In a world where wellness trends go viral at the speed of light, a quiet but fascinating cultural difference between Spanish and American women has sparked debate. The topic? Air-drying the female body—specifically, the vagina and vulva—after bathing or swimming.
While many American women instinctively wrap themselves in towels or cover up immediately, Spanish women—particularly in more traditional or rural areas—often practice intentional air-drying of their intimate area. This isn’t merely a quirky habit; it’s a deeply rooted cultural practice tied to health, comfort, and a radically different approach to body image.
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Quick & Easy Tips for Navigating This Cultural Difference
Embrace local spa and beach culture – In Spain, especially in public baths or coastal towns, air-drying or being more relaxed about body exposure isn’t taboo. Follow the locals’ lead.
Use a towel strategically, not frantically – Spanish women often allow their skin to dry naturally in fresh air, especially after bathing or swimming. It’s not about being showy — it’s about letting the body breathe.
Visit a hammam or spa to observe calmly – If you’re unsure, go to a local bathhouse where this custom is common. You don’t need to participate to understand — just observe respectfully.
Know that modesty looks different abroad – What Americans may see as “exposing” is often viewed in Spain as normal, healthy, and unbothered. Give yourself permission to see the body neutrally, not just through a lens of shame or modesty.
Take cues from local products – Spanish pharmacies and beauty culture promote air-drying and breathable skincare, especially for intimate and underarm areas. Let the skin rest, don’t rush to cover it.
One of the biggest cultural shocks is that Spanish women don’t rush to hide their bodies after bathing — especially in spa or beach settings. In contrast, American culture often teaches women to dry off and cover up instantly, even in all-female environments. In Spain, air-drying is about comfort, wellness, and confidence, not exposure.
Another controversial difference is that modesty in Spain isn’t defined by how quickly you cover up. Spanish culture tends to normalize the body, not sexualize it. The idea that seeing someone air-dry a body part — even an intimate one — is indecent or attention-seeking is a distinctly American perception, not a Spanish one.
Lastly, Spanish self-care routines often prioritize what’s healthy over what’s “polite.” Allowing areas like the underarms or bikini line to dry naturally is believed to prevent irritation, ingrown hairs, and excessive sweating. While Americans often jump straight to deodorants, powders, or layers of clothing, Spanish routines reflect a slower, more body-conscious approach that may feel radical — but is rooted in balance and body neutrality.
Let’s explore what lies behind this polarizing behavior—and why it’s drawing attention, controversy, and curiosity worldwide.
A Tale of Two Norms: Covering vs. Air-Drying
To understand the difference, we need to look at the broader cultural contrasts between the United States and Spain in terms of nudity, health taboos, and how women relate to their bodies.
In the U.S., modesty is largely enforced through social conditioning. American women are taught early that private parts must remain hidden. Nudity is often sexualized, even in non-sexual contexts, leading to discomfort or shame around the natural state of the body. As a result, covering up after a shower or swim becomes second nature—part etiquette, part internalized fear of judgment.
In Spain, the dynamic is strikingly different. Public nudity, especially on beaches and in natural parks, is far more normalized. It’s not uncommon to see topless sunbathing, nude beaches, or open-air bathers letting the sun and wind touch their skin freely. The vagina is not seen as something shameful or secretive—it’s simply a body part, deserving care and exposure to nature just like any other.
So when a Spanish woman lets her vulva air-dry after bathing, it’s not an act of rebellion. It’s health-conscious, normal, and entirely uncontroversial—at least to her.
The Science Behind Air-Drying
From a medical standpoint, there’s legitimate reasoning behind this practice.
The vulva, like other skin-covered areas, benefits from proper drying after exposure to moisture. Leaving the area damp under clothes can create a warm, moist environment ripe for bacterial and yeast growth. American gynecologists often recommend patting dry with a towel—but this doesn’t necessarily dry the area thoroughly, especially when covered immediately afterward by tight underwear or synthetic fabrics.
Spanish women who air-dry after bathing are inadvertently practicing a healthier hygiene method. By letting air circulate naturally, they reduce the risk of infections such as:
Yeast infections
Bacterial vaginosis
Urinary tract infections
Skin irritation and rashes
Sunlight (in safe doses) also has antibacterial properties. Exposing the skin to fresh air and sunlight can improve overall skin health. It’s a simple, accessible form of natural self-care—without needing expensive treatments, powders, or lotions.
Psychological Empowerment Through Nudity
There’s also a psychological aspect to this practice that goes beyond hygiene.
