Back in the days when I started dating my husband-to-be and visiting him in Edinburgh, I was pleasantly surprised to see so many saunas around even in a slightly shabby looking part of the town. But why did the fronts have so many pictures of naked women in high heels? And what an earth did a palm tree have to do with a sauna?
For a Finn it’s sometimes difficult to figure how saunas are understood in other cultures. Here every block of flats has one where families go (in turns!) to wash and unwind. Being naked is not a big deal – you have to get naked for a bath or shower too don’t you (Apart from in Britain evidently. In the gym I use when we’re over there a big poster in the shower room tells the gym users “Please remain clothed at all times.”)?
Sex is really nothing to do with sauna itself. But what happens after is different matter – statistically the time when most people in Finland have sex is at Saturdays after the sauna when everyone is squeeky clean and the kids finally in bed.
So just in case, here’s five tips for DIY beauty treatments you can use in sauna, shower or bath. The rest is up to you!
1. Oat bundle.
All you need is a piece of cheese cloth and couple of tablespoons of rolled oats. Pop the oats on the cloth, tie into a bundle and rub all over your body while in the sauna.
2. Sugar rub.
Rub that sweet, dark sugar on your skin to make it super smooth and sexy!
3. Green temptress.
Avocados are good to eat but they’re good for your face too. Smooth ripe avocado fruit onto your face. After a few minutes, rinse and get fruity!
4. Beer on your hair.
Using beer as a hair mask gives extra shine and health to your luxurious locks. Apply before stepping into your sauna or bath, rinse off and wash normally. But what are you going to do with the rest of that cold, refreshing beer? Hmm…
5. Coconutty skin.
After washing, soften your skin with virgin coconut oil – just use it like a moisturizer. The downside is that it takes awhile for the oil to absorb properly. Better light some bedside candles to keep warm!
Image courtesy of Flickr’s The Commons