The ritual, step by step
The Moroccan hammam follows a set order, and the order is what produces the result. It begins by warming and dampening the skin, with steam or simply a long hot shower, for about ten minutes. The skin has to be soft before anything touches it.
Then comes black soap, a paste made from black olives and olive oil, spread over the body and left for a few minutes. It does not lather like ordinary soap: its job is to soften the surface layer of skin in preparation for exfoliation.
Exfoliation uses the kessa glove, a rough crepe mitt, in firm regular strokes. It is the step that surprises people the first time, because you can see dead skin lifting away. It is vigorous without being painful, and the intensity is adjustable.
It finishes with ghassoul, a clay mined in the Atlas mountains, mixed with water and applied like a mask to the body and sometimes the hair. After rinsing, the skin is moisturised with argan oil. You come out of it with a clean, supple feeling that lasts several days.
What you need at your place
A bathroom with a shower or a bath and hot water is enough. You do not need a real built hammam: the heat and humidity of the shower stand in for the steam room through most of the ritual.
Plan for a floor that can get wet without concern, and easy access to hot water throughout. In an older riad, the wet rooms are usually tiled and perfectly suited. We bring the products, the glove, towels and a non-slip mat.
What the ritual does, and what it does not
The hammam is above all a cleansing and relaxing ritual, and that is already a lot: dead skin is removed, whatever is applied afterwards absorbs better, and the heat combined with the scrub relaxes noticeably. It is particularly welcome after several days of dust, sun and walking.
It is not, however, a medical treatment, and we make no therapeutic claims for it. If you have a skin condition, a wound, recent sunburn or very reactive skin, it is better to postpone or tell us: exfoliation is not advisable on damaged skin.
The treatments offered
Practical details
- Length
- 75 minutes, including about ten preparing the skin.
- What you need on site
- A shower or bath, hot water, and a floor that tolerates moisture.
- What we bring
- Black soap, kessa glove, ghassoul, argan oil, towels and a non-slip mat.
- What to wear
- Swimwear, or underwear you do not mind getting wet.
- Afterwards
- Avoid direct sun and hair removal for twenty-four hours: the skin is more sensitive.
Frequently asked questions
Does the exfoliation hurt?
No, but it is direct. It feels like firm rubbing rather than scratching. On thinner areas, such as the inner arms, the therapist naturally eases off. Just say if you want less intensity: it adjusts easily.
Can two people have a hammam?
Yes, one after the other in the same wet room, or in parallel if your accommodation has two bathrooms. Mention it when booking so we plan the time and the number of therapists.
Should I shave or wax beforehand?
Afterwards rather than before, and not on the same day. Exfoliating freshly shaved or waxed skin is uncomfortable and can irritate. If you plan both, leave at least twenty-four hours between the hammam and hair removal.
How is it different from a public hammam?
The ritual and the products are the same. What changes is the setting: you are alone, in your own bathroom, with no shared room and no waiting. A public hammam is still worth experiencing for what it is; it is simply a different thing.
