Spending time in a sauna is calming and relaxing and provides you with various mental, physical, and overall wellness benefits. And one of the best tips and tricks for a good sauna session is knowing what to wear in a sauna. Choosing proper sauna clothing is a matter of safety and making your sauna session as calming and comfortable as possible.
There are many to choose from. But ideally, you’d want to wear something light, loose-fitting, breathable, and withstand a typical sauna environment. After all, saunas can get quite hot, and there is a good amount of humidity, depending on the type of sauna used.
So, what should you wear in a sauna? Read on to find some general guidelines on choosing the appropriate sauna clothes for your sauna session and what not to wear.
Can You Wear Clothes in a Sauna?
If you ask the Finns what to wear inside the sauna, most suggest going in the sauna in your birthday suit and nothing else or with a towel to sit on. But if that’s beyond your comfort level, you can wear clothes inside the sauna and still get the same health benefits of the sauna. Also, in public saunas, some clothing may be necessary.
That being said, there is a principle for wearing clothes inside the sauna—the less clothing you wear in the sauna, the better.
Expect to be sweating a lot during a sauna session. And the less clothing clinging to your skin, the better your skin can breathe, cool down, and sweat. And that means you can maximize the cleansing effect of sweating inside the sauna.
Besides going for as little clothing as possible, we also recommend picking the least restricting sauna outfit. Choose clothes that are:
- Light
- Breathable
- Loose-fitting
Clothes made of natural fibers like cotton, bamboo, linen, and wool are better for sauna use.
How to Dress for Sauna Use—Proper Sauna Attire
How to dress for sauna sessions depends on a couple of things—the type of sauna you’re using, your sauna clothing preferences, and the etiquette of the sauna you’re visiting.
If you have a personal sauna, there are fewer rules when it comes to sauna clothes you need to follow. You can wear as little clothing as possible. On the other hand, using a public sauna may require following the proper sauna dress code. And that includes wearing something that gives you coverage and privacy.
With that in mind, below are some helpful choices on the best sauna wear.
A Towel or Robe
Whether you are going in the sauna naked or clothed, you may be required to bring a towel with you at all times. Now, a towel will also be a great option to wear inside the sauna. Towels will protect your privacy and the bench from sweat in a public sauna while allowing you to get the ultimate sauna experience from every session. You can wrap a towel around your chest or waist. Bringing a robe inside the sauna is also another option.
Our advice is to pick a cotton wrap or robe. Cotton is a fantastic material for sauna use. It’s great for absorbing sweat and keeping you comfortable inside the sauna.
Cotton Clothing
If you don’t think a towel as a cover is enough, you can wear clean clothes made of cotton inside the sauna. Cotton is an excellent material to wear inside the cabin with high temperatures and humidity. It doesn’t trap moisture and heat, letting your skin breathe and allowing your sweat to flow freely. Another suitable clothing option is one made of linen or a linen-cotton blend.
A loose-fitting or oversized t-shirt and shorts made of cotton are always comfortable to wear in the sauna.
Our advice is to avoid tight underwear or skip the undergarments altogether. Tight underwear, especially a bra, won’t be comfortable to wear inside the sauna with its high temperature and humidity.
Also, even with cotton clothing, you should still bring a towel. Sitting on a towel during the session will keep the bench clean and help you stay away from any germs or bacteria inside the sauna.
A Swimsuit
Swimsuits are a practical solution if you’re looking for suitable clothing for sauna use. They cover the essentials but leave as much skin bare to be exposed to the sauna heat. But choosing the right swimwear for sauna use is essential for your comfort and safety.
Make sure it’s 100% clean, and pick a bathing suit made of comfortable material. Choose swimwear constructed from natural fibers like cotton that fits loosely for breathability.
Also, skip wearing swimsuits with dangling or metal decorations and parts to prevent getting them hot in the sauna and burning your skin.
Flip Flops or Slippers
In terms of footwear in the sauna, you have two options. You can go barefoot, or if you have a thing about walking barefoot in a public sauna, you can wear an inexpensive pair of slippers.
Wearing a clean pair of light flip-flops or shower sandals will also protect you from the slippery floor and any bacteria that may be lurking in such a shared space.
