The bride’s bath is one of the oldest methods used in Morocco to cleanse the bride’s body and face in an atmosphere of spirituality and relaxation, and it is a tradition followed by every bride before her wedding. It’s a transforming passage in a Moroccan woman’s life, holding powerful meaning and marking significant milestones.
The bride goes to the bath one day before her wedding day, while Before that day, the bride’s family rents the entire hammam and turns it into a female setting for unique and diverse rituals.
Candles are lit, and halls are filled with the aroma of incense.
the bride’s mother starts adorning her daughter’s body and hair with moisturizing oils, and other ingredients that I will be revealing to you in this post.
At the end of the bathing ritual, The bride appears to all women in her family, neighbors, and friends, who are waiting for her at the front door of the hammam accompanied by joyful ululations and folk songs specific to the occasion.
This bathing experience helps the bribe to deeply clean her skin, lighten the pores, and remove dirt, blackheads, and pimples, It also exfoliates the dead outer layer of the skin and stimulates the growth of new, soft, and supple cells. yet, It is not just a cleansing process, but also a ritualistic experience that eliminates stress, anxiety, and any negative physiological reactions the bride may have due to the overall calming and relaxing effect of hot steam on both body and mind.
The hammam experience represents the bride’s transition from single to wedded life, It indicates a new beginning, a moment of purification, and a lovely shift into a new chapter.
in this blog post, I’m going to show you how to make the bride Moroccan hamam at home and enjoy all those aids.
Moroccan black soap: “Beldi soap,” is a traditional skincare product that originates from Morocco It consists of a mixture of olive oil essentially and other vegetable oils, such as argan oil. It also contains a mixture of water and potassium hydroxide, which is used to saponify the oils and create soap.
(It’s usually a dark green or dark brown color due to the natural color of the ingredients used)
Moroccan Ghassoul Clay ( for hair, not the body, with or without Aker fassi) It is a clay extracted from the Atlas Mountains in northern Morocco, and it consists of ancient organic deposits that contain some useful minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, and silica.
Moroccan glove (lofa): Its strong and durable texture helps to exfoliate the skin effectively, and remove dead skin cells.
Moroccan rose water: the liquid left over from the distilling of rose petals during the making of rose oil.
Argan oil (Arnika): One of the rarest types of natural oils, extracted from the almonds of the argan tree, which grows exclusively in the country of Morocco, and it’s rich in vitamins “A” and “E”, omega-3 acids, and antioxidants.
The Moroccan miswak: is among the oldest natural materials that Moroccan women use to take care of their smile. The siwak is taken from the quilt of the walnut tree and is considered the best type of miswak, despite its pungent and bitter flavor, although it is more useful in curing a group of aesthetic disorders. Spicy siwak or Moroccan siwak is commonly used to treat gum disorders such as infections and mouth ulcers, as well as to whiten and protect teeth from yellowing. One of the things I don’t like about it is that it makes the lips dark brown.
Blue nila (indigo blue): is a blue powder with the color of the Nile originating from India. It is extracted in a rocky state and then processed into a powder that is free of impurities. Blue indigo has many aesthetic applications due to its hydrating, and unifying characteristics, in addition to improving radiance and skin softness.
Akar Fassi: also named in Morocco by “deer’s blood,” is a powder produced from the leaves of the anemone plant or sphagnum after drying and crushing the leaves. it is a Red powder that has numerous aesthetic benefits It Helps lighten skin tone and give it freshness and luster Cleansing the skin from dirt and acne-causing bacteria.
Foot Moroccan Pumice Stone: are stones mainly sourced from Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. These stones are distinguished by their natural, earthy colors, which frequently range from brown to reddish-brown. It’s used to exfoliate and soften the skin of the feet. They’re made to eliminate calluses, rough spots, and dead skin cells from the feet.
First of all, you will mix 3-4 Spoons of roses with hot water close it completely, and let it dissolve for 15-20 min (the more time give it the better), and then extract the distilled natural rose water.
For the clay paste: Mix two to three teaspoons of clay with 5-6 teaspoons of water rose and let it dissolve for 20-30 min To create a creamy paste that you will use on your hair. The lotion removes dandruff from the scalp and heals scalp infections and irritations such as red alopecia and others, as well as hydrating and protecting the hair and returning strength to split ends.
Now let’s make the Hanna for your full buddy. mix 2-3 teaspoons of the Moroccan hanna with one teaspoon of black soap and a teaspoon of blue nila.
mix all the ingredients together and then add one cup of water rose and keep mixing until you get a thick paste.
Mix one teaspoon of Moroccan black soap and a few aker fassi Poudre until you get a sticky paste.
Keep yourself hydrated for the duration of the bath. Wet a washcloth with cold water and apply it to your neck or forehead if you feel lightheaded. Leave the room if you begin to feel faint or nauseated.
Ching-chung you are finally done. Congrats (Besseha we raha بالصحه وراحه, a word we say after the hammam).
Despite the many benefits of the Moroccan bath, it has some negative aspects that you should take care of:
Make sure to repeat the Moroccan bath for short periods of time, exposing your body to high temperatures and exfoliating can lead to dry skin, irritation, and infections.
Don’t spend more than two hours in the bath, Sitting for a long time in the steam can lead to dizziness, fainting, and suffocation.
If you are pregnant, the Moroccan hammam is something you certainly must avoid. High bath temperatures and high amounts of steam can pose serious risks for the mother and fetus. It affects the mom’s blood flow, resulting in a lack of oxygen to the fetus, which leads to miscarriage, especially during the first three months.
If you are a lady who just had a laser hair removal or someone who has just got a new tattoo then the Moroccan bath is something you must avoid. Dermatologists emphasize refraining from having the Moroccan bath for at least two days after laser hair removal because the exposure to the hot water, the rubbing, and the peeling process can cause irritation and inflammation of the skin, clogged pores, and may expose wounds and scars in the areas where the laser was used.
Make sure to use quality ingredients for better efficiency and to avoid any skin diseases or unwated effects.
if you are about to get married, having a Moroccan bath before your wedding day is the greatest way to impress your husband.
yet, if you are not, then experiencing the Moroccan bath is still a great way to benefit from all the advantages we discussed in this blog post.
I typically did provide you with a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about the Moroccan bath for the bride, however, using high-quality correct ingredients, and respecting the steps would change the experience entirely for you. that’s why I decided to make it easy for you and gather all those quality ingredients to provide it for you online on Etsy.
Yes!
here’s a link to my Etsy shop where you can find all those ingredients in very good quality and at a very compelling price rate.
yet, if you are here in Marrakesh and you want to experience the Moroccan bath locally then be sure to choose the right place that is characterized by cleanliness and privacy,
to help you find one, feel free to visit this section that would help you pick the right hammam in marrakesh for a better and efficient experience.
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