What Should You Wear In An Infrared Sauna?

If you’re about to have your first infrared sauna session, you may be confused about what you should wear. Are you meant to be naked? Are there clothes that you shouldn’t wear? 

This guide will explain everything you need to know about what you should wear in an infrared sauna.

Should you wear clothes in an infrared sauna?

If you want to get the most out of an infrared sauna session then you really want as much direct skin contact as possible. Infrared saunas use infrared light to penetrate the skin, but this won’t work as well if you’re covered up.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be naked; the key is finding the right balance between comfort and exposing the most skin so you can see the best results.

What to wear in an infrared sauna

Here is some guidance about what you can and should wear in an infrared sauna.

Minimal clothing 

The general rule of thumb for attire in an infrared sauna is minimal clothing. Most users opt for a swimsuit, shorts, or a bikini. The goal is to allow your skin to come into direct contact with the infrared heat for maximum benefit.

A clean, dry towel

Placing a clean, dry towel on the bench or seat of the sauna is advisable. This helps maintain hygiene by preventing direct contact with your skin’s sweat and ensures a more comfortable session.

Barefoot or towel under feet

Saunas usually have wooden benches or floors. You can sit directly on the bench or place a clean towel under your feet to prevent slipping and maintain cleanliness.

Wear a sauna hat

One article of clothing that we definitely do recommend you wear is a sauna hat. While they may look a little bit silly, sauna hats provide insulation for your head. This insulation protects your scalp from overheating and protects your hair from damage.

The protection that a sauna hat provides allows you to stay comfortable and potentially even extend the length of your sessions.

Consider personal comfort

Ultimately, your choice of attire should prioritise personal comfort. Some users prefer to go entirely nude to maximise skin contact with the infrared heat. However, this is a matter of personal preference, and you should wear what makes you feel most comfortable.

What clothes to avoid

As we mentioned, the most important factor to boost the value of an infrared sauna is direct skin contact. So, you want to avoid any clothing that will cover too much of your body. This includes trousers, jumpers or shirts.

It’s also important to avoid any thick clothing that would inhibit the far infrared rays from penetrating the skin.

What about accessories?

It’s best to remove jewellery, watches, and accessories before entering the sauna. Metal can heat up quickly and become uncomfortable, and in some cases, it may even pose a burn risk.

Again, you want to avoid wearing any unnecessary clothing so accessories should really be avoided.

Can I take my phone into an infrared sauna?

We would caution against taking a phone into the infrared sauna with you. Similar to other accessories, a phone can be prone to overheating, which could result in damages.

Summary

The key to making the most out of your infrared sauna sessions is staying comfortable and ensuring as much of your skin is exposed. For these reasons, we typically recommend minimal clothing such as a bathing suit.

When you have an infrared sauna at home, you can wear whatever you want. So, if you’re interested in having your very own infrared sauna, then get in touch with Sun Stream Saunas today.