Why do people wear hats at the bathhouse?
The felt hat is an important accessory when steaming. The difference between
a steaming session with a hat and one without is immense. This is because the
head tends to heat up faster than the rest of the body, especially when a
person is sitting down or standing up in the parilka (steam room). This makes
it hard to raise your core temperature without feeling overheated. Felt is a
great insulator, meaning that it keeps the air inside of it at a constant
temperature. Most commonly is it used for insulating against the cold (in the
form of coats and boots) but it is equally as effective at insulating against
the heat! The air in the sauna may be up to 90 degrees Celsius, but a felt hat
will keep the air around your head at a comfortable temperature. So, the felt
hat comes to the rescue! It keeps the head dry and cool, and – this is for the
ladies – it prevents your hair being damaged by heat.