Sticky Situations: What We've Learned About Skin Grip Over the Years
Student Tash performing a Superman pole move at Wagga Pole Studio, demonstrating how skin grip helps Polers safely stay connected to the pole.
Whether you're brand new to pole and discovering that it's actually your skin that helps you stick to the pole, or you've been poling for years and are suddenly wondering why you're sliding everywhere, this article is for you. Every Poler has slippery days. Finding what works for your body is simply part of the journey.
After more than 10 years of teaching, we've learnt that skin grip is incredibly individual. What works brilliantly for one person may not work at all for someone else, so think of this as a starting point. And if you discover something else that works for you, let us know—we're always learning too.
Happy skin sticks best!
Skin grip can be a bit like Goldilocks. Very dry skin can make it harder to stick, while oil-based products on your skin can make you slide. You're looking for your own "just right".
One of the simplest things you can do for your skin grip is stay hydrated. If you're feeling a little slippy, take a big swig from your water bottle before you start changing your skincare routine!
Body Lotion: Friend or Foe?
What's a girl to do?
Start by looking for glycerin-based moisturisers. Read the labels and look for “glycerin” towards the front of the ingredient list. :)
If you'd like to invest in a product made specifically for pole, grab some Pole Physics from our Studio Shop. It's made by polers, for polers, and is a favourite for many of our students. The only thing to remember is that Wagga winters can be tough on our skin—when the air gets cold and dry, some students find they need something a little richer.
If you'd rather start with something from the supermarket, I've got two long-time favourites to recommend. Years ago, these products kept popping up in Facebook pole groups whenever someone asked about moisturiser. I gave them a try, and they've been my go-to recommendations ever since: Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion (the green one) for winter and Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe (again, the green one) for summer.
Somewhere in between? We have a few students who swear by The Body Shop Body Yoghurt—but, like everything to do with skin grip, it isn't for everyone.
"Oops, I Forgot!" Last-Minute Fixes
If you've left it until the last minute, Dancing Dust Make Me Dewy is brilliant. Ask us for a tester!
Or, if you're looking for a quick budget-friendly fix, some students have had success with plain Sorbolene cream. Shaving foam (not the gel kind!) is also an old-school hack that plenty of Polers still swear by.
And if today just isn't your grippiest day? That's okay too. One slippery class doesn't define your progress.
Pro tip: Exfoliating regularly can help your moisturiser absorb into live skin cells instead of sitting on top of dead skin.
Sweat (It's Normal!)
Of course, sweating during class will make you slippery.
Most of us think of sweat as something that happens when we're hot, but did you know we also sweat in response to nerves?
Being nervous is a completely natural response to trying something new, so it's okay. Your body is simply doing what it's designed to do. 🙂
As the weeks go by, you'll grow in confidence, become more comfortable at Wagga Pole Studio, and you'll probably find those nervous sweats settle down too. In the meantime, on particularly sweaty days, apply your favourite grip aid where you need it!
Here's the surprising part: dried sweat can actually help your grip! So if you're a little sweaty after work, it might not be such a bad thing.
Unless you're a Slippery Susan... or you work with farm animals. 😜
In other words, don't feel like you need to shower before class. You might even find you stick better if you don't!
Body Hair
Leg hair and skin grip are another combination you'll get to explore for yourself.
Some Polers never shave, wax or laser their legs at all and grip just fine. Others find that removing their leg hair changes their grip. Some are grippiest on the day they shave, while others stick best two or three days later.
Like so many things in pole, there's no one "right" answer—just what works best for your body.
Final Thoughts
Every Poler has slippery days. Finding what works for your body is simply part of the journey. Be curious, experiment, and don't be discouraged if one approach doesn't work—your "just right" is out there.
