The hammam — the steam bath at the heart of Moroccan life — is one of the oldest beauty rituals in the world. For centuries, it has been a weekly gathering: a place to cleanse, slow down, and care for the skin with nothing but steam, soap, and a glove. You don’t need to travel to Morocco to experience it. With two simple things, you can recreate the ritual at home.
The secret most people miss: it’s not the soap or the glove. It’s the two together.
Black Soap and kessa: why neither works alone
Moroccan Black Beldi Soap is an olive-based paste — it barely foams. Instead of lathering, it softens the skin and loosens the top layer of dead cells. On its own, though, it doesn’t remove them.
That’s the kessa’s job. The kessa is a traditional exfoliating glove with a slightly rough weave. Used after the soap has done its work, it lifts away everything the soap loosened — leaving skin visibly smoother.
Use the kessa without the soap and you scrub dry, irritated skin. Use the soap without the kessa and the dead skin stays put. Neither completes the ritual alone. The combination is the ritual.
What you need
- Black Beldi Soap — the olive-based paste that softens and prepares the skin.
- A kessa glove — for the exfoliation step.
- Warm water and steam — a hot shower or bath to open the pores.
- An oil to finish — argan or prickly pear seed oil to seal in moisture.
The hammam ritual, step by step
1. Warm the skin
Run a hot shower or bath and let the steam build for 5–10 minutes. The goal is to soften your skin and open your pores so everything that follows works better.
2. Apply the Black Soap
Spread a thin layer of Black Beldi Soap over damp skin (body only, not the face). Leave it on for 5–10 minutes. This is the step most people rush — don’t. The soap needs time to soften the surface layer of dead skin.
3. Rinse completely
Rinse all of the soap off with warm water. This matters: dead skin won’t lift properly if soap is still sitting on you.
4. Exfoliate with the kessa
Dampen the kessa and wring it out. Using firm but gentle strokes, scrub in long or circular motions, working upward. You’ll see small rolls of dead skin appear — that’s the ritual working. Keep the rough kessa to the body; facial skin is too delicate for it.
5. (Optional) A brightening mask
For an extra step, mix a little Nila powder into a paste and apply it as a brightening mask before your final rinse. It’s the traditional way to even out tone and add glow.
6. Rinse and moisturise
Rinse away the dead skin, then pat dry. While skin is still slightly damp, massage in a few drops of argan or prickly pear seed oil. Freshly exfoliated skin absorbs it beautifully — this is when your oil does its best work.
How often should you do it?
Once a week is the traditional rhythm — or every two weeks if your skin is sensitive. Resist the urge to do it more. Over-exfoliating strips the skin barrier and undoes the benefit. And skip the ritual entirely on broken skin, sunburn, or during an eczema flare-up.
Why this ritual suits life in Dubai
Constant air conditioning, heat, and hard water leave skin dull, dry, and congested — exactly the conditions a weekly hammam is made for. The deep cleanse clears away buildup, and the finishing oil restores the moisture the climate keeps pulling out. Beyond the skin, it’s a half hour to slow down: a grounding ritual in a fast city.
AlZiyana’s Black Beldi Soap
Our Black Beldi Soap is the olive-based paste at the centre of this ritual, and it comes paired with Nila powder for the optional brightening step. Finish your ritual with our Pure Argan Oil — and if you want to be sure your oil is the real thing, here’s how to recognise pure argan oil.
Frequently asked questions
What is Moroccan Black Soap?
It’s a soft, olive-based paste (also called Beldi soap) used in the Moroccan hammam. Unlike regular soap it barely foams — instead it softens the skin and loosens dead cells, preparing them to be exfoliated away with a kessa glove.
How do I use Black Soap and a kessa together?
Warm the skin with steam, apply a thin layer of Black Soap and leave it 5–10 minutes, rinse completely, then scrub with a damp kessa glove in firm strokes. Finish with an oil. The two steps work as one ritual.
Can I use Black Soap on my face?
Black Soap is intended for the body. Keep the rough kessa glove to the body too — facial skin is thinner and more delicate, so it doesn’t need that level of exfoliation.
How often should I exfoliate with a kessa?
Once a week, or every two weeks for sensitive skin. More than that can strip and irritate the skin barrier.
Is a kessa the same as a loofah?
No. A kessa is a flat woven glove that gives even, controlled exfoliation across the body. A loofah has a coarser, more irregular texture. The kessa is the traditional tool of the Moroccan hammam.
Where can I buy Moroccan Black Soap in Dubai?
AlZiyana’s Black Beldi Soap is available with free delivery across the UAE.
