What happens in a Turkish spa?
A standard turkish bath session takes about 60 to 90 minutes and includes steaming, scrubbing, a foam massage, and rinsing. If you want to relax in the lounge or add treatments, plan for a little extra time. Myth: turkish baths are only for men or only for women. Reality: many turkish hammams are gender-segregated at certain hours or days, but most baths serve both genders on a mixed basis.Also known as Turkish bath or Oriental bath. Traditional hammams are traditionally segregated by gender: either separate rooms or times of use for women and men are different. In hotel complexes, it can usually be visited by men and women.Turkish bath hamam in Western Europe, the Turkish bath as a method of cleansing the body and relaxation was particularly popular during the Victorian era. The process involved in taking a Turkish bath is similar to that of a sauna, but is more closely related to the ancient Roman bathing practices.In English, hammams are also called Turkish baths because in the past, Western writers often called all Muslims Turks and because they presented hammams largely as an Ottoman cultural feature. The first recorded use of the term ‘Turkish bath’ in English was in 1644.The Turkish bath peeling and foam ritual dates back to ancient Roman and Ottoman bath culture, where it was used for both hygiene and relaxation. The Turkish hammam scrub involves using a special mitt (kese) to remove dead skin cells, followed by a foam massage that envelops the body in rich, aromatic bubbles.
What happens in a Turkish bath for a man?
A traditional turkish bath is divided into three phases; the changing/resting room (camekan), the hot room (sıcaklık), and the cold room (soğukluk). The hammam process begins with warming up the body and follows with exfoliation, soap/foam massage, rinsing off, and resting. A men’s hammam experience begins with a steam session, allowing the body to relax and prepare for cleansing. This is followed by a kese (exfoliation treatment) to remove dead skin cells, leaving the skin soft and revitalized. Afterward, guests receive a foam massage, which relaxes the muscles and enhances circulation.In the hammam, your whole body is cleansed, exfoliated, and nourished. The session takes place in a water steam chamber, where a Tellak, a hammam attendant, will give you a traditional Moroccan hammam experience.When the body is steamed, it is turn for the peeling, which is carried out in the hammam with a special hamam mitten (kese), consisting of natural fibers and having a rough surface. During peeling, the skin gently gets rid of dirt and old cells, opens the pores and improves blood circulation.Hammam differs slightly from the traditional thermal spa. While both are profoundly relaxing and good for the skin, rather than using thermal waters, hammam treatments use hot steam to encourage a deep and invigorating cleanse.
What do you wear to a Turkish spa?
Men and women generally go topless in hammams, but they do wear underwear. Don’t get completely naked–that is taboo. It’s not required that you go in topless, but if you don’t, know that you will stand out. It’s also wise to wear dark underwear so it doesn’t become transparent once it’s wet. In more traditional settings, such as neighborhood hammams, women generally only wear underwear bottoms and in some cases may wear nothing. However, in tourist-oriented spa hammams you will typically be given disposable bottoms to wear.Enter the Hammam Upon arrival, an attendant will show you to a changing room where they will give you a robe and locker. Women may have the option to go fully undressed or to keep on underwear/bikini bottoms. Men must wear bottoms.First-timers often ask: Do you wear clothes in a Turkish hamam? You’ll be given disposable underwear, a towel called a peshtemal, and wooden clogs. During the wash and massage, the peshtemal is often removed or adjusted by the attendant. If you’re modest, wearing a bikini or swimsuit is perfectly acceptable.Men can wear a swimsuit or swimming shorts. When you enter the bathhouse, before washing yourself completely naked, you will need to undress using towels or a cover such as a bathrobe. You should wear slippers or sandals in hammam. It is important to wear these because the floor will be wet, hot and slippery.
What are the rules for the Turkish bath?
There is some strict hamam etiquette to be followed: There is no mixing! Turkish bath has two sections, one for each gender, or it admits men and women at separate times of the day. Remove your clothes in a changing room and leave them in a locker, put on a “pestemel” (traditional towel, but thinner) Visitors from outside the local area should be aware that this is not the typical Turkish bath experience. This hamam offers erotic massages, which is not made clear from the options presented at the reception.Turkish Bath (Hamam) — There is no way you can avoid or forget tipping the Turkish bath/hamam attendant(s). Before you leave, they will all come ‘to say goodbye’, so make sure you have some cash money on you. You normally divide 10 to 20% of the total amount you spent among the attendants.Like a spa, the hamam is a place to relax, calm down and unwind. Always tip your masseur. It’s a must to tip around 20% of whatever you’ve paid so make sure you have some cash money on you.Turkish Bath (Hamam) — There is no way you can avoid or forget tipping the Turkish bath/hamam attendant(s). Before you leave, they will all come ‘to say goodbye’, so make sure you have some cash money on you. You normally divide 10 to 20% of the total amount you spent among the attendants.
Should I shave before a Turkish bath?
Shave or not, it’s up to you. All lotions and oils can make newly shawed skin sensitive. If you have sensitive skin, it is recommended to go without shaving. What if I have a hairy back or haven’t shaved my legs lately? It’s okay! There is no reason for you to be self conscious about hair on your body. It is normal and not a hinderance to massage.