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 minutes Going to the hammam, for Moroccans, is the time to let their hair down and be totally relaxed. The Two Kinds of Moroccan Hammam 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

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.

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 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. 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. 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.

Unlike a tourist hammam, nothing will be supplied for you at the local hammam. You’ll need to come prepared with: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 hammam

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. 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

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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. 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 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. 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! 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.