Showering after the sauna (and before): how to do it right
Showering after the sauna is just as much a part of it as showering beforehand – and yet many people wonder: when with shower gel, when just with water? Warm or cold? And how often, actually? Here you'll find the complete routine around the sauna round, with the reason for each step, the most common mistakes and tips for hair and skin. We have been running the Meri Sauna at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years; the routine below reflects what is customary in German saunas.
Contents12
- Showering before and after the sauna: the routine at a glance
- Before the first round: warm and thorough
- After each sauna round: cold shower instead of soap
- Showering after the sauna: the finish after the last round
- Warm or cold shower after the sauna?
- How long to shower?
- Washing your hair around the sauna
- Which shower gel for the sauna?
- The most common showering mistakes
- Showering with a home sauna
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Showering before and after the sauna: the routine at a glance
During a sauna visit you don't shower once but several times – each time for a different reason:
| When | How | Shower gel? | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before the first round | Warm, thorough, then dry off | Yes | Hygiene, removing deodorant and cream |
| After each round | Cold, from the feet upwards | No | Cooling down, rinsing off sweat |
| Before the plunge pool | Quick rinse | No | No sweat in the pool |
| Before the next round | Just dry off | No | Dry skin, dry towel |
| After the last round | Lukewarm to warm, then apply cream | Yes, shampoo if needed | Going home clean, skin care |
Before the first round: warm and thorough
Before the first sauna round, you shower warm and with shower gel. Showering before the sauna is compulsory in practically every facility, and for good reason: in the cabin you sit on wood together with others, and deodorant, perfume, make-up or body lotion have no place there.
- Shower warm and wash your whole body with shower gel.
- Rinse thoroughly so that no foam remains.
- Dry off well – go into the cabin with dry skin. Damp skin takes longer to start sweating, and your sauna towel gets unnecessarily wet.
No cream before the sauna: it stays on the skin as a film. Skin care comes at the end. Many people also take a warm foot bath before the first round if their feet are cold – not a must, but pleasant.
After each sauna round: cold shower instead of soap
After each round you cool down – in the fresh air, under a cold shower, with the hose or in the plunge pool. When showering after the sauna between rounds, you don't need shower gel. Water is enough to rinse off the sweat. Washing with shower gel after every round puts unnecessary strain on your skin.
- Fresh air first, then under the cold shower – that's customary in many saunas.
- From the bottom up: You usually guide the cold water from the feet over the legs and arms to the upper body, and the head last.
- Always shower before the plunge pool: A pool is not a washbasin; sweat doesn't belong in the water.
- Then dry off well and go to the relaxation area, drink water.
How the individual cooling stations work is explained in detail in Cooling down after a sauna session. With a light hammam towel, drying off is quick, and the towel is usually dry again by the next round.
Showering after the sauna: the finish after the last round
After the last round, the last cool-down and a rest, comes the second thorough shower. Timing matters: wait until you have stopped sweating. Otherwise you'll be damp again right after drying off.
- Shower lukewarm to warm with shower gel and rinse thoroughly.
- Wash your hair if you like – now is the right moment for shampoo.
- Dry off gently, patting rather than rubbing.
- Apply cream: face cream, hand cream, foot cream – whatever your skin needs.
- Get dressed calmly: Take your time so you don't slip into your clothes sweaty.
Which care product suits which moment is explained in Skin care before, during and after the sauna.
Warm or cold shower after the sauna?
When showering after the sauna, the right temperature depends on the moment. Between rounds you shower cold to cool down. Taking a hot shower straight after a sauna round is unusual – your body is already heated up. After the last cool-down and rest, you can finish with a lukewarm or warm shower, especially in winter, so you don't go home feeling cold. If you like, you can also end the last shower with a short cold splash.
If you have health questions, for example about circulation or blood pressure, check with a doctor beforehand which water temperatures are right for you.
How long to shower?
Showering before the sauna usually takes two to three minutes: lather up once completely, rinse thoroughly, done. The cold shower between rounds is even shorter – often 30 seconds to a minute is enough until you feel cooled down. When showering after the last sauna round, you can take more time, especially if you wash your hair. Very long hot showers tend to dry out the skin, though; lukewarm water is the more pleasant choice here.
Washing your hair around the sauna
Before the first round it's enough to wet your hair or tie it up dry. Shampoo and conditioner only come after the last round. Tie long hair loosely for the cabin or protect it with a towel or sauna hat. Tips on hairstyles and care can be found in Sauna with long hair.
Which shower gel for the sauna?
A mild shower gel that you can carry in your bag is ideal for the sauna. Many facilities provide soap, but not all. The vegan VEGAN FOX Shower Gel contains aloe vera, panthenol and betaine, and the 200 ml bottle fits nicely into a sauna bag. There are three scents:
- Grapefruit: fresh and citrusy.
- Linden blossom: gentle and floral.
- Red grape: fruity.
More about the scents in Which shower gel scent suits you? For face and hands after the last shower, you'll find more products in our VEGAN FOX care range.
The most common showering mistakes
- Entering the cabin wet: Don't forget to dry off.
- Into the plunge pool without showering: Rinse off the sweat first.
- Shower gel after every round: Water is enough in between.
- Cream before the sauna round: Skin care belongs at the end.
- Finishing your shower too early: If you're still sweating, you'll be damp again once dressed.
- A single wet towel for everything: One towel for the bench, one for drying off. Why is explained in our sauna etiquette.
Showering with a home sauna
The same principles apply in your own sauna, even if nobody is watching: showering beforehand protects the wood, because less skin oil and care residue soaks into the benches. Your normal bathroom shower is used for cooling down – put your towel and bathrobe out beforehand so you don't walk through the house wet. A quick-drying Hammam Towel Ocean (approx. 180 × 100 cm, approx. 400 g) is practical for this because, in our experience, it dries indoors in about 60 minutes.
Related reading: Cooling down after a sauna session: fresh air, shower, plunge pool · How much shower gel do you really need? · Sauna with long hair: hairstyles, protection and care
Conclusion
Thoroughly with shower gel before the first round, only cold water between rounds, a quick rinse before the plunge pool and a lukewarm to warm shower with cream after the last round: that keeps the sauna clean and doesn't put unnecessary strain on your skin. When showering after the sauna, it's worth waiting until you've stopped sweating – then you really go home fresh.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to shower before the sauna?
Yes. Showering before the first round is compulsory in practically every sauna – for hygiene and out of consideration for other guests.
Warm or cold after a sauna round?
Cold to cool down between rounds. After the last round and the rest, you can finish with a lukewarm or warm shower.
Do I need shower gel after every sauna round?
No. Water is enough between rounds. You only need shower gel before the first and after the last round.
When should I shower after the sauna?
After the last cool-down and a rest, once you have stopped sweating. Otherwise you'll be damp again right after drying off.
Do I need my own shower gel?
Many saunas provide soap, but not all. With your own shower gel you're on the safe side and have your favourite scent with you.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.