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While floating can be an effective and beneficial tool for most people, there are a few things that may keep you out of the tank, at least for a period of time. We’d like to shed some light on these reasons so you can understand why you might not be able to float. When it comes to any medical issues, our advice is always to ask your GP or medical specialist for their recommendation about floating for you.
If you are menstruating
While our float tank solution gets filtered multiple times and treated between every single person, we do our best to keep the highest quality of water for our floaters. We ask that women do not float while menstruating and to please just give us a call to reschedule if your appointment falls within your cycle.
If you’ve recently coloured your hair, had a keratin treatment or had a spray tan
It can take a few weeks for hair colour to sink into the follicle and stop bleeding out, and the last thing we’d want to do is ruin your expensive new do. Also, our float tanks are made of white fibreglass and recently coloured hair can actually stain the walls and water in our tanks. So in the best interest of both your hair and our equipment, we ask that you wait until your colour has completely stopped bleeding in your shower at home and no longer comes off on your towels. A good test is to take a white wash cloth, wet it with warm water and rub your hair. If any colour comes off, then wait another few days and try this test again before booking in your float.
For most people, this will take 1-2 weeks (or 3-4 washes); however, for vibrant colours and reds, you might need to wait 3-4 weeks post-dye. If you have coloured your hair with henna, unfortunately you might not be able to float at all as henna colour often bleeds forever. Do the wash cloth test to check out your float eligibility.
Anyone using keratin treatment in their hair is told to avoid salt water (including Epsom salt) for 4 weeks post treatment. Be sure to schedule your float in one month after you get your keratin treatment done or right before your next treatment. Same goes with spray tans. Please wait approximately two weeks and until the colour has completely stopped bleeding before hopping into our float tanks.
If you’ve recently been tattooed
Our next-door neighbour is Dr Morse Tattoo studio and they recommend waiting 3-4 weeks after getting tattooed before floating. First off, the salt water will sting significantly if your tattoo is fresh, and bathing can promote bleeding in certain tattoos if it’s not healed. They suggest waiting until your tattoo is fully healed and if in doubt, just pop into their shop and ask if you are ready to come float.
If you have open wounds
Small nicks and cuts can cause mild stinging and discomfort in the float tank solution but typically aren’t an issue while floating. We provide papaw ointment to cover small abrasions on the skin so you are less likely to notice any sensation in the tank. Large, raw and open wounds, however, will be uncomfortable and very distracting if you hop into the float tank. This will surely take away from the relaxing experience that we hope to promote, so its best you wait until your wound has healed up.
If you are intoxicated
Please understand that this is a health and safety issue. Upon arriving for your first float with us, you will complete our waiver form and be provided with a full orientation to our space and the float experience. You will need to have your full wits about you for this process so you can comprehend how to get the most out of your float. We will turn away anyone who appears intoxicated and ask that you reschedule to another time – please don’t be offended.
Also, the float tank will provide you with the perfect environment to explore your consciousness without requiring the influence of alcohol or drugs. Strip away sensory input and your mind has the ability to experience a deeply meditative, and sometimes even psychedelic, state on its own. We encourage you to explore your mind in our float tanks!
If you have epilepsy or seizure disorder
The primary reason for not allowing people with seizure disorders to float is liability – if someone were to have a seizure in the float tank, there would be no way for us to know that you were in distress and get the medical attention you require. If your epilepsy or seizure disorder is under medical control and you get clearance from your GP, let us know when you book in your appointment.
If you have vertigo/motion sickness
While not an issue for most people, we have had a handful of floaters get out early because of nausea in the float tank. This is usually due to an inner ear issue or vertigo and can be mitigated by using the Float Halo headrest and trying lights on or off (different people have reported different preferences). If you are particularly sensitive to nausea, you might also decide to take a motion sickness medication or crystallized ginger prior to floating.
If you have kidney failure
Your kidneys are responsible for processing toxins and nutrients, so if they are compromised and asked to process an external substance like magnesium (which you will absorb from the Epsom salts through your skin), floating could potentially put too much stress on your kidneys. We have safely and successfully floated people with just one kidney and with kidney issues under medical supervision; however, we always recommend speaking to your GP to see if floating is a safe practice for you.
If you have mobility issues
You will need to be comfortable getting in and out of our float tanks on your own, which are approximately the height of a bathtub, as once you are provided with your orientation, you are left in your room on your own. Also, our float rooms are raised and have two stairs you will need to climb up in order to enter.
Saying that, if you have mobility issues and still wish to float, you are more than welcome to let us know that you will be bringing along a caregiver or two to help you make getting in and out of the float tanks and rooms more accessible.
If you have incontinence or diarrhoea
For those who struggle with incontinence or uncontrollable bowel movements, we ask that you don’t float. This is purely from a sanitation position of our float tank solution. Maybe instead you can use Epsom salts in your bath tub at home – we know it’s not the same as floating but it’s the next best thing!
If you have active eczema or psoriasis
There have been reports from many of our customers that the float tank solution (which is made up of warm water and Epsom salt, with a small amount of H2O2) is very soothing for their skin. If you suffer from eczema or psoriasis, the magnesium can be very nourishing and hydrating so long as your skin issues are not active/raw. If that’s the case, the solution can instead be extremely irritating and it’s probably best to book in your session once your skin has healed.
If you are 37+ weeks pregnant
We love having pregnant women float with us and for most of you, floating is a perfectly safe and enjoyable experience! We do have a cut off of 37 weeks, as we do not want to risk the chance of you becoming so relaxed that you go into labour in one of our float tanks. If you have any complications with your pregnancy or experience significant nausea, we recommend speaking to your GP or midwife prior to floating.
If you have recently received chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is an incredibly toxic substance – it has to be to kill the cancer cells that it’s targeting. Your body stores chemotherapy drugs for a period of time after treatment and its recommended that you wait 5x the half-life of your chemo drug prior to floating. Half-lives vary depending on the patient, so the standard wait is 4 weeks after their last treatment. Please do speak to your oncologist about floating and any concerns you may have regarding its contraindications with chemo.
If you have any other questions about whether floating could be a safe and effective tool for you, please read our FAQ page and do not hesitate to get in touch with us! If we don’t know the answer off the top of our heads, we have a very informative and supportive float community that will probably know.
To book in, click here!