The S.P.A. x HG sauna hats are finally here

Plus: Courtney's do's and don't's for sauna maxxing 🧖‍♀️

Feb 04, 2026

The S.P.A. x Health Gossip sauna hats are now LIVE. This collaboration naturally rose out of our event at Crystal Spa last fall, and the hats are as practical as they are cute. 100% felt, embroidered in Los Angeles, and in a very limited run of 15…so grab one while you can! (1 per person, please.)

For those of you who are curious about sauna hats, or unsure if you need one, I spoke to S.P.A.’s Courtney Wittich — fresh off the Great Northern Festival Sauna Village in Minneapolis — for her take (and then some). Enjoy!

Courtney Wittich on Sauna Hats & Best Practices

Courtney Wittich is a Los Angeles-based thermal journalist, sauna sommelier, water gourmand, and bathing connoisseur who is distilling all of her thoughts on S.P.A. (salus per aquam,“health through water”).

To start, what are the benefits of wearing a sauna hat?

There are two main benefits: 1. One more layer of protection for your head, allowing you to stay in the sauna longer without overheating, and 2. Adding a protective layer for your hair against heat damage, dryness, and stress.

At what temperature do you usually recommend wearing one?

Traditional saunas generally sit between 150-200 degrees Fahrenheit (infrared is less — and, in my opinion, it’s more effective to refer to them as an “infrared cabin”). If you have brittle, dry, or dyed hair, you can likely see benefit from any temperature. Other factors to consider are: is the stove electric or wood powered? Is there steam from water being thrown on the rocks? How often are you sweating? What is your natural hair quality? If you want to look cute, you should always wear one :)

How often do you personally wear a sauna hat?

I wear my hat when I know it’s going to be intense and generally bring them for vibes anyway. Russian-style banyas get HOT and a hat is essential. Lately, I’ve been attending sauna conferences where my sauna time is 3+ hours a day with lots of rest and recovery in between, but still! That’s a lot of dehydration and heat! If I forget my hat and need a little extra protection in a pinch, I try to add some conditioner and wrap it in a towel. Wool (woven or felted) is my go-to choice.

Are there any other protective measures that people can take when enduring an XL sauna sesh?

A new fact I learned this weekend is that wet or damp hair is generally less vulnerable to drying damage but compared to dry hair, it is more fragile and prone to breakage. I’m obsessed with the Saint Lucie Sauna Serum — it’s natural, oil-based and great for lymphatic drainage + hair protection against heat and moisture loss (plus the scent is just enough to infuse some intention into the act of application yet doesn’t overwhelm the senses).1

Heat plus plastic/chemicals is bad for us. Sauna is a high-heat experience where your pores open up and you breathe deeper and more intensely (it’s like a light cardio workout), so paying attention to what I’m wearing, drinking, and soaking in is important. A fresh water rinse is so essential to get off any lingering chlorine — it’s a huge no-no to go from a chlorinated pool or hot tub into high heat.

If I were a man trying to start or grow a family, I’d be prioritizing cotton boxers and maybe icing my balls with a cold pack & cotton towel in peak performance weeks.

Currently, I’m leaning into functional sauna wear and a bit of fun. Brands I’ve been trialing include:

Saunamekko: 100% merino wool, I just heat tested their vintage-style bath suit, so cute.
Downtown Betty: 95% cotton with a bit of stretch — fabrics feel thick and supportive, plus fun colors and cuts.
Saade: markets as a sauna swimsuit, made of mostly plant fiber lyocell (88%) and elastane (12%). Super thin and breathable with a very timeless low back design, making for the easiest one-piece for sauna, swim, or surf.
Ruby Ray & Suay for recycled towel and terry cloth pieces to chill in between rounds of hot and cold.

Saunamekko Merino Wool Sauna Bathing Suit

100% cotton is my go to if I need to be clothed — Turkish towels, spa towel, Brandy Melville, Hardtail…I’d like to get some of the Hommegirls x Fruit of the Loom sports bra and boyshort sets.

And LOTS of WATER!!! Sometimes with a sprinkle of salt or other botanicals — Sauna Water recently blew my mind. Nordic and Superior Coast are tied for my favorite.

Besides the S.P.A. x HG hats, what are some of your other sauna hat grails?

I love our collab <3 and got to wear her for the first time at the Great Northern Festival Sauna Village in Minneapolis — a really sweet new memory in a city dedicated to melting ice. I’ve found a few Etsy master felters in Eastern Europe with designs perfect bluebell flower, clouds, and even antlers. I’ve been playing around with cyanotype printing with dried flowers and plant clippings and (soon) dip dying some SPA hats.

If you’re ready to spend, Bondon makes BEAUTIFUL sauna hats of fine fabrics that can flow from the outside world into the sauna without looking theatrical.

I’d like to see a wool and mulberry silk bonnet in this space for textured hair soon.