Inside Hollywood’s Ice Bath Obsession: Harry Styles, Lady Gaga and More Stars
Cold plunge therapy has become one of the biggest wellness trends of the past few years, with A-list celebrities from Harry Styles to LeBron James publicly embracing ice baths as part of their recovery routines. Here’s a look at which stars regularly take the cold plunge — and what doctors actually say about the practice.
Which Celebrities Cold Plunge Regularly?
A growing list of A-listers have publicly endorsed cold plunges as part of their wellness routines.
Harry Styles uses ice baths for post-show recovery and mental clarity, and frequently engages in outdoor cold-water swimming, including notable dips at Dublin’s Vico Baths. In a 2022 interview with Better Homes & Gardens, the singer said he swam outdoors daily. “I feel like people who have discovered cold water swimming are just so happy for you that you’ve also found it,” he said. “That’s the thing with a swim – it’s the one thing you never regret.”
LeBron James kicks off NBA game days at 6:30 a.m. with a cold plunge, as detailed in Netflix’s docuseries “Starting 5.” The 39-year-old uses ice baths to reduce inflammation and maintain peak performance, then warms up on the court, takes a noon nap and moves on to stretching exercises.
Lady Gaga uses ice baths to help manage chronic pain from fibromyalgia. In 2019, she shared her post-show routine on Instagram: “Ice bath for 5–10 [minutes], hot bath for 20,” followed by a “compression suit packed with ice packs for 20.”
Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine, frequently posts videos of polar plunges and tried cryotherapy in 2017, spending minutes in chambers where temperatures can plummet as low as minus 218 degrees Fahrenheit.
Kelly Clarkson told People in 2024 that moving to New York jump-started her health journey: “Walking in the city is quite the workout. And I’m really into infrared saunas right now. And I just got a cold plunge because everybody wore me down.”
David Beckham includes ice baths in his post-match routine to reduce inflammation and speed muscle repair, sharing his approach in a 2024 Instagram reel.
Gwyneth Paltrow promotes cold plunges as part of her Goop wellness philosophy. In a video with Architectural Digest, the actress showed her spa room — which includes a cold plunge, hot tub and sauna — and called the cold plunge “excellent in circulation.”
Chris Hemsworth, known for his role as Thor, has endured freezing Arctic swims for his series Limitless, calling it “one of the hardest things” he’s ever done.
What Are the Health Benefits and Risks of a Cold Plunge?
Supporters of cold plunging point to benefits like reduced stress, better sleep, improved recovery and stronger immunity — but medical experts caution that evidence for some claims is limited, and the practice isn’t safe for everyone.
Dr. Marcus Coplin, naturopathic medical doctor and medical director for The Springs Resort, told Vogue that “cold water plunging is like an exercise system for the circulatory, hormonal, nervous, and immune system all at once.” Coplin added that he has seen “a major uptick in the amount of people who want to take a cold water plunge as part of their self-directed health and well-being practice.”
The practice typically involves submerging the body — often neck-deep — in cold water for short periods, in plunge pools, natural bodies of water, or spa and hotel wellness circuits. Many practitioners reference techniques from Wim Hof, known as “The Ice Man,” whose method combines breath work with cold exposure.
Not every cardiologist is on board, however. Dr. Prashant Rao, a sports cardiologist at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, told Harvard Health Publishing he is wary of broad recommendations.
“I’m pretty cautious about recommending cold-water therapy, especially because the reasons for doing it can be much better served with other interventions, such as exercise,” Rao said.
Rao warned that cold plunging is not advisable for people with cardiovascular disease — especially those with heart rhythm abnormalities — because sudden cold exposure can place serious stress on the body. And while some athletes use cold-water therapy after intense workouts to reduce soreness, Rao said research does not clearly show performance benefits.
“In fact, the little evidence we have suggests that post-exercise cold therapy may have detrimental effects on gains in muscle power and strength,” Rao said.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