Spanish culture generally has a healthier relationship with nudity. Children grow up seeing bodies in their natural state without layers of shame or embarrassment. Family trips to the beach may involve communal nudity, especially in designated nude-friendly zones. It’s not uncommon for Spanish women to walk around their homes partially clothed or naked without a second thought.
This creates a feedback loop of comfort and confidence in one’s body. Air-drying becomes not just a habit, but a micro-ritual of body acceptance. It’s a quiet rebellion against the messages that tell women to hide, conform, or feel embarrassed about their natural selves.
By contrast, American women often associate nudity—even in private spaces—with vulnerability or sexualization. Drying off quickly and covering up isn’t just about modesty; it’s about distancing from any perceived threat of exposure or judgment.
What the Reaction Says About Us
When this cultural difference hit social media, it quickly became viral—and predictably polarizing.
Some American commenters were intrigued. “Why don’t we do this here? Makes total sense,” one user wrote. Others were outraged or disturbed: “That’s gross!” “How inappropriate!” “Nobody wants to see that!”
But this reaction says more about American discomfort with the female body than it does about the practice itself.
Why is a woman letting her body breathe considered indecent? Why does something as natural as air-drying provoke judgment or disgust? These questions deserve to be examined—not avoided—especially when the reaction exposes deeper cultural neuroses.
The Feminist Angle: Who Benefits from Shame?
There’s also a feminist layer to this discussion.
When women are conditioned to feel shame about their bodies, they’re easier to control—economically, socially, and psychologically. Shame sells products. From “feminine hygiene sprays” to “odor blockers” to “moisture-wicking panties,” industries thrive on women believing their bodies are wrong unless fixed, perfumed, hidden, or managed.
The Spanish approach disrupts this profit model. A woman who feels no shame walking around naked in her own home, or drying her vulva in the sun, is a woman less likely to be manipulated by industries that exploit insecurity.
In this sense, air-drying becomes a subtle, radical act of body autonomy.
What About Public Spaces? Is This Acceptable Anywhere?
Naturally, not everyone lives on the Mediterranean coast or has access to a private terrace where they can sunbathe naked. Not all Spanish women do this openly or publicly either. The practice tends to take place in private or semi-private environments—home patios, beaches, locker rooms, or bedrooms.
However, what matters is not the literal copying of the act, but the spirit behind it. American women may not feel comfortable letting their vulvas air-dry in the living room. But the deeper takeaway is to question why not. What internalized beliefs are limiting your comfort in your own skin?
The viral conversation shouldn’t be about copying behavior from another culture in a shallow way—it should spark a reflection about why one culture feels so free and another so constrained.
What Can American Women Learn from This?
Whether or not you personally want to air-dry your intimate parts, there are several empowering lessons to be taken from this cultural difference:
Challenge Shame: Reflect on how shame-based conditioning affects your relationship with your body.
Prioritize Health Over Norms: Airflow is good for skin health. Sometimes your grandma’s advice (or in this case, your Spanish friend’s) is better than product marketing.
Normalize Natural States: You don’t have to turn every part of your hygiene routine into a sterilized, hyper-private affair. Bodies are natural, not disgusting.
Redefine Modesty for Yourself: Decide what feels right for you—not what society tells you is “proper.”
Find Empowerment in the Everyday: Even small acts like air-drying can be rituals of confidence and care.
The Backlash: Why This Still Triggers People
Some say the backlash against this practice is rooted in outdated puritanical ideals. Others believe it’s a symptom of how disconnected modern women have become from their bodies.
But perhaps the biggest reason this topic went viral is because it touches something deeper: our collective discomfort with natural femininity, especially when it doesn’t perform or conform.
When a woman air-dries her vulva, she is doing something unapologetically physical, earthy, and unsexualized. That’s what makes it threatening—because it’s not for anyone else. It’s not commodified. It’s not erotic. It’s just real.
And in a hyper-curated world of filters and fakery, maybe that’s the most radical act of all.
Conclusion: The Air-Dry Revolution
Understanding the Spanish approach to body care — including practices like air-drying — reveals a deeper cultural difference: the body isn’t something to hide, but something to care for and accept. What may feel taboo in one country is simply healthy routine in another.
If you’re traveling in Spain or exploring new wellness habits, consider releasing the automatic instinct to cover up. You don’t have to change your values — just allow yourself to see how other cultures treat the body with less urgency and more ease.
In the end, the lesson isn’t about nudity — it’s about comfort, confidence, and cultural curiosity. Sometimes the most surprising practices offer the healthiest perspective. And sometimes, giving your skin a few extra moments of air is a quiet form of freedom.
About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues sharing his travel experiences with his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.