Sauna towel with or without fringes? Pros and cons in everyday use
A sauna towel with fringes instantly looks like holidays and hammam – a towel with a smooth hem, on the other hand, looks plain and sporty. But fringes are more than decoration: they have a function, bring small pros and cons in everyday use and need a little attention when washing. Here you will find out what fringes are for, how they perform in the sauna and which towel is the better choice for whom.
Contents10
- Why do towels have fringes at all?
- Sauna towel with fringes or with a hem: the comparison
- Advantages of fringes in everyday sauna use
- Disadvantages – honestly considered
- Fringes in practice: cabin, relaxation room, bag
- Quick care guide for fringed towels
- Our towels with fringes at a glance
- Which towel suits whom?
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Why do towels have fringes at all?
When weaving, the lengthwise threads, called warp threads, run along the entire length of the towel. At the beginning and the end these threads have to be secured, otherwise the weave gradually comes apart. There are two ways to do this:
- Hem: the edge is folded over and sewn. This is common with classic terry sauna towels.
- Fringes: the protruding warp threads are twisted into bundles and knotted. This is the traditional solution for flat-woven hammam towels.
So fringes are not simply sewn on but are part of the weave. On many hammam towels they are knotted by hand. We explain how this works on traditional looms in our article on how hammam towels are made.
By the way: whether a towel has fringes says nothing about its absorbency. That depends on the weave – flat-woven cotton behaves differently from terry with its loops. Fringes or hem is therefore mainly a question of looks and care.
Sauna towel with fringes or with a hem: the comparison
| With fringes | With hem (no fringes) | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | handcrafted, Mediterranean, playful | plain, sporty, classic |
| Typical for | hammam towels, peshtemal | terry sauna towels, bath towels |
| Care | fringes can tangle in the wash, shake out briefly after washing | uncomplicated |
| In the bag | fringes can catch on zips | nothing special |
| In the cabin | fringes hang over the edge of the bench, the usable area is what counts | whole area usable |
| Recognisability | coloured fringes stand out | plain edge, rather inconspicuous |
Advantages of fringes in everyday sauna use
- Character: a sauna towel with fringes looks high-quality and handmade. Many people like exactly this look, partly because it reminds them of holidays.
- Identification: fringes in a contrasting colour help you find your towel quickly on the hook or lounger.
- Versatility: hammam towels with fringes also look good as a beach towel, scarf or sofa throw. One towel for sauna, beach and home saves space in the cupboard.
- No hard edge: instead of a thick sewn hem, the towels end softly. Some people find this pleasant when wrapping up.
Disadvantages – honestly considered
- Tangling: in the washing machine fringes can twist or get caught on other items.
- A little more care: after washing it is worth briefly shaking out the fringes and smoothing them before the towel dries.
- Catching: individual threads can catch on Velcro, zips or hooks.
- Size information: with a fringed sauna towel you should check whether the stated length is measured with or without fringes. Only the woven fabric counts for the lying surface.
None of these points is a real problem once you know about it. But if you want a towel that comes out of the machine without any extra handling, a hemmed towel is more relaxed.
Fringes in practice: cabin, relaxation room, bag
In the cabin, lay a fringed sauna towel so that the fringes hang over the edge of the bench at the ends or lie under your feet. They don't bother anyone there as long as your body lies completely on the fabric. On the lounger in the relaxation room, the fringes usually hang down at the foot end. With the StayOn, the pocket sits on the backrest, so the towel stays neatly in place.
In the sauna bag a simple trick helps: fold or roll the towel so that the fringes are on the inside. That way they don't catch on the zip and arrive neatly. When hanging it up, place the towel over the hook in the middle instead of hanging it by the fringes – otherwise individual knots are put under unnecessary strain.
Quick care guide for fringed towels
We cover the topic in detail, including detangling and re-knotting, in our article on fringe care. For everyday use these basic rules are enough:
- Follow the care label: according to the care instructions, our hammam towels such as Ocean, ADRIA, MAHINA and SULTAN are washed at 30 °C without fabric softener.
- Use a laundry bag: a large laundry bag prevents the fringes from catching on other items.
- Shake out: shake the towel out vigorously straight after washing and smooth the fringes into shape with your fingers.
- Air dry: air drying is recommended for our hammam towels. According to the care instructions, the DOTWAVE sauna towel XL may go in the dryer at a low temperature.
- Don't pull: don't tear off loose threads. A knot that has come undone can be re-tied.
Our towels with fringes at a glance
At BeachAndSteam most towels have fringes because they are traditionally woven. These details are documented in the product descriptions:
| Towel | Size | Fringes |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean hammam towel | 180 × 100 cm | coloured fringes, colourful threads in the weave |
| MAHINA hammam towel | 180 × 100 cm without fringes | grey fringes |
| SULTAN hammam towel | approx. 180 × 100 cm | hand-knotted |
| Ocean StayOn hammam towel | 200 × 70 cm | hand-knotted |
| DOTWAVE sauna towel XL | 175 × 90 cm | fine, decorative fringes |
For the MAHINA, the size is explicitly given without fringes – so the lying surface is a full 180 × 100 cm. At approx. 900–950 g, the DOTWAVE is the heavy, dense option among our fringed sauna towels.
Which towel suits whom?
- Sauna towel with fringes if you value looks, want to use the towel at the beach or at home too and don't mind two minutes of care after washing.
- Hemmed towel if you like things as uncomplicated as possible, often use the dryer and only use the towel in the sauna.
- Combine both if you don't want to commit: a dense towel for the cabin and a light hammam towel with fringes for the relaxation room and drying off.
Related reading: Caring for Hammam Towel Fringes: Washing, Detangling, Re-Knotting · How hammam towels are made: from yarn and loom to fringe · Washing a sauna towel: temperature, sweat odour and drying it properly
Conclusion
Fringes secure the warp threads and make a sauna towel an eye-catcher. In everyday sauna use they bring hardly any disadvantages, but need a quick bit of attention after washing. A sauna towel with fringes suits you if you want a versatile, handcrafted-looking towel. If you want maximum ease of care, choose a hemmed towel. With both, pay attention to the length – and with fringed towels, to whether it is measured with or without fringes.
Frequently asked questions
Are fringes unhygienic in the sauna?
No. Fringes are made of the same yarn as the towel and are washed with it. As with every sauna towel, the important thing is that you lie completely on the fabric.
Can fringes get damaged in the wash?
They can tangle. A laundry bag and a quick shake after washing help. A knot that has come undone can be re-tied.
Do the fringes count towards the length of the towel?
That depends on the manufacturer. Check the product description to see whether the size is given with or without fringes. For the MAHINA hammam towel it is 180 × 100 cm without fringes.
Can a sauna towel with fringes go in the dryer?
That is stated in the care instructions. Air drying is recommended for our hammam towels; the DOTWAVE sauna towel XL is suitable for the dryer at a low temperature.
Can I cut off the fringes?
We advise against it. The fringes secure the warp threads. Without them, the weave can come apart at the ends.
Do fringes change over time?
After the first few washes, fringes usually fall a little softer and looser. If you shake out your fringed sauna towel after washing and wash it gently at the stated temperature, you will usually enjoy it for a long time.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.