Getting prepared: the hammam/scrub - Tunisia

Before you start experiencing the wonders of the thalassotherapy treatments, it is a good idea to be in the best possible condition to do so. So, the first thing you should do is to have a traditional body scrub in a hammam. Not only is this a pleasurable experience in itself, but it also gets rid of dead cells and allows the skin to breathe as well as allowing it to better absorb the ions, the active principles and essential oils used in thalassotherapy treatments. The session starts with fifteen minutes spent in the hammam (many of which are fitted with beautiful oriental tiling and low lighting) in order to dilate the pores and eliminate its toxins. The skin is then ready to be cleansed, often with an olive oil soap, before being scrubbed down with the traditional kessa glove and, in Djerba, fine sand from its shores. Depending on your skin type, the therapist will scrub either lightly and in some cases quite vigorously, which can be disconcerting, however, the slight discomfort will be worth the feeling of renewal and freshness. This process can be followed by a massage, possibly an aromatic one, using a variety of different hydrating oils or other treatments such as a face mask to further reinvigorate the skin.