Celebrity Infrared Sauna Setups: The Tech Behind the Trend

The celebrity infrared sauna has quietly become one of the most copied pieces of home wellness kit in the country. Where a red carpet used to be the status symbol, a glowing cabin in the corner of a home gym now does the job just as well. Stars talk openly about sweating before dawn and plunging into ice-cold water afterwards, and their followers want the same. This is a look at who actually uses this equipment, what the tech behind the trend really is, and how to build a sensible version of a celebrity infrared sauna setup at home without falling for the marketing.

Why celebrities gravitated to infrared heat

Traditional saunas heat the air around you to punishing temperatures. Infrared saunas instead use panels that warm your body directly, so the cabin sits at a gentler 45C to 60C while you still sweat heavily. For people who train hard, film long hours or simply dislike stifling heat, that lower air temperature is easier to tolerate and easier to sit in for longer. It is also far simpler to install at home than a steam room, needing only a standard supply and a bit of floor space, which is a large part of why it spread through celebrity homes so quickly.

The stars who put infrared and contrast therapy on the map

Plenty of well-known names have spoken publicly about heat and cold therapy. Cindy Crawford, Halle Berry and Julianne Hough have all described using saunas as part of their routines, and Hough has shared footage of a sauna session followed by a cold plunge while explaining how contrast therapy helps her recovery. Gwyneth Paltrow and Lady Gaga have both discussed infrared sauna use, and model Camila Alves has posted about her own sauna and ice bath habit. The common thread is not one magic gadget but a routine: heat, then cold, done consistently. You can read a round-up of these celebrity wellness habits at Fox News.

Traditional or infrared: which do the stars pick?

Both appear in celebrity routines, and they are not the same thing. A traditional sauna heats the air to 70C to 90C, often with the option to throw water on hot stones for a burst of steam, and it is the classic Nordic experience. An infrared sauna runs far cooler because it warms your body rather than the air, so it feels gentler while still producing a heavy sweat. Stars who want the authentic, intense heat lean towards traditional cabins, while those who prefer a milder, longer and easier-to-install session tend to choose infrared. For a home in a British climate, infrared is usually the more practical pick: lower running temperatures, simpler electrics and a quicker warm-up all count in its favour.

The tech behind the trend

Strip away the famous names and the celebrity infrared sauna trend comes down to four pieces of kit, each available in a home version.

Full-size infrared cabins

The headline item is a one to four person wooden cabin lined with infrared heaters. Look for the type of infrared it uses: far infrared panels warm the body and are the most common, while full-spectrum cabins add near and mid infrared. Low-EMF construction and a proper timber such as hemlock or cedar are the marks of a quality unit.

Infrared sauna blankets

A sauna blanket is the entry-level version of the same idea: a padded, heated sleeping-bag shape you lie inside. It gives much of the sweat for a fraction of the price and space, which is why it is often the first purchase before someone commits to a cabin.

Cold plunge and contrast therapy

The cold half of the routine is a plunge tub or chilled bath, usually held somewhere between 3C and 15C. Alternating heat and cold is what the stars mean by contrast therapy, and a growing number of purpose-built home plunge tubs with chillers now make it practical indoors or in the garden.

Red light therapy

Red light panels often sit alongside the sauna in these setups. Red and near-infrared light is used for skin and recovery, and unlike a sauna it produces no heat, so a panel can be added to almost any room.

How to build a celebrity-style setup at home, realistically

You do not need a Hollywood budget to copy the principle. A sensible order is to start with the heat, add the cold, then layer in extras. A sauna blanket or a compact one-person infrared cabin covers the heat. A simple plunge tub, or even a cold shower to begin with, covers the contrast. A red light panel is an optional finishing touch. The far more important variable is consistency: two or three sessions a week, every week, does more than an expensive room used twice and then forgotten. Leave space for cooling down, keep water to hand, and treat the cold exposure with respect rather than trying to match a headline plunge time.

What the evidence actually supports

It is worth separating the routine from the claims. Regular sauna use is linked in research to cardiovascular and relaxation benefits, and many people find heat and cold genuinely helps how they feel and recover. Claims that sweating “detoxes” the body of heavy metals or melts fat are far weaker: the liver and kidneys handle detoxification, and any quick weight change after a session is water you will replace by drinking. Treat a celebrity infrared sauna as a pleasant, potentially healthy habit rather than a cure, and you will get the best of it without the hype.

Who should be cautious

Heat and cold place real demands on the body. Anyone who is pregnant, has a heart condition or low or high blood pressure, or takes medication that affects temperature regulation should speak to a doctor before starting. The NHS is a sensible first port of call if you are unsure whether infrared heat or cold plunging suits you. If you want to design a whole home wellness room rather than a single piece of kit, our guides at The Shape House walk through the options in more detail.

Frequently asked questions

What infrared sauna do celebrities use?

There is no single brand every star owns. The common choice is a low-EMF far infrared or full-spectrum wooden cabin, usually one to four person, and increasingly a portable infrared sauna blanket for travel and smaller homes.

Is a celebrity infrared sauna worth the money?

An infrared sauna can be worth it if you will use it two or three times a week and value the relaxation and recovery. If space or budget is tight, a sauna blanket delivers most of the experience for far less, and is a low-risk way to find out whether you will stick with the habit.

Do you have to add a cold plunge?

No. The sauna works on its own. The cold plunge is what turns it into the contrast therapy routine many celebrities favour, and it is an easy addition later. A cold shower is a perfectly good starting point before investing in a plunge tub.

How often do celebrities use their saunas?

Most who talk about it describe several sessions a week rather than daily marathons. Consistency over months matters far more than any single long session, and it is also safer for your body.

Are infrared saunas safe to use at home?

For most healthy adults, yes, provided you hydrate, keep sessions to a sensible length and buy a unit built to a low-EMF standard. If you have a heart condition, are pregnant or take relevant medication, check with a doctor first.