The hammam is a sequence, not a single treatment. Each step prepares the skin for the one after it, which is why the order is the whole point.
Step one — cleanse
The first step is a soap. Beldi soap is made from saponified olive oil, olive paste, eucalyptus oil and traditional Moroccan mineral bases.
Begin with warm water. Let the steam sit on the skin for a few minutes. Apply a thin layer to damp skin and massage it in, then leave it for five to ten minutes. Rinse lightly, keeping the skin moist.
Step two — exfoliate
The soap comes first because the glove is used on damp skin. The kessa glove is a textured cotton and viscose textile, made to be used wet.
Wet the glove and wring out the excess water. Work it over the skin in firm, long strokes, upward or in circles. Avoid heavy pressure, and keep away from sensitive areas. Rinse the glove through after use and let it dry completely.
Step three — the Nila mask
Moroccan Nila powder is made from Indigofera tinctoria (Nila) leaf powder and Multani Mitti (Fuller's earth).
For the face: mix one to two teaspoons of the powder with rose water, honey or yogurt into a smooth, lump-free paste. It should be spreadable, not runny. Apply to clean skin, leave it for ten to fifteen minutes, rinse gently with lukewarm water and follow with a moisturiser.
For hair and scalp: mix the powder with warm water into a spreadable paste, apply to the scalp and the roots, leave it for twenty to thirty minutes, and rinse thoroughly before shampooing.
Step four — the Aker Fassi mask
The last step is Akar Fassi sabouna, made with Akar Fassi — poppy petals and raspberry — with glycerin.
Apply a thin layer to clean lips or cheeks. Leave it for five to ten minutes, then rinse gently.
Doing it at home
Each of the four steps is a separate product, so you can do the full sequence or start with one. The beauty range lists every product we make, with its composition and its full how-to on the page. If you are choosing a powder to start with, Nila, Sidr and Ubtan explains what each one is and how to mix it.