There is a growing trend towards Korean spas and Korean beauty but before you go to a Korean spa thinking it is just another pampering experience, be forewarned: it isn’t. These spas are modeled after the traditional bathhouses in Korea where people used to scrub themselves until their skin was red. The idea was that they were cleaning themselves so thoroughly that they would not need to go back for two weeks or so. In some time periods, this was the only option.
What to Expect at a Korean Spa
Today you will go through a somewhat relaxing experience if you can handle getting naked in front of other people. You will get to plunge into and enjoy the freezing cold pools as well as the steaming hot ones. This will help your body get rid of many toxins.
You also get a chance to enjoy a wet sauna but be aware that the temperatures are exceedingly hot. Do not go if your health will not permit it. Also, try not to wear any makeup or do your hair before going to a Korean spa. It will wilt, wear off or smudge. However, most spas offer you a shower after your spa experience and will accommodate you with a set of pajama-like clothing to wear after you are done.
Some spas also offer blow dryers and hair brushes. You can freshen your hair up and even apply makeup once you are done if you like. And, you might like to do this because many traditional spas offer a restaurant right inside for patrons to feast on delicious cooked meats and other delights following a spa session.
As for the saunas, check with the spa before you go. Usually, there is a maximum of 15 minutes allowed for each sauna. They are truly hot and too much exposure will do more to make you feel lightheaded than detoxified. Always listen to your body. If you feel a sauna is getting to be too much for you in a five-minute period, get up and leave. It’s better to be safe than sorry in this case.
Don’t worry. If you cannot tough out your first experience at the spa you usually can eat at the restaurant or even visit the spa’s meditation room to get a break. It is different from a Western-styled spa. If you want a detoxification like no other this is an experience to try at least once.
Five Tips To Follow With Korean Spa Etiquette
When you go to a regular spot, you typically understand the rules. When you go in, you are wearing a towel that should not come off. Spas typically have a small number of people, and these people will usually talk with each other. It is usually a very casual experience, one that is designed to help you relax, and sometimes socialize. Unfortunately, these rules do not apply if you are ever in Korea going to a spa, or if you happen to have a Korean spa in your area. There are rules of etiquette that you need to follow. Here are the top five Korean spa etiquette tips that you can use in order to make your experience as pleasant as possible.
The Three Most Important Tips
If this is an authentic Korean spa, it is very possible that the people that are in the spa with you are not going to be wearing a towel. In fact, they may not be wearing anything at all. This is standard procedure, and if you are uncomfortable in this situation, it’s probably not the best place for you. Do not feel embarrassed, or try to cover yourself up. That’s not what you do.
The second tip is to take a shower before you go in. It is important to not wear any makeup at all, and to enter clean.
Finally, in the midst of all of these other naked people, you really can’t be shy. People are going to look at you. It’s something that is going to happen so don’t read into it. It is just a part of what people do when they are in a Korean spa.
Two Other Tips To Consider
Even though you could get by with the first three tips, there are two others that you should consider. You should know that you can easily overheat as they tend to have the temperature quite warm. Know your limits, which simply means if it’s too hot, it’s time to come out. You really don’t want to wake up later as a result of someone pulling your naked body out of the spot.
Finally, people that go into a Korean spa are not there to chitter chatter. They are there to relax and go within. They are not going to want to have a conversation with you, so don’t take it personally. It’s a place where they can relax, release toxins from your body, and also clear their mind.
If you follow these five Korean spa etiquette strategies, you should be fine the next time that you go. If it’s going to be your first time, you will not be in for the shock of your life. It simply how another culture participates within the confines of the spa. It may become something that you become use to very quickly.