You don't need to book a hammam to get the soft skin and fresh complexion you usually bring back from one. The traditional Moroccan ritual was originally designed to be done at home, as a family — the public bathhouse is just a communal version of it. Here's how to recreate it at home, step by step, with the right products and the right timing.
Find the full detail on each powder in our complete guides: Sidr and Tabrima.
What you'll need
- A warm, humid space (a bathroom after a hot shower works very well)
- A kessa mitt or exfoliating glove
- Sidr powder for the purifying mask
- Tabrima for the final detox mask
- A towel and lukewarm water
Prefer to have everything in one go? The Oriental Glow Ritual set brings together all four HINALYA royal powders, including Sidr and Tabrima.
The steps of the ritual, in order
1. Steam, to open the pores
Start with a hot shower for 5 to 10 minutes, or settle into a steam-filled bathroom. This step preps the skin for the treatments that follow by gently opening the pores.
2. Exfoliating with the mitt
On damp skin, gently rub the whole body with a kessa mitt or exfoliating glove, using circular motions. This is the most physical step of the ritual — it removes dead skin and helps skin better absorb the masks that follow.
3. The Sidr purifying mask
Mix one dose of Sidr powder with lukewarm water until you get a smooth paste. Apply to hair and/or face, leave on for 15 to 20 minutes. It's the most versatile mask in the ritual — suitable for both skin and hair.
4. The Tabrima detox mask
Once the Sidr mask is rinsed off, apply Tabrima the same way. This blend of more than ten plants closes out the ritual by deeply detoxifying the skin and leaving a lasting feeling of freshness.
5. The final rinse
Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, then finish with a blast of cooler water to tighten the pores. Pat dry, don't rub.
How often should you do the full ritual?
The full ritual (exfoliation + two masks) doesn't need to be done every shower — once a week is enough to maintain the benefits. Each mask on its own, though, can be used more often — 2 to 3 times a week for Sidr, 1 to 2 times for Tabrima.
Pro tips
- Prepare your pastes right before applying: a paste that's too runny will slide off, while one made too far in advance will dry out and become hard to spread.
- For a ritual even closer to tradition, swap the water for rose water — it adds a delicate scent without altering the powders' properties.
- Finish with Aker Fassi at the very end of the ritual for a natural glow on freshly cleansed skin.
Frequently asked questions
Can the ritual be done without the steam step?
Yes, a regular hot shower before applying the masks is more than enough to get the desired effect.
Is the full ritual suitable for sensitive skin?
HINALYA powders are formulated to be gentle, but on sensitive skin, it's best to space out the masks and always patch-test a small area before the first full use.
To go further, check out our complete guide to Moroccan beauty rituals, the full range of HINALYA royal powders, or our ritual sets to bring it all together in one go.