well 3–4x a week. Rest any skin that is marked or tender first.
Is the detox claim true?
No. There is no evidence cupping removes toxins. The supported effects are circulation, short-term muscle comfort and the look of the skin [2].
Who should not use cupping?
Check with a doctor first if you are pregnant, take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder, anaemia, cardiovascular disease, a pacemaker or a seizure disorder, or have a skin condition, varicose veins or recent scars in the area.
Which AELVAY devices use cupping?
AELVAY's handheld cupping device is shown in the AELVAY devices section on this page, which updates automatically as the range grows.