Also, never wear the normal footwear you use outdoors when going inside the sauna. Filthy shoes could drag dirt and germs from the outside and transfer them into the sauna’s warm and wet atmosphere.
No Clothes
Going naked in the sauna is one of the best ways to fully experience the session’s benefits. In fact, in Finland, they have a long history of enjoying the sauna completely naked, even among strangers. Nudity inside the sauna is not a big deal at all. Having no shred of clothing clinging to your body while you sweat is the most comfortable. Your bare skin will get the full benefits of your sauna session.
But with all of that said, every public sauna is different. You should check if they have rules on sauna clothing before entering your local public sauna without any clothes on. If you’re comfortable going into a sauna in your birthday suit, and the public sauna rules allow it, you can give it a try.
What to Avoid Wearing in a Sauna?
Now that you know how to dress appropriately for a sauna session, let’s take a look at what to avoid wearing inside the sauna.
Jumping inside the sauna after a workout or a long commute might be tempting. But if there is something you must avoid bringing inside the sauna, your dirty clothes would be high on the list. Whether using the best barrel saunas or the best infrared saunas, avoid wearing sweaty, soiled clothing inside the sauna. The heat will loosen the dust and dirt in your clothes and release it into the air, spreading germs and possibly causing skin irritation and breakouts.
But that’s not all. There are other worse things to wear in the sauna, which you should avoid.
Tight-Fitted Clothing
Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes inside the sauna. Any tight-fitting outfit will be uncomfortable in the heat and humid environment. They won’t allow your skin to breathe or the hot sauna air to circulate.
In addition, too close-fitting garments can trap heat and moisture. And that will make your sauna session more unbearable as you start sweating. Plus, they may cause skin irritation and other dermatological problems.
Workout Clothing or Spandex
Another piece of clothing to avoid wearing inside the sauna are your workout clothes, especially those made of synthetic fibers like spandex. Clothes made of spandex and other PVC fabrics, like in most gym clothes, will not let your skin breathe. They retain too much heat, causing discomfort and keeping you from sweating properly.
Not to mention that they have the potential to soften or even melt at high temperatures.
Metal Jewelry or Piercings
Before going into the sauna, it’s important to remove all jewelry. Metallic jewelry can get quite hot inside the sauna, which is uncomfortable for your skin and could cause minor burns.
Smartwatch
It’s best to leave any electronic devices, including your smartwatch, outside the sauna. Smart devices are very sensitive to heat and may react badly at high temperatures inside the sauna. The high heat may drain the battery faster or cause your smartwatch to overheat or, worse, explode.
Creams and Lotions
Wearing creams and lotions inside the sauna is a no-no. They will clog your pores and prevent your skin from breathing and sweating properly. If you want to use creams, lotions, and oils, you better apply them after your sauna session, not before.
FAQs
Q: Should I go to the sauna with or without clothes?
A: Going into the sauna with our without clothes on is a matter of personal preference and the clothing guidelines of the sauna you’re visiting. If you’re using a personal sauna at home, you can opt to go nude, sitting on a towel. It will allow you to experience the heat of the sauna fully.
But for your local public sauna, it’s smart to check if they have appropriate attire guidelines.
Q: Can I shower before the sauna?
A: Taking a shower before entering the sauna is highly recommended and a common courtesy to other sauna users if you are using a public sauna. It will help cleanse your skin so you don’t bring any dirt and toxins into the sauna. Also, a shower prepares your skin with open pores and relaxes your muscles before a sauna session. This way, you can get the extent of home sauna benefits from every session.
Q: Can I go barefoot in a sauna?
A: It’s perfectly fine to go barefoot inside the sauna. It’s a far better option than wearing soiled footwear inside the sauna. Going barefoot in the sauna is encouraged to avoid bringing dirt and other contaminants from the soles of your shoes inside the warm and humid sauna environment.
Conclusion
Proper sauna clothing is necessary to get the most out of everything a sauna session has to offer. That said, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to choosing what to wear in a sauna.
Going nude is probably the best choice of all, but if you’re not comfortable wearing nothing in a public sauna, something light, breathable, and comfortable, like a towel, robe, or clothing made of cotton, is the best thing to wear. They will allow better airflow to your skin, allowing the sweat to flow freely while covering the private bits. All in all, the right sauna clothing allows you to get the best of what a sauna offers.
