Dare to Bare in a natural sauna?

Mobile saunas in the UK are increasing in number and diversifying in style and culture. Some lean towards offering a few traditional ‘textile-free’ bathing sessions, which are the norm across much of the sauna-loving belt in continental Europe. In Scandinavian countries – like Finland where majority of homes have a sauna – wearing only your birthday suit is usual within private same sex sauna settings. Though in mixed groups, sometimes swimwear is preferred. Sauna bathing is different in different countries, regions and homes. It’s complicated, but also simple.

A sauna sitting only on a towel with nothing between you and the steam is a wonderful thing – normalising our bodies, resetting our nervous systems – it’s not sexy, or glamorous, but it’s also not strange either, just natural. As we evolve our sauna culture in the UK, it’s good for us at Cedar Hus to reflect on what feels right for us, our team, and our guests. Change is good, and maybe we should consider this as we respond to the ongoing conversation in the newspapers and even the Jeremy Vine show (listen again at around 1.32pm on 25^th March 2026) – well done to Jesse Inferno of The Sauna Corner for standing up for pure, or “true sauna” as she terms it, and not making a natural sauna into something weird when it is not.

An article in The Times (Are Brits warming up to the naked sauna? Claire Cohen, March 21^st 2026) prompted us at Cedar Hus to question whether we should stick to the swimsuit-only sauna bathing model we started with at Cedar Hus. Maybe we are suppressing a latent curiosity some of our guests have to experience the freedom of other bathing cultures by imposing this bashful layer of Britishness? Maybe we are taking the easy route out by offering swimwear only sessions – though we took this decision to respect our hosts, our guests and other people using the spaces we are in.

But with a mobile sauna, perhaps in some places, at some clearly defined times, we could run sessions as a ‘Pure Sauna’ and the guests can choose whether to wear or bare inside the sauna, covering up as they exit the sauna. Perhaps we can find a way to diversify our offer and provide an abundance of bathing experiences rather than primly dictate at the outset the ‘right’ way to sauna bathe here in Scotland.

So we thought we should ask our followers what they thought. We did a brief poll on our Cedar Hus Borders Instagram as a story. The results are in and here’s how people responded:

Would you try a clothing optional sauna session?
30% – Yes I’m all in!
11% – I’d maybe give it a try
59% – I’m too British, I’d prefer to stay covered up

So, over a third of respondents were up for it, maybe. Based on this, we are listening and we are going to test how we can offer this experience in a confident, comfortable way that works for us, our guests and our neighbours.

This is a recognition that for some people, the best and in fact only way to sauna is in our natural state. Bodies should be free to be, and as the vehicles that take us through life, we should listen to our bodies and look after them as well as we can, and cherish them. Sauna helps with all of this, leaving us glowing and relaxed. Some want to sauna without a plastic swimsuit on – some cultures believe this is actually unhygienic which is why ‘textile-free’ is the norm in much Germany and Austria. We believe our sauna is up there with the best of them, and we want to elevate and diversify our sauna bathing experiences, but we recognise we can only do this when the location and timing is right.

Most people want to keep on their costumes – and most sessions will require this

For many sitting on the fence about natural sauna bathing, or absolutely not interested in taking off their bathing suit at any time – that is totally fine – we hear you. The majority of our sauna sessions will continue to require swimwear, and it will be clear at the time of booking.

For those ‘all in’ or considering a clothing-optional sauna:

Book a DIY private session, where the host will greet you at the beginning and see you off at the end. During the session, you will be responsible for adding a log to the stove if required, and it is up to you what you choose to wear in the sauna. As usual, sit on a towel and please cover up as you leave the sauna.
We are trialling some Clothing Optional social sauna sessions too, along the same lines. If you’re interested you can book here.
Please get in touch if you want to discuss this further – it’s an evolving discussion and we are learning as we go – sauna@cedarhus.co.uk