In this blog post, we talk about our experience with the hammam, the traditional Moroccan bath, its history, and the benefits it offers.
If you want to know more about our trip to Morocco, here are some blog posts for you:
What is a Hammam and Its History?
The hammam is the traditional Moroccan bath.
It is a "ritual" of purification and relaxation with many health benefits, which we will tell you more about later. This experience is an essential part of Moroccan culture, so you can't miss it if you visit Morocco!
The hammam has its origins in the ancient Roman baths.
When Islamic expansion reached Rome, this concept was adopted as part of daily life for Muslims, not only for its physical benefits but also for its social benefits.
In Islamic culture, cleanliness is an integral part of religious life. Hammams were used as a form of purification before prayers and other religious activities.
However, those who truly perfected and created what we know today as the hammam were the Ottomans. They made it very popular and built hammam centers throughout the region, from Turkey to North Africa.
Prepare for the Hammam and What to Avoid Before Going
Here’s where it gets interesting: how our hammam experience went, what we liked, what we didn’t like, and what you definitely need to keep in mind before going.
We had our hammam at Danka Riad, where we were staying in Marrakech.
We had already heard about it and definitely arrived eager to try it.
To go, wear a swimsuit that is not a full-body suit, as the hammam is a full-body experience and they will cleanse your entire body.
Important lesson... Don’t go with siblings, moms, or dads! 😂
We, being not very knowledgeable and facing language barriers, thought: "They will give you the hammam first and then me." But no! They put my brother and me in the same hammam, maybe thinking we were a couple, since in the hammam they ask you to be topless for the scrubbing and full-body exfoliation.
In my limited French, I clarified that he was my brother and everything went well at the end.
They understood perfectly and let me keep my top on, but I still would have preferred to do it alone.
Personally (if I had been alone), I wouldn't have been uncomfortable being topless for the hammam. They are very professional and it's clear they are accustomed to this. But if it makes you uncomfortable, I wouldn't recommend doing a hammam; this is part of the ritual, but you can always clarify that you prefer to keep your top on.
Exfoliation with Black Soap or Savon Beldi
One of the essential parts of the hammam is the famous Savon Beldi, also known as Black Soap.
Black soap is wonderful; it helps eliminate toxins and impurities accumulated in the pores.
Its main ingredients are olive oil and black olives marinated in salt.
Black soap is packed with antioxidants and vitamin E that will leave your skin clean, pure, and silky.
The first step of the hammam is to wet your entire body with warm water and apply the black soap all over, including hands, feet, and face.
The soap smells wonderful and is made fresh on the spot. The women who perform the hammam carry the ingredients in powder form and mix them with water to create the soap.
They also add some essential oils or rose water. It smells delicious!
They let you rest for a while with the soap on, and this, aided by the steam, softens your dead skin for easier removal during the scrubbing process.
Scrubbing with a Kessa glove.
For me, this is the best part, although the Kessa glove is quite rough and may not be as pleasant for some during the massage and skin scrubbing.
The Kessa glove has been used since forever in hammams.
The body massage with Kessa unclogs pores and removes all impurities and dead skin without causing any harm.
After the exfoliation, you are rinsed with either cold or hot water (whichever you prefer). I chose cold water, as it was very hot in Morocco and the sauna was even hotter.
The cold water felt super nice and refreshing on the freshly exfoliated skin.
After this, we moved on to the last step: Ghassoul shampoo.
Ghassoul Shampoo.
In a hammam, everything should be cleaned, including the hair, and if you're not familiar with Ghassoul shampoo, you'll be amazed when you read about all its benefits!
Ghassoul is a Moroccan clay and it works wonders for both skin and hair. Ghassoul is rich in minerals such as silicon, magnesium, iron, calcium, and potassium.
Among its benefits are:
- Absorbing grease and dirt without altering the natural pH of the scalp.
- It does not contain harmful substances like chemical additives, heavy metals, and parabens.
- It eliminates the need for conditioner, as Ghassoul leaves the hair soft and hydrated on its own.
- Reduces the need to wash hair frequently by naturally regulating oil production.
- Can be used on the entire body.
I can confirm all of the above: after leaving the hammam, I changed to go out to dinner, just brushed my hair while it was still damp, and in no time it looked amazing: silky, shiny, frizz-free, clean, and voluminous. I was amazed at how good it looked.
The Hammam is over, and here is our conclusion:
Well, I liked it so much that when I returned from the desert, I had another one before leaving Morocco 😅
After finishing the Hammam, they rinse you completely and you can relax for a few minutes, resting after the bath.
When I came out, I couldn't believe how smooth and soft my skin felt. Any pimples I had were gone too.
I felt clean, light, silky, beautiful, and smelling great. 🍃
As I crossed my legs at the restaurant, they felt super smooth against each other.
My hair looked amazing, and so did my face. I would do it again and again if I could.
The Benefits of Hammam
As if all of this wasn't enough, here are several benefits of hammam:
Cleanses your skin of all those dead cells.
Nourishes the skin with vitamins and minerals.
Eliminates toxins.
Promotes cellular renewal.
Reduces levels of stress and anxiety.
Clears the respiratory passages.
Stimulates blood and lymphatic circulation.
Oxygenates the tissues.
Eliminates fluid retention.
Helps combat acne and dermatitis.
Comment in the Root Community
We loved the hammam experience and would definitely do it again.
If you've already tried a hammam, share your experience and whether you liked it in the comments.
We hope these tips and our hammam experience help you have an incredible time trying it out.
We're confident your skin will never feel better. ✨
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