It's Halloween week, which means the Shine studio is already half decorated with cobwebs, half decorated with aerial silks, and almost indistinguishable from a very upscale haunted house.
It also means we're getting a fresh wave of first-timers who've been meaning to try pole fitness for a while and finally decided this is the week. Good instinct — there's something about Halloween that makes "try the thing I've been scared to try" feel more on-brand.
But before you walk into the studio, let's exorcise the single most-asked question in pole fitness: what do I wear?
Here's the honest, haunted-house-free guide. Plus the one cursed mistake (lotion — more on that nightmare below) that will ghost your grip for the entire hour.
The one-sentence incantation
Shorts, a fitted top, and no lotion on your skin that day. That's the whole spell. If you walk through our door in shorts and a tank top and you did not moisturize that morning, you are protected from every pole-grip demon known to Las Vegas.
Everything below is the longer version — the lore behind the ritual, and the mistakes we see first-timers make most often.
Shorts (yes, the short ones, don't be afraid)
Pole fitness requires skin contact with the pole to grip. The pole doesn't grip fabric — it grips bare skin, specifically the backs of your thighs, your calves, and sometimes your forearms. The more skin you have exposed below the hip, the easier your first spins and climbs become.
Think of leggings as a cursed pole costume: they look fine in the mirror, but the moment you try to grip, you'll slide down the pole like a ghost through a wall. Not the vibe.
What works best:
- Spandex shorts (bike shorts length or shorter)
- Running shorts with a built-in liner
- Yoga shorts that stop above mid-thigh
What doesn't work (consider these your haunted outfits):
- Full-length leggings. The pole slides on fabric. You'll feel like you're trying to grip a greased pole with oven mitts.
- Capri-length anything. Same problem, less dramatic.
- Loose-fitting shorts that ride up or flip. You want fitted, not flowy.
If you're nervous about shorts: this is the single most common fear we hear from first-timers, and it fades inside ten minutes. Everyone in the room is wearing the same thing for the same functional reason. There's no fashion show, no judgment, no coven of pole snobs waiting to critique your thigh gap. Just a room full of people trying not to lose their grip and giggling when they do.
A fitted top
Think form-fitting tank or sports bra. Not loose. Here's the ghostly reason: when you invert on a pole (which won't happen in your first class, but will come later), a loose top goes exactly where you don't want it to go. Fitted tops stay put.
What works:
- Sports bra (any style)
- Fitted racerback tank
- Snug-fitting cropped tee
What doesn't work:
- Loose T-shirts (they will betray you)
- Oversized hoodies (think Grim Reaper, but less flattering)
- Anything baggy around the chest or waist
Bare feet (yes, really — like a witch)
Pole fitness is barefoot. Not socks (they slip like you're in a scene from a slasher movie), not shoes (they get in the way). Just bare feet.
The one exception: once you move past beginner into choreography-focused classes like exotic pole or our new Beginner Heels class, you'll eventually want pleaser-style platform heels — the only time Halloween-costume shoes are actually encouraged. But for Intro to Pole? Barefoot every single time.
No jewelry (don't bring the amulets)
Rings, bracelets, long necklaces, and watches all get stuck on the pole. Rings in particular can scratch the pole's chrome finish, which curses the pole for the next student. Leave them in the dressing room.
One exception: stud earrings are fine. Nothing dangly. (You don't want anything that could get caught on the pole and yanked — think of it as removing anything that could feature in a horror movie's "and then she realized her earring was stuck" scene.)
The lotion rule — this is the cursed one 🎃
Do not apply lotion, body oil, or self-tanner on the day of your pole class. This is the single biggest grip-killer in pole fitness, and almost every first-timer makes this mistake. It's the pole-fitness equivalent of saying "Bloody Mary" three times in the mirror — you have been warned.
Lotion coats your skin in a thin film that the pole cannot grip through. You'll feel like you're sliding down a pole made of ice. Even an hour before class is too close — lotion absorbs slowly, and the pole demons will know.
The rule we tell students: no lotion on your legs, arms, or torso in the 8 hours before class. Shower after class and lotion up all you want. Just not before.
Same rule for these other cursed items:
- Spray tan (worst offender; stays on for days — don't book pole for the week after your Halloween costume prep)
- Self-tanner
- Body oil
- Scented moisturizers that leave residue
Hands are okay to wash: in fact, we encourage you to wash your hands with soap right before class. Clean, dry hands grip better than hands with any residue. Think of it as a cleansing ritual.
Grip aids (don't bother on day one, they're the training wheels of pole)
Experienced pole students sometimes use grip aids — small bottles of liquid chalk or alcohol-based "iTac" grip. You don't need any of that for your first class, and most beginners actually grip better without them. Grip aids are a tool for people whose skills have outpaced their natural grip. For intros, your clean, lotion-free skin is enough magic.
What to bring (your trick-or-treat bag)
- Water bottle. We have water on site, but having your own is easier.
- Hair tie. Long hair flying around on a spin is distracting and looks like a horror-movie jump scare.
- A towel. For sweat, and sometimes for wiping down a pole between skills.
That's it. No special gloves, no grip bags, no specialized pole wear. The "I don't have the right stuff" barrier is largely imagined — scarier in your head than in real life.
What to expect once you're dressed and in the room
Our Intro to Pole Fitness class is one hour, built from the ground up for people with zero experience. We spend the first ten minutes warming up, the next twenty on grip and basic ground skills, and the back half of class on your first spins and sits. By the end, you've done something you can send a video of to your group chat — or, this time of year, post with a "Halloween glow-up" caption.
Your first class is $10 — the same for any class on our schedule — so you can walk in, try it, and decide if it's your thing before committing to anything bigger.
Still nervous? That's normal. This isn't a horror movie.
Every single student who walks through our door for a first pole class is nervous. We know, because every single one tells us within the first five minutes. By the end of class, almost all of them are smiling, slightly sweaty, and already asking what class to book next week.
Wear the shorts. Skip the lotion. Show up fifteen minutes early so we can walk you through the studio. The hard part is booking — the class takes care of itself.
Happy Halloween. See you in the studio. 🎃
Book your $10 first pole class →
— Dima Shine, Co-Owner, Shine Alternative Fitness