The best sauna hat

The “Best Sauna Hat” article focuses on what a high-quality and authentic sauna hat is like. It also tells how to use a sauna hat and what are its benefits.

After reading this article, you too want an authentic sauna hat!

Why use a sauna hat?

What is the point of using a sauna hat in a hot sauna?

Isn’t wearing a hat in a hot sauna the dumbest thing you can do?

Or have you already tried a sauna hat and know how great it is?

Was macht einen guten Saunahut aus — The best sauna hat

I also had my own doubts when I tried the sauna hat for the first time.

At first, I thought that using a sauna hat would make me feel too hot. However, the exact opposite happened. You can sit in the sauna much longer, and the heat does not burn your ears. I can’t help but recommend using a sauna hat!

The problem is where to find the perfect sauna hat. The stores are full of different sauna hats, but only a few meet the criteria for an authentic sauna hat.

For this article, I interviewed Ritva “Itu” Heino, a manufacturer of authentic sauna hats.

Read more: Sauna health benefits

The history of the sauna hat

The use of a sauna hat is an old Central European, especially German custom. In the past, a straw-made, wet hat was used to protect the head from the heat.

The use of a sauna hat disappeared from Central Europe when the spa culture raised its head.

The Russians also used fur and other hats to protect their head in the sauna.

The sauna hat has established its position in Russian sauna culture. In Germany, too, sauna hats are still sometimes used.

You can use the sauna hat in a hot tub, sauna or for ice swimming. The hat keeps body temperature even and reduces head sweating, and headaches after sauna. When used in a hot tub and while ice swimming, the sauna hat prevents heat from escaping through the head.

What is an authentic sauna hat like?

The best materials are sheep and alpaca wool. Wool does not require washing, airing is enough.

The hand-felted sauna hat is seamless, which prevents the growth of bacteria. Wool itself is antibacterial, i.e. dirt repellent. Be careful with embroidery, they are usually made using polyester thread, which a form of plastic.

Benefits of a sauna hat:

Protects your head from heat.
Protects your ears from heat.
Protects treated and coloured hair.
Keeps body temperature constant throughout the sauna session.
Enhances the absorption of conditioner or mask while protecting the hair.
Slows down the formation of split ends.

Attention:

Especially those who have heart or circulatory problems should use the right kind of sauna hat. If symptoms are severe, talk to your doctor. Using a hat may help relieve a headache after a sauna.

However, headaches are often a sign of dehydration. The headache may also be due to the inadequate ventilation of the sauna. The sauna hat naturally does not help with the lack of fresh air.

Small Sauna Hat Shop By Itu

Itu makes sauna hats with love under the trade name by itu. She designs, felts and knits her own sauna hats and other products in Finland. Itu products can also be ordered internationally.

I asked the sauna hat maker a few questions:

What does sauna mean to you?

A sauna is a place to relax.

How often do you enjoy the sauna?

On Christmas, Midsummer and Sauna Day. When I find a quiet moment. Sometimes there may be longer pauses between sauna visits.

Do you have sauna rituals?

Well, I don’t call them rituals, but the sauna experience starts when I heat up the sauna. The scents from the birch sauna whisk and the burning fire; they are already part of the enjoyment. I don’t take a sauna without a sauna hat if it can be called a ritual?

Where did you get the idea to make sauna hats?

I attended a wet felting course in the spring of 2013. I would have liked to try making felt slippers. It wasn’t possible, so I made a felt hat. I wrote down the steps in a notebook and I tried again at home.

I don’t remember where or how I heard about the sauna hat, but I did. Of course, the first one had to have something to do with a sauna whisk. That’s where it started.

What is the best thing about creating your own products?

Well, of course, the process of creating. In addition, the result is an eco-friendly, self-made sauna hat, especially since I hand felt it. Felting requires space, but you can knit almost anywhere, anytime.

What is the best thing about self-employment?

The best part is that I can decide everything myself. No need to compromise. Or wait for someone to do what needs to be done.

What else would you like to tell the buyer of a sauna hat?

Well, that a sauna hat makes sense – it’s Easy – Fun – Useful.

My hats are high-quality products, made out of the best materials:

Satu sauna hat hand felted from 100% domestic sheep wool.

Sauli sauna hat hand felted from 100% domestic alpaca wool.

Saga sauna hat hand-knitted and made of 100% linen.

I call them Authentic sauna hats, not because it sounds good, but because I use genuine and suitable sauna hat materials.

In addition, almost all the sauna hats I make are unique. You will surely recognize yours.

Material does matter

If you already have a sauna hat, check the material of your sauna hat.

The material plays the most important role in the functionality of the sauna hat. It must be breathable, heat-insulating and dirt-repellent in order to be called a sauna hat. If there is any material referring to plastic, then I would not use it. Plastic does not breathe.

Also, it should be clarified that cotton does not have sufficient properties for a sauna hat. It is a breathable material, but it does not have other properties required for a sauna hat.

I often see hats that are 100% to 30% made out of cotton mix and still called “sauna hats”. Of course, these can be used and are safer than “plastic-derived” materials, but I wouldn’t call them sauna hats.

If you are thinking about buying a sauna hat, you should know that not everything that says “sauna hat” on the label is a real sauna hat. Pay attention to the material.

Felt doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wool. Felt fabric and craft felt are 100% polyester (i.e. plastic) A “sauna hat” made from such a material can be a risk to its user. For example, if you have the heart or circulatory problems mentioned earlier in the text.

The sauna hat must be 100% wool felt. There are also sauna hats that are made out of “artificial felt”, I wouldn’t touch those either.

And if you still think “I really do not need a sauna hat”, you do not need to get one. However, I recommend giving them a chance. You can just take it off if you don’t like it.

Personally, I only realized the importance of a sauna hat when I had to take a sauna without one.

There are more than 60 different sauna hat models in the by itu sauna hat shop, 22 of which Itu developed last year. This year’s novelty model is called “Damn Good Steam”.