Hammam – Scrubbing Away the Moroccan Way

A Hammam (which in Arabic means “spreader of warmth”) is a traditional cleansing ritual that many Moroccans take part of once a week.

Think of a hammam as urrmm….an oversized sauna.

First you enter a warm steam room to let your pores open, followed by a coating of olive oil soap. Then (the part that foreigners find freaky)….the “gommage”…..this is where all the dead layers of skin are rubbed off with a glove that feels like it is made of super rough sand paper.

You’re then covered in a full body clay mask, which is washed off with ice-cold water to close your pores (eek!!). The ritual ends with a soothing massage.

All Hammam treatments have tremendous curative benefits which include:

• Increased physical and emotional detox, nourishing skin with vitamins and minerals.
• Enhanced deep relaxation and rejuvenation while reducing stress and anxiety.

Optionally you can enjoy a Rhassoul facial clay treatment and an Argan Oil hair treatment.

What is Rhassoul and where does it come from?

This remarkable natural source, reddish-brown cosmetic clay known as Rhassoul has been used for over 1400 years as soap, shampoo, and skin conditioner, and the finest spas across the globe currently utilize it for therapeutic benefits. Mined deep beneath the Atlas Mountains in Eastern Morocco it must be extracted under extremely special conditions.

When first mined, Rhassoul clay appears as a polished brown, soap-like clay, which is chunky in appearance and resembling rocks. After further refinement and micronization, the end product is a smooth almost silken earth.

How it works?

Because Rhassoul can be used for a variety of professional applications, it is an invaluable enhancement for spa treatments and for personal use. Its extraordinary power of absorption makes it more effective than other clays for cleansing, de-toxification, and general skin treatment.

Today, upscale spas and resorts across the globe utilize the toning and enriching benefits offered by Rhassoul clay. It is very high in trace minerals such as silica, magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium and sodium, making it truly one of the finest treasures for pampering your skin. Because of the high mineral content, astringent properties, and absorption properties, Rhassoul clay is a wonderful and effective clay for cleansing, detoxification, and for general skin care treatments. The clay not only works to remove impurities from your skin, it also replaces them with nourishing trace mineral

Try using Rhassoul clay in soap recipes, facial masks, body wraps, clay packs, shampoos, and conditioners for a luxurious and decadent experience. Extremely absorbent, much more so than other cosmetic clays, Moroccan Rhassoul clay is probably one of the perfect clays in the world, ideal for all skin care and dermatological uses.

Benefits of Rhassoul clay:

1. Less dryness
2. Less flakiness
3. Improved skin texture
4. Improved skin clarity, elasticity and firmness
5. Less surface oil
6. Removes impurities
7. Tighten pores and hair follicle
8. Reduce secretion of sebum
9. Smoother skin
10. Reduce the need to moisturize dry skins
11. Unclogs pore
12. Removes dead skin layer

Uses of Rhassoul clay?

 The amazing natural benefits of the clay are suitable for the following:

• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Acne
• Everyday use
• Dry or oily patches
• Dandruff
• All type of skin
• Sensitive skins
• Thinning hair
• Fine hair

Using Rhassoul Clay

Preparation

With a non-metallic bowl and spoon mix the clay with warm water or rose-water to obtain a smooth creamy paste let the mixture hydrate for 5 to 10 minutes.

How to store your clay: fridge or cool dark place.

How to store your mud: in airtight non-metallic container in the fridge for up to one week.

Have a Rhassoul Spa treatment at home. Feel the earth.

How to use Rhassoul on the face

Use just a quarter of a teaspoon blended with water will be fine to cleanse your face thoroughly.

For a facemask mix one teaspoon with water or rose-water for its anti-inflammatory property, apply the paste on wet face and leave it for about 10 minutes.

Keep the mud damp with a water spray or simply by applying little water with wet fingers.

Rinse your face with fresh water.

With its natural action, the clay draws out excess oils and bacteria, leaving the skin feeling clean, refreshed and nourished. You can use some plain rose-water on cotton to tighten the pores.

Now, your skin is ready for moisturizing with light and easy absorbed Argan oil.

How to use Rhassoul on the body?

Cover and rub on damp body with Rhassoul mask. As we relax, the mud absorbs waste and toxins from our skin. After few minutes, rinse and dry off

How to use Rhassoul on hair?

The mixture should be fluid. Add more water to the mixture as described above in preparation section.

For dry hair, thick naturally curly hair and natural Afro hair put in one to two teaspoons of Argan oil or/and olive oil. Apply Rhassoul to wet hair by sections starting from the back and moving forward.

It does not lather .

Do not rub.

Leave the clay up to 10 minutes for dry hair and 20 minutes for oily hair. Then rinse well.

The clay will clean the scalp and hair, leaving healthier follicles and no dandruff.

ARGAN OIL

Argan oil is made from green nuts of Argan tree found mostly in Morocco and sparsely in Algeria and Israel. It is the rarest vegetable oil because of scarcity of these trees in the world. This rare oil is highly valued because of its wide array of uses. It is highly priced owing to its limited production.

Its recognized cosmetic benefits have made its demand ever-increasing in the world.

Benefits of Argan Oil:

1. Presence of oleic acid in Argan oil makes it practical solution for those who always have their cholesterol levels spiked; it helps to limitize it and maintain it. According to recent research, a very small quantity of Argan oil can considerably lower the cholesterol level for over a month

2. Several other acids present in Argan oil are converted into 3 different kinds of prostaglandins. These prostaglandins are very beneficial for many bodily functions like immunization and anti-inflammatory functions.

3. Prostaglandins are also very useful for people with cardiovascular disorders.

4. Antioxidant vitamin E is present in large quantity in Argan oil. Vitamin E is very good for regulating functioning of heart and sex organs.

5. Unlike other oils, Argan oil contains Sterols. These sterols help block the cholesterol absorption from intestines. They are also found to be anti-cancerous.

6. Argan oil increases the concentration of a digestive enzyme named pepsin thus plays part in digestion as well.

7. Argan oil is very useful in Arthritis in which joints of the body are damaged in several ways. It slows down the degenerative processes going on in long bones of the body.

8. It is also helpful in rheumatic disease. Rheumatic fever can damage heart, skin, joints and brain.

9. Argan oil is also thought to be anti-Acne and good against chickenpox.

10. It is also deemed to be Aphrodisiac. It increases sexual desire and ability in a person.

11. Argan oil is most popular as an anti-aging agent. It prevents the degeneration of muscles, a natural process resulting from growing age.

12.  Argan oil has many culinary uses. It is used in dressings of different cooked dishes like fish, sweet potatoes, salad, goat cheese, soups and even desserts with Argan oil enhances these dishes by giving a nutty taste and smell.

13.  Cosmetic uses of Argan oil are numerous. It has a strengthening effect on hair nail and skin. It prevents the skin from premature aging symptoms like wrinkles and crow’s feet.

14.  It is very helpful in quickly curing burns or other inflammatory bruises on skin.

15. It is also useful in neutralizing the marks on skin after pregnancy.

16. It protects the body against Ultraviolet radiations.

It is widely used as a cosmetic product and appreciated by renowned beauticians.

Hammam treatments are available at the Bnatural Spa both Lagos & Abuja branches.  You can also purchase Rhassoul Clay and pure Argan oil from there.

Web:  www.bnaturalmedspa.com

Tel: +234 809 803 8772

Pure Argan Oil can also be found at Blush Beauty Store in VI, Lagos.

Web: http://www.blushnigeria.com

Tel: +234 1 820 1407

We found this really cool video as well!!

So go out, get scrubbed and get gorgeous my Sacred Gods & Goddesses!!

xxx