Avoid wearing shoes in the sauna. Not only are they going to trek in outside dirt, but it's also considered rude, especially if you place them directly on the bench. By all means, wear shower shoes around the spa area to avoid slipping on the tiles, but leave those shoes outside the sauna door!
Flip-Flops or Shower Sandals. Although some people prefer not to wear footwear when in the sauna, it's not a good idea to do so. That's because saunas' floors are full of germs in most cases. Therefore, wearing a pair of shower sandals or flip-flops in the sauna can provide considerable protection.
In public saunas, check the rules. Some places may encourage footwear for hygiene reasons, while others prefer barefoot. At home, it's your call. Some people love the freedom of bare feet, while others prefer lightweight shower sandals, sliders, or flip-flops.
Typically, sauna-goers are encouraged to wear minimal clothing, such as a bathing suit or towel, to allow the skin to breathe and sweat freely, facilitating the body's natural cooling process. Wearing natural fibers like cotton can be more comfortable and less irritating to the skin compared to synthetic materials.
Make sure to bring flip-flops with you, and wear them the moment you pull off your gym socks. They should be worn when walking to and from the pool and even in the sauna and shower. Carpeted areas in a locker room are also never completely free from the risks of Athlete's Foot.
Shower Before You Enter
Not only is this hygienic—rinsing off sweat, body oils, and any cosmetics—it also preconditions your body for the heat. Don't: Use heavy soaps or fragrances before entering. The hot air intensifies smells, and you don't want to overwhelm your fellow sauna-goers with a potent scent.
The short answer is that it's generally not recommended to bring your phone into a sauna. The high temperatures and humidity levels can cause damage to your phone's internal components, and the risk of overheating or even explosion is not worth the convenience of having your phone with you.
Cold showers after sauna sessions enhance blood circulation, reduce muscle soreness, and support muscle recovery by alternating between hot and cold temperatures.
Wear a sauna hat to reduce the heat exposure to your hair
By keeping your hair in a good quality sauna hat, you can reduce its exposure to the high temperatures. If you don't have a hat available, a towel will do the trick too.
Footwear: Socks and sneakers are not allowed in the sauna as they can track dirt and other contaminants in from outside. Additionally, heat and moisture inside the sauna create a breeding ground for bacteria.
You should always wear swimwear or wrap a towel around your body. Never enter the sauna nude, as this is considered disrespectful in a public gym sauna. It is also important to remember that hygiene is key - avoid wearing sweaty clothing and never wear anything made of synthetic fibers like nylon or polyester.
You might be a few pounds lighter after sitting in a sauna, but it's probably because you lost some water weight. There's not much research about whether regular sauna sessions can lead to long-term weight loss. But it might help weight loss in a few small ways.
While it's generally best to go barefoot, there are a few situations where wearing socks in a sauna might be acceptable: Foot conditions: If you have a foot condition that requires protection or if you're particularly concerned about foot hygiene in public saunas, you might consider wearing thin, breathable socks.
Don't swim with or otherwise submerge your AirPods. Don't put AirPods in the washing machine or dryer. Don't wear AirPods in a sauna or steam room. Don't expose AirPods to high-velocity water, such as while water skiing.
A 2019 study revealed that four 10-minute sauna sessions, interspersed with 5-minute cooldowns, led to a loss of 0.65 kg, primarily from water loss. An average of 73-134 calories burned in the sauna for 10 minutes was recorded, totaling a minimum of around 200 calories burned in an infrared sauna over 30 minutes.
After the end of the sauna session, you should not clean yourself with shower gel or soap, just apply some lotion.
Regardless of whether you use a bathing suit or not, you need a towel in the sauna. Basically, if you do not want PVC fabrics on your skin while you enjoy the heat, the towel is all you need. Otherwise, you can wear a swimsuit, but also use the soft towel to put on a bench before sitting.
In general, the best clothing to wear in the sauna (after nothing at all!) is loose, cotton clothing, whether a towel, swimsuit, or t-shirt. Cotton clothing is ideal for allowing your body to sweat properly.
Sauna benefits may include easing pain, reducing stress, and improving cardiovascular health. Sweating has long been used as a therapy. The Mayans used sweat houses 3,000 years ago, according to Harvard Health Publications. In Finland, saunas have been used for thousands of years, and 1 in 3 Finns still use them.
Contraindications to sauna bathing include unstable angina pectoris, recent myocardial infarction, and severe aortic stenosis. Sauna bathing is safe, however, for most people with coronary heart disease with stable angina pectoris or old myocardial infarction.
Traditional sauna hats are most commonly made of wool felt, which is a well-suited material to be used in the sauna. Wool has antibacterial properties and is more resistant to dirt, moisture and smell in comparison to many other textiles. Alpaca and sheep wool are often used for the felted sauna hats.