The Sauna Hat
Hats off to the sauna hat! Let's explore the style, the function and the meaning of this hattest of hats.
Occasionally you see someone sitting on the sauna benches wearing a funny-looking hat. It raises questions, eyebrows, maybe even a slight concern — what is that hat? Why wear it if you are already hot? And what is it made of? Are Finns even less sane than previously thought?
However, the sauna hat is not originally a very Finnish invention and is a relatively rare sight in what we like to think of as the main sauna country. Its roots are in fact in both the Slavic and Central European sauna traditions. Central Europeans made their hats from straw, which were then soaked before entering the sauna. Russians, on the other hand, used fur hats to protect their heads. The sauna hat is still common in Germany and Russia. In Finland, by contrast, it is used only by "hard-core" sauna enthusiasts who boil themselves in 120-degree saunas, throwing water on the rocks continuously.
So why is a sauna hat used?
Logically, one might imagine it would only make one feel even hotter. The truth, however, is the opposite. Heat rises upwards, and the head area is the hottest part of the sauna. The hat protects the head and ears from the heat and the moisture caused by the steam. The head area is the body's most heat-sensitive region, and when the hat keeps the head cooler, it also helps the rest of the body regulate temperature. In addition, it can reduce headaches, protect hair by keeping it moisturized, and protect against damage caused by heat and dryness. And that's not all: The hat also works for ice swimming and cold pool dips, keeping the head warm and thus regulating the temperature of the entire body. The key is just not to wet the hat, especially before soaking in a cold plunge.
Nowadays, sauna hats are mainly made of sheep or alpaca wool. Wool is dirt-repellent, so the hat does not need to be washed.
So what makes a good sauna hat?
- Breathable
- Heat-insulating
- Dirt-repellent
- No extra holes
- No plastic
- Fits comfortably
- Looks funny, cool, nice or all of them together
- Easy to care for (wool just needs to be aired out, not washed)
At Ærth, we have our own branded sauna hats in three different colours:
Green, Orange, Grey.
They can be purchased through our webshop, or on-site at our downtown Victoria location. Come look stylish with us, protect your head and your hair, and enjoy saunaing and humaning, hats on!
(man wearing sauna hat in a tastefully lit sauna)
