Not only has Emily Algar combed the market for all the top-rated exfoliating gloves to help you find the best pair, but she has road-tested a bunch as well. Once the soap is all off, the torture starts. No, I don’t want to freak you out but this step can be extremely… uncomfortable. Don’t be surprised if the attendant is pretty rough with you. But if it’s too rough, don’t be too shy to tell her to take it easy! Step 6: Hair wash Depending on the hammam, you may be able to hire an attendant to scrub you down. To arrange this, it will help if you speak a little French. If not, I hope you’re good at sign language because it’s highly unlikely that anyone in the hammam will speak English. Because of this, you shouldn’t head to the hammam on a daily basis or your skin will be very angry! If you’re not used to exfoliating like this, I would suggest going a maximum of twice a week but once a week is probably plenty.

We went on a cycling tour in the mountains of Morocco and it was one of our best travel experiences yet! Find out how to do it here. Six Steps for a Moroccan Bath Step 1: Get undressed – what do you wear in a hammam?Like most bath houses around the world, in a Moroccan bath, you can expect to be steamed, soaked, scrubbed, and come out sparkly clean.

What should I wear inside? What did a hammam treatment entail? Did I need a towel? A scrubbie? Soap? Was I even welcome there? Just like at a tourist hammam, women can either go naked or wear bikini bottoms or underwear. In the hammams I’ve been to, most women wear a pair of underwear. If you’re blonde down there, a pair of underwear will save you from lots of enquiring looks at your private parts. Unlike a tourist hammam, nothing will be supplied for you at the local hammam. You’ll need to come prepared with: This will be dependent on the gloves you have specifically, but a warm, gentle machine wash is a good place to start. Leave them someplace dry between uses to prevent bacteria build-up as well. This being said, if you have relatively ~chill~ skin (i.e., you have none of the conditions above), you can try using an exfoliating glove on your body once a week. Yes, just once a week. Even if you don’t have sensitive skin, over-exfoliating can still cause irritation, dryness, inflammation, and even rashes, says Dr. Lal. So if you're someone who has a bad habit of going overboard with skincare, store your mitt or glove in another room so you're not tempted to use it every time you're in the shower. Be realistic about how often you’ll clean themAs you’re wandering around the streets of the medina near your riad, keep your eyes open for any of these signs that there’s a traditional hammam nearby: Reminder: You absolutely should not be using an exfoliating glove if you have sensitive skin or inflammatory skin conditions (like psoriasis, eczema, or active cystic acne) since the abrasive material can trigger even more inflammation and flare-ups. Exfoliating gloves should also not be used on your face or on skin that’s covered in acne, folliculitis, or cuts, says dermatologist Karan Lal, MD, because they can easily spread bacteria and/or result in infection. You can easily buy soap and a hammam glove for a few dollars in the souk before you go. What to wear in the hammam You’ll feel more comfortable (and get fewer stares). Plus, hammam spas have someone there who can help you through the process, since they’ll assume you don’t know what to do.