What to do and how to dress in a spa
Have you ever been to a spa and found yourself confused about what to do or how to dress? The questions that we ask ourselves most often are: “Should I use a towel?” “Should I bring my flip-flops?” And above all “Why do I have to be naked inside a sauna?”.
Let’s discover together some tips about what to do and how to dress inside the sauna.
How to dress inside the spa
Sure enough, a bathing suit is not the ideal solution. The temperature inside the sauna reaches about 80-100°C and a humidity rate of 10-20%, and this may lead to the release of unhealthy substances from the synthetic fabric of the bathing suite. Dry heat favours sweating: in this phase it is not recommended to wear tight clothes, soaked with sweat or previously used in swimming pools with chlorine. The same goes for the other pieces of equipment in the spa the work with heat. It is not unlikely to see people wearing bathing suites with accessories and metal items that soon become very hot and bother the person who’s wearing them in the moment that should be dedicated to their self-care.
What is the alternative if you don’t want to be naked inside the sauna?
A great alternative is the Pestemal, a cotton cloth that originated nearly 600 years ago in Anatolia to wrap the body inside the Hammams. It was so practical that it was soon used even inside saunas, steam baths and heat baths.
Thin, light, quick to dry and highly absorbent, in cotton, linen or bamboo, it offers a deep sensation of freshness and comfort in warm environments. Its natural and breathable fibre allows you to fully enjoy the benefits of heat: a smart solution to avoid being naked and respect hygiene rules.
And that’s not all: you can also use the Pestemal during the following cold reaction.
The spa bag
Did you find a towel and bathrobe inside the spa bag? As a matter of fact, they are both essential.
The towel needs to be placed on the sauna bench, to avoid contact between our body (feet included) and the wood. The sweat would likely ruin the wood and make the surface less hygienic for everyone.
The bathrobe is the perfect accessory to use for the moment dedicated to rest after the cold reaction.
Have you noticed that in the Nordic countries people wear also a hat inside the sauna? You can sometimes find it inside the spa bag, but sauna enthusiasts generally own one that they bring with them on every occasion. The hat is fundamental to protect the head from the heat, preventing excess overheating and allowing users to stay inside the sauna for up to 12-15 minutes. Remember: when you’re sitting, the temperature that you perceive varies of 8 to 10 °C degrees from feet to head. Fun fact: the hat helps protect your hair from the intense heat, keeping it soft and hydrated.
What to do inside the spa
Before using any equipment, it is necessary to wash the entire body, including your face, with lukewarm water and mild soap. This allows to remove any impurities produced during the day and favour better drainage of the toxins through perspiration.
Use your flip-flops to move around the spa, but not inside the equipment. Also, remove necklaces, earrings, rings, and glasses of any material and shape, to avoid overheating them and irritating your skin as a consequence.
Some advice! Sauna beginners and those who do not like high temperatures should sit on the lowest available bench. The heat is less intense there, and this will allow you to better enjoy your experience.
Make sure to get out of any cabin gently, and have a shower immediately afterwards to remove the excess sweat. Then choose the most appropriate cold reaction to the chosen type of heat to make this sensation last longer. In this way, your body will go back to a normal temperature around 37°C after being exposed to the heat. You will then be ready to enjoy the relaxation phase and hydrate with some herbal tea.