Sauna Hat vs Towel: Which Is Better for Your Head?

In a German sauna, your towel already has a job before you even think about your head: it has to cover the bench under your whole body, because the rule is no sweat on the wood. The German health magazine Apotheken Umschau even advises packing a towel big enough for your entire body to fit on. So the towel turban is really a second towel. Here is how it compares with a sauna hat, and what people in Finland, Germany and Russia actually do.

Key takeaways

1. A towel turban works, with a few catches.
2. The bench towel always comes first.
3. Hygiene favors keeping head and bench separate.
4. Wool and cotton feel different in the heat.
5. Finns, Germans and Russians each do it their own way.
6. Pick by how often and how hot you sauna.

1. A towel turban works, with a few catches

Wrapping a towel around your head is the classic improvised sauna hat, and it has real upsides. You probably own one already, it costs nothing extra, and it can hold long hair out of the way. Terry cloth, the looped fabric of most bath towels, is defined by Merriam-Webster as an absorbent fabric with uncut loops, so it soaks up sweat well. The catches show up once the round gets going:

• A turban needs constant tucking and tends to slip when you lean back against the wall.
• A full size towel is bulky on the head. A smaller hand towel often does not reach around and over the ears.
• Once it has soaked up sweat and steam, it gets heavy and stays wet.

For an occasional visit, none of this is a big deal. For regular rounds, it gets old fast.

2. The bench towel always comes first

Whatever you do with your head, the towel under your body is not optional in most European saunas. In Germany, Apotheken Umschau quotes Olaf Wimmer, a sauna master and trainer for the German Sauna Association, on the basics: swimwear is generally not worn for hygiene reasons, and sweat does not belong on the wood. Anyone who feels uncomfortable can wrap a towel around themselves. In Finland, the Helsinki city guide MyHelsinki points visitors to the disposable seat covers that public saunas provide, or suggests bringing a reusable linen one. What this means in practice:

• Your sauna bag needs one large towel for the bench and one for drying off after the shower.
• A towel turban adds a third towel, or forces you to use one towel for two jobs.
• A hat takes up almost no space in the bag and leaves both towels free.

3. Hygiene favors keeping head and bench separate

The bench towel collects sweat from your back and legs and sits on wood that many people have used before you. It makes sense not to wrap that same towel around your head afterward, or to sit on the towel that was just on your head. Keeping one item for the head and another for the bench is the simple fix. Cleaning works differently for each. Cotton towels go into the washing machine after every visit, which is easy. A wool hat needs less washing: the Woolmark Company notes that wool is naturally resistant to odors and stains. After a visit, airing it out is usually enough, and when it does need a wash, a few minutes in cold water with wool detergent do the job. Our guide on how to wash a wool sauna hat has the details. Either way, keep your hat and towels to yourself and do not share them.

4. Wool and cotton feel different in the heat

Both a towel and a hat put a layer between your head and the hottest air near the ceiling. How that layer behaves is where they differ. According to Woolmark, wool can absorb up to 35 percent of its weight in moisture before it feels wet, so a wool hat stays comfortable as it slowly takes up sweat and steam. A cotton towel absorbs liquid fast and then simply feels wet, and a wet towel lies heavier on your head. Fit is the other difference. A hat sits in one place and covers the ears without any tucking. The frihed. Original adapts to your head through two folds in the brim, and the Pro adds a sewn brim that covers forehead and eyes, which is handy during the steam of an Aufguss. Neither a towel nor a hat has been shown in studies to have health effects. This is about comfort.

5. Finns, Germans and Russians each do it their own way

There is no single European standard, and that is part of the fun:

• Russia: in the banya, felt hats are part of the ritual. The Moscow Times describes bathers putting on felt hats before they start, meant to protect them from the extreme heat, followed by a session with veniki, bundles of leafy branches.
• Finland: sauna hats come in many designs and have become part of the sauna market, according to ThisisFINLAND, a magazine produced by Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs. They are a choice, not a rule. MyHelsinki's etiquette tips do not mention hats at all.
• Germany: the strict rules are about the bench towel and leaving swimwear outside the cabin. What you wear on your head is up to you.

For the full picture of the German rules, read our guide to German sauna etiquette.

6. Pick by how often and how hot you sauna

A towel turban is perfectly fine if you go a few times a year, prefer milder saunas and do not want to buy anything. A hat starts to make sense when sauna becomes a habit. Some honest pointers:

• Occasional visits, lower benches: a towel will do.
• Weekly rounds, top bench, steam ceremonies: a hat is simply more comfortable and stays in place.
• Long hair: both work. Twist the hair into a loose knot and tuck it under, or choose the roomier Pro.
• Travel: a flat wool hat fits in a coat pocket, a third towel does not.

Our founder solved the problem for himself by sewing a hat to protect his head from the heat. That hat is where frihed. began.

FAQ

Can I wear a towel on my head in the sauna?

Yes. A towel wrapped around your head is a common alternative to a sauna hat. Just make sure it is a separate towel from the one you sit or lie on.

Is it OK to wear a hat in a German sauna?

Yes. The strict rules in German saunas are about putting a towel under your whole body and not wearing swimwear in the cabin. Head coverings are up to you, and if you are unsure about a specific venue, ask the staff.

Do Finns wear sauna hats?

Some do. Sauna hats come in many designs in Finland and are part of the sauna market there, but they are a personal choice rather than a rule.

Ready to swap the turban for a hat? Try the Original in Forest, one of six colors. And if you want to know what a hat can and cannot do, read Do sauna hats actually work?