How to Make a Traditional Moroccan Bath at Home
Growing up in Morocco, going to the Moroccan bath, also called Moroccan Hammam, was part of my weekly routine. Every Saturday afternoon, I would start the Moroccan Hammam ritual with my mother and aunts, which involved preparing ingredients, body scrub, and oils and preparing our hair and skin for Moroccan bath treatments.
Moroccan baths, also called Moroccan Hammams, are one of the best care treatments to detoxify and deeply exfoliate your body. In Morocco, women have a Moroccan bath every week. It’s a non-negotiable me time that can take up to two hours. It’s meant to deeply clean and nourish the skin and hair, reconnect with the body’s senses, and relax.
Having tried many Hammam relaxation massages and SPAs, there is honestly nothing like being in the steamy Hammam, where every inch of your muscles relaxes, and every pore opens for a deep cleanse. Once you finish your Moroccan bath, you feel completely clean and relaxed, like you were just born.
Because I don’t have a Moroccan bath where I currently live, I created my Moroccan bath hammam at home routine that is almost as good as being in a traditional Hammam. You can find the products easily online – I will share my favorite products at the end of this article, as requested by many of you. Once you try it, there is no coming back!
What is the Moroccan Bath (Hammam) Treatment?
Moroccan Baths are a traditional beauty ritual where Moroccan men and Moroccan women go to a public gender-separated bath to benefit from its purifying virtues and skin detoxification.
Hammams in Morocco are everywhere. You can find them in almost every neighborhood. They are one of Morocco’s most appreciated cleansings and relaxing beauty treatments. It’s very rare for women in Morocco to go to regular SPAs as they can get everything they need in a Moroccan bath.
In Morocco, Moroccan Hammams are also very cheap. Going to a traditional Hammam costs less than $5 per person. Talk about a bargain!
How to Make a Moroccan Bath at Home?
Here are the detailed steps to make your Moroccan bath at home and some of my favorite products – some of which I helped source from Morocco – to have a traditional Moroccan bath at home. I have it every week, and you can too!
STEP 1 – Apply an oil treatment to your hair
The first step to getting prepared for a Moroccan bath is to nourish your hair with an oil treatment and leave it for at least a couple of hours under a warm towel.
In Morocco, the most used oil for hair is Premium Moroccan Argan oil which is perfect for deep-nourishing any hair type. Moroccan women apply this oil a few before their bath to ensure it deeply penetrates the hair and scalp. Cover your hair with a towel and leave for at least 30 minutes.
STEP 2 – Prepare your bathtub or shower and get it steamy
Once your hair treatment has deeply penetrated your hair and scalp, you can start preparing your Hammam bath.
The goal is to get it as warm and steamy as possible. To produce enough steam, close the doors and let the extra hot water flow for at least 2 to 3 minutes until your shower gets steamy.
If you feel fancy, pour a couple of drops of orange essential oil into the bathtub or shower.
STEP 3 – Prepare your skin with Moroccan Black Soap
Once your shower is hot and steamy, you are ready for your Hammam experience. After you get into the shower, the next step is to open up your skin pores. For this, adjust the water temperature to warm, get under the water, and let the water flow all over your body for about 2 to 3 minutes, your face included. This will open up your pores.
Turn off the water and apply black soap to your skin.
Moroccan black soap is essential in Moroccan women’s beauty routine.
It is a dark paste made of dried olive peels and dried plants. Once in contact with wet skin, it foams like soap and prepares it for deep and gentle exfoliation. High-quality black soap – made of natural ingredients – can be used all over the body (except the private parts!). I use Little Moroccan Things Black Soap (which I helped source). It is gentle, 100% natural, and you can use it on your body and face.
STEP 4 – Clean your hair and apply a deep-conditioner
This simple step consists of cleaning your hair from the oil treatment while giving some more time for the black soap to penetrate your skin.
For cleaning your hair, use a gentle shampoo and make sure you wash your hair thoroughly, scalp and ends. Once you are finished, apply your deep conditioner as you usually do.
STEP 5 – Use a Hammam Scrub (The Moroccan Kessa glove) To Exfoliate
Now that Moroccan black soap has penetrated your skin and your body is ready to get exfoliated, it’s time to remove the dead skin! For this, you will need a Moroccan Kessa glove.
A Moroccan Kessa glove is a popular bathing essential in Morocco that removes dead skin.
The most crucial part is choosing the right Kessa, depending on your skin sensitivity.
I recommend using a gentle Kessa glove for the face and body. It will respect the skin barrier and allow for gentle yet deep exfoliation. This Kessa Hammam glove is one of the softest you can find on the market – as some of them can be rough on the skin.
Use the Kessa exfoliating glove in circular motions on your skin. Thanks to Moroccan black soap applied earlier and the gentle exfoliation of the Kessa, your skin will release toxins and dead skin. You will be surprised!
STEP 6 – Apply Ghassoul Mask for a Deep Clean
Moroccan Ghassoul is clay mined from the Moroccan Atlas mountains. It’s a unique and rich clay full of magnesium, iron, and potassium minerals. You can find the Ghassoul in powder form, solid or paste form.
The Ghassoul is also an essential part of the Moroccan Hammam experience. it is used in Morocco since the 8th century by women to clean their bodies and sometimes their hair (if you have oily hair or skin, it will do wonders!).
To use Moroccan Ghassoul, rinse your skin with warm water, then apply the paste on your skin, face included. Let it stay for 5-10 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Your skin will be as smooth as a baby’s skin!
STEP 7 – Rinse your entire body and apply Argan Oil or Hydrating Cream
You’re almost done. Ensure your skin and hair are well-rinsed and clean, then dry your skin with a towel. You can massage any dry parts with argan oil if you want to. You can even indulge occasionally and massage your entire body with argan oil. You deserve it!
That’s it. Your skin and hair will be clean, detoxified, and so smooth. You will smell amazing and be deeply relaxed and in a good mood.
Aim for a Moroccan bath Hammam every week or two, and you will notice your hair and skin will get incredibly better and healthier. For a list of all the Moroccan Hammam beauty essentials you will need, check Little Moroccan Things‘ Moroccan Bath section.
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