Moroccan bath at Chameli Spa, Al Rashidiya

What is a Moroccan bath?

The Moroccan bath comes from the public hammams of Morocco, where a weekly scrub is a social ritual. A spa version keeps the essentials: warmth to soften the skin, savon beldi (a soft black soap made with olive oil), and the kessa, a rough glove that lifts away dead skin. People are often surprised by how much comes off.

What happens during a Moroccan bath?

1. Warm up. Warm water softens the skin.
2. Black soap. The soap is spread over the body and left for a few minutes.
3. Rinse. The soap is rinsed away.
4. Kessa scrub. Firm, long strokes with the glove over the back, arms, legs and chest.
5. Final rinse. Warm water, then a towel. Skin feels very smooth.

Who should skip the scrub?

Skip it if you've been sunburnt, shaved or waxed in the last day or two, or have eczema, psoriasis flare-ups, cuts or rashes. The scrub is firm; ask for a lighter pressure if your skin is sensitive.

After a Moroccan bath

• Moisturise; skin absorbs well afterwards. A Moroccan massage does this for you.
• Avoid strong sun for the rest of the day.
• Once every few weeks is enough; more often can irritate skin.

Is a Moroccan bath suitable for everyone?

Massage is not a medical treatment, and the team at Chameli Spa are massage therapists, not doctors. Please tell reception before you book, and your therapist before you start, if any of these apply:

• a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis, now or in the past, or you take blood-thinning medicine
• surgery, a fracture or a sprain in the last few weeks
• a fever, an infection, or broken, sunburnt or irritated skin
• a heart condition, uncontrolled blood pressure, diabetes with nerve changes, or a recent injury you haven't had checked
• allergies to nuts, coconut, sesame or fragrance (we'll switch to a plain oil)

If in doubt, ask your doctor first. A good massage can wait a week; an aggravated injury takes longer.

Questions before you book