The Magic Mitt
I have been visiting Morocco since 2004 and had always wanted to experience a traditional hammam, but tbh, was way too shy to strip down when I first arrived. Who can relate? It even took me several years to be brave enough to book an appointment in a private hammam setting because I was not sure what to expect. I found that private hammams are like visiting a day spa in the US; a lovely experience, but not the traditional one.
After 20 years, I was finally ready to see the real thing when one of my dear friends, Nadia, insisted in her polite, but unwavering Moroccan manner, ‘Susan, we are going today!’ We packed up our kit consisting of towels, flip flops, Kessa mitts (a coarse mitt that exfoliates by removing loads of dead skin cells and impurities), shampoo/conditioner; the hammam provided the savon (soap).
The space was large and made entirely of marble. After we checked in, we striped down with just our towels wrapped around us and entered the main room. It was full of happy (completely naked) women, lots of steam, plenty of buckets of hot water and chit chat. We took off our towels and laid them down on the marble floor so we could sit on them to let the experience begin. We steamed in the room first to allow our pores to open and then the hammam attendants applied soap everywhere! Then, they used Kessa mitts to scrub, scrub, scrub! So much dead skin came off I could not believe it. The attendants proudly showed us the piles! Our skin was left baby soft and feeling brand new.
It was at this moment that I knew we needed to bring those Kessa Mitts to Carter + Jane to recreate a little bit of the hammam magic. We recommend using The Everything Soap™ with the Kessa Mitt two times a week. We also recommend replacing them monthly.
I found the hammam to be a holistic experience that cleansed me body and soul; I left relaxed and rejuvenated and will be sure to book an appointment every time I visit! No more waiting 20 years to experience such a magical ritual.
What is a traditional hammam? It is a bathhouse experience that has its roots in Moorish culture and combines elements of purification through cleansing, relaxation through massage and lots of social interaction with the other women in the hammam. Be prepared to be steamed, soaked, scrubbed (with the Kessa Mitt and Savon Beldi) and then massaged with an oil blend (I took my the Everything Oil Neroli with me).
· Steaming:
The ritual begins with steaming in a heated room to open pores and prepare the skin.
· Soap:
A natural soap is applied to the body.
· Kessa Mitt:
A coarse mitt is used for exfoliation, removing dead skin cells and impurities.
· Oil Ritual:
The hammam experience often includes applying oil, for moisturizing and massage.
· Massage:
Some hammams include a robust massage to further relax muscles and promote circulation.
· Social Interaction:
Hammams are communal spaces where locals gather to socialize, chat, and connect.