The body after a shower

Short answer: After a hot bath your skin is damp and your blood vessels are widened. Your body gives off more warmth than usual, which is why many people feel cold a few minutes later. It helps to dry off fully, have your clothes ready and give your body a little time.

Your blood vessels are widened

The heat of the bath has opened the blood vessels in your skin, so your body loses warmth faster than usual. While you stand in hot water you do not notice, because the water adds warmth from outside. As soon as you step out, that source is gone. A soft base layer takes the edge off. See bamboo boxers.

Moisture on the skin cools you

Even a thin film of water cools you noticeably as it evaporates. It is the same effect as standing in the wind in wet swimwear. The longer your skin stays damp, the more warmth you lose. That is why the first minutes after a bath often feel colder than the room itself. Once dry, a soft set for the evening is nice. See bamboo sweatwear.

Dry off fully before you get dressed

Clothes over damp skin become damp and keep cooling you. Take time to dry off completely, including your back, between your toes and your hair. A large, dry towel works faster than a small one that is already wet. Once your skin is dry, your clothes hold on to warmth instead of drawing it away. See Copenhagen Bamboo bestsellers.

Your hair holds on to water

Wet hair can hold a lot of water, and it evaporates slowly. While it does, it cools your head and neck long after the rest of you is dry. Squeeze your hair well and use a towel or a hairdryer before you settle down. In the evening this makes a real difference, because you often sit still afterwards.

Have your clothes ready

Lay out your clothes before the bath, so you do not have to look for them with damp skin. If you leave them somewhere warm, such as the bathroom, they are not cold when you put them on. It is a small thing, but it makes the first minutes after a bath more pleasant, especially in winter when the rest of the home is cooler.

A cooler bath

A cooler bath does not widen the blood vessels as much, so the drop afterwards is smaller. You do not need to go to cold water. Simply turning it down a few degrees towards the end can make the change easier. Many people never think about it, but you notice it when you step out.

Stay a moment in the warm air

The bathroom is often warm and humid right after a bath. Stay there a few minutes while you dry off and dress, instead of walking straight into a cool hallway. That gives your body time to settle before it meets colder air. Opening the window can wait until you are dressed.

Soft clothes after the bath

Your skin is often a little more sensitive right after a hot bath. Clothes that are soft and do not rub feel nicer than something stiff or tight. Choose something loose enough to put on without a struggle, and easy to wash, because it gets worn often.

Frequently asked questions

Why do you get cold after a hot bath

Because your blood vessels are widened and your skin is damp. Your body gives off more warmth than usual in the first minutes, and evaporation cools you further.

What should you do first

Dry off completely. Clothes over damp skin become damp and keep cooling you for a long time, so an extra minute with the towel is well spent.

Does a cooler bath help

Yes, against exactly this effect. A cooler bath does not widen the blood vessels as much, and the drop afterwards is smaller, even if you only turn it down at the end.