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 Women can either go naked or wear bikini bottoms or underwear into the hammam. I always wear my bikini bottoms because, hey, I just feel more comfortable that way! 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 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 them

What should I wear inside? What did a hammam treatment entail? Did I need a towel? A scrubbie? Soap? Was I even welcome there? Men need to wear underwear into the hammam. A pair of boxers is perfect, but you can also wear swim shorts or y-fronts or whatever you have. What to expect at a local hammam 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. Note for ladies: You can go to a hammam on your period. Just use a tampon or menstrual cup and wear good underwear! Step 2: Relax for five minutesDepending 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. 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. On your first visit, I recommend going to a tourist hammam, sometimes known as a hammam spa. Or you could just get a hammam treatment at your riad.

Men must wear bottoms. You can wear underwear or a bathing suit, or sometimes you will be given a disposable pair of underwear to put on. If you’re anything like me, at this point your body will feel like jelly and your mind will be free of any cares. That cup of tea will give you the chance to wake up a little before facing the outside world, a shinier, sparklier version of yourself. Tips for Visiting a Local’s Hammam in Morocco How to find a local’s hammam This man is stoking a hammam fire. If you see this, you’ll find a local hammam on street level. What to bring to a Moroccan hammamWe hope this post has inspired you to be brave and try out a hammam while you’re in Morocco. It’s a great experience and will give you a glow that you never knew was possible! 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.

Like most bath houses around the world, in a Moroccan bath, you can expect to be steamed, soaked, scrubbed, and come out sparkly clean. Unlike a tourist hammam, nothing will be supplied for you at the local hammam. You’ll need to come prepared with: After being dragged through the process by a local woman with whom I shared not one word of common language, I realized it would have been much more fun if I’d come prepared. 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.

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. 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? Going to the hammam is a seriously deep cleaning experience. Especially if you have a treatment from a pro, you will not believe how much dead skin is removed. 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. 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.