How to Take a Turkish Bath (Hammam) at Home
Steam Bath and Full Body Exfoliation in the Privacy of Your Home
Sep 28, 2009
While a home bathroom can't compare to the atmosphere of a traditional hammam or luxurious spa, it's possible to take a steam bath at home and experience the benefits of a Turkish bath, including sweating out toxins, deep-cleaning pores, and exfoliating the body.
Full body exfoliation at home is accomplished in two steps – first, by sitting in a warm, steamy bathroom to promote sweating and loosen dead, dry skin; and second, by scrubbing the body with an abrasive cloth. One of the best times for an exfoliating body scrub is immediately after sweating from exercise, heavy work or exposure to heat and humidity.
Body Exfoliation Products
A scrubbing mitt or cloth is often the only product necessary to exfoliate the body after a steam bath. Nonetheless, a number of body exfoliation products, steam bath products and loofah products are available for those seeking a Turkish bath or spa exfoliation at home.
- Loofah Mitt and Body Loofah - The word loofah (also luffa and lufah) is Arabic in origin, and refers to the luffa vine and its fruit. The dry xylem of the mature luffa fruit is an excellent scrubbing aid in its natural form, or the xylem may be used to make a loofah mitt, body loofah or other loofah products.
- Loofah Back Brush and Facial Loofah - Traditional Turkish baths have attendants who help scrub bathers' backs. At home, a loofah back brush is helpful. A facial loofah is also useful, but may be too abrasive for those with rosacea or sensitive skin.
- Natural Oil-Based Soap, Olive Oil or Beauty Oil - A natural oil-based soap, olive oil, baby oil or other beauty oil can assist in loosening dead, dry skin. In Morocco, Turkish bath attendees apply sabon bildi, a gel-like soap derived from olive oil.
- Luxury Bath Products and Exfoliation Products - Luxury bath products such as Turkish cotton bath towels, scented gels, and perfumed body lotions can help create a home spa experience. The same holds true for exfoliation products like facial scrubs, body scrubs and facial masks.
To create the steamy interior of a Turkish bath at home, a small bathroom or one with an enclosed shower stall is most effective. The bathroom should be quite warm.
Begin by running hot water for several minutes to generate abundant steam. Enter the shower and rinse the body. Allow the skin to drip dry a bit.
If using olive oil, beauty oil or sabon bildi, apply it in a very thin layer from the neck to the toes, working it into the skin. Stay like this for 20 to 30 minutes. Periodically turn the hot water on and off to maintain a warm, steamy environment.
How to Exfoliate the Body and Face
To exfoliate the body, wet the loofah and scrub firmly from the neck downwards with as much pressure as can be tolerated. Work on one section of the body at a time, using repeated circular motions or back-and-forth strokes, until dead skin accumulates on the loofah and clumps on the skin's surface. Rinse the loofah as necessary.
To exfoliate the face, use the facial loofah in a gentle, circular motion on the forehead, nose, chin and cheeks. Those with sensitive skin should use only their fingertips or a soft washcloth.
After scrubbing, rinse the face and body thoroughly. Follow-up with a normal shampoo, shower, and application of moisturizer. Use luxury bath products for more of a spa experience and pampering.
Full body exfoliation leaves the skin feeling ultra-clean, smooth and invigorated. Replenish fluids lost during sweating by drinking extra water or fruit juice.
Interested in more home spa experiences? See Create a Private Spa at Home.
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