What if you’re new to this?

Here's a few sauna dos and don'ts to get you started on the right track:

Do: pick your seat carefully

Heat rises, so those benches are reserved for those who really crave the heat.

Do: close the door

Leaving it open sends all that precious heat and steam billowing out of the room.

Don’t: make it a competition

According to Scott, many guys try and prove their toughness by staying in as long as possible or trying to outlast their friends in the sauna. First off—this goes against the chief principle of sauna-ing: relaxing and letting go. But more importantly, it’s unsafe. 

Do: drink lots of water

Because the steam prevents sweat from evaporating, you're losing fluid but not cooling down, so it’s easy to become dehydrated. And nobody looks tough when they're dehydrated or passed out.

Don't: limber up inside

Light stretching overhead is fine, but floor-quaking calisthenics distract other people in the sauna, and slippery floors can make it a dangerous game.

Do: ask questions

Saunas are part of a tradition that could stretch back to the Native American sweatlodge, the Finnish lake-side sauna, and the Russian banya. People feel culturally connected to the practice and are usually happy to explain it to newcomers. So if, for example, you’re intrigued by the sight of a platza treatment—in which one person ‘smacks’ or bathes another with a bushel of eucalyptus—ask somebody about it (preferably not those busy with their platza treatments.) You’ll likely get an answer; you might get a cultural lesson; and perhaps you’ll even even a platza treatment.

What are the benefits of a sauna?

We’ve already discussed how sharing a small space with others can be awkward—especially if you’re naked! However, saunas are great for you. Among the benefits of saunas are muscle relaxation and pain relief. They can also support your weight-loss journey, as the heat stimulates the lymphatic system and promotes drainage. So, there’s really no reason not to give it a try! Whether you prefer an infrared sauna or a more complete spa experience, we've got you covered.

What to wear

Or not wear, as the case may be...

Don’t: be nervous about being naked

No one at a nude sauna is looking at your body—seriously. Scott adds that it’s important to remember that sense of comfort and liberation you can feel from shedding your clothes is proportional to the comfort you allow others. Don't stare—there's nothing you haven't seen before, and there are too few spaces in the world where we can feel free of shame and judgment.

Nudity might not be expected, anyway. Every sauna is different, so to maximize steam room etiquette, take a peek at what others are doing and follow suit (or birthday suit, as the case may be).

Do: grab a sauna towel

Even if you're nude, you should have a towel on hand for sanitary sitting. Expect some pronounced frowns if you come in wearing street clothes or athletic wear (or, especially, shoes), which bring outside cooties into the warm, humid haven.

Don't: even think about swimsuits

First, the man-made textiles trap heat and moisture, negating that pore-opening catharsis so many crave. Second, no one wants to relax in a cloud of atomized chlorine. And third, the moist heat can actually leach dyes from the suit, leading to some party-colored pores.

Do: take a shower

The number one best thing you can wear in a sauna is clean, freshly sudsed skin. Some places, such as King Spa, enforce this rule with shower-supervising attendants, and with signs that encourage you to snitch on soap-skipping guests. Other saunas expect guests already know the score.

Don’t: wear metal jewelry or hooks

Ouch.

What to say

The getting naked is awkward. The small talk doesn't have to be.

Do: feel free to talk … within reason

From the Hollywood screen to multi-lingual bathhouses, saunas have always been seen as a place for banter, bonding, and even making power-deals.

That said, it’s best to read the room. It might be less appropriate to talk loudly and openly in the spa-sauna, for instance, than the Turkish bathhouse. And regardless of where you are, remember that there are limits to sauna etiquette. Cursing and colorful language? Sure, go ahead, if the vibe calls for it. But remember this—being buck-naked with a bunch of strangers doesn’t mean they’re automatically cool with hearing about your exaggerated sexual conquests or questionable views of women.

Do: use the right terminology.

Sauna, originally a Finnish word, can refer to a room with wet or dry heat. Conventional saunas warm the air, while infrared saunas heat objects and surfaces, allowing the heat to emanate from those panels. Steam rooms, by definition, always use wet heat.

If you need to escape the heat

Because hours of endless humidity isn't for everyone...

Do: book a massage or facial

Many, though not all, nude saunas offer spa-like amenities. King Spa offers massages, facials, and even V-Steams, but Rebecca didn't know that at first. "So I turned the corner, already anxious, naked save for a one-square-foot washcloth—and nearly collided with a grandma in a Michael Myers sheet mask. It was all I could do to not shriek." Rebecca had been nervous about the experience already, what with the washcloth square and all. "But after that? Nothing could freak me out."

Do: try the cold pool

Use it! Why not? There's no etiquette rule that says you have to take a chilly dip, but adherents of the centuries-old, gasp-inducing tradition report feeling detoxified and reinvigorated after a quick dive. After heating the whole body with hundred-degree toastiness, spa-goers leap into the heart-stopping water, then repeat.