Royal tradition with a twist

The fascinating allure of the hammam (bathhouse) continues to enchant the dwellers of Arabia, making it one of the most sought-after cultural treats in the region.

Hammams have Greek and Turkish roots, and were used for communal affairs in which bathers underwent steamy sessions of rigorous scrubbing and massaging while gossiping and socialising. Perfect for therapy and cleansing, the hammam scored Islamic nods, paving the way for its spread alongside mosques.

Bathing in hammams may have taken on different forms over the centuries, but the essence of this rejuvenating treatment is unchanged. A testimony to this pleasurable experience was our recent visit to the Sisters Beauty Lounge for a two-hour session of Royal Hammam Ritual.

Tucked away on the first floor of The Dubai Mall, the salon's welcoming vibe makes it a serene getaway amid the bustling shopping centre. However, the private hammam room is a far cry from its Turkish counterparts, with nothing notable but its tidiness. Dropping our inhibitions, we went inside the steamy room where we met our masseuse Luisa. She first explained the procedure and the products that would be used in the treatment. The Sisters Beauty Lounge uses the French skincare brand Charme d'Orient, which is famous for honey-based, natural products.

While lying atop a massage table, the hammam ritual began with Luisa slathering us with a traditional black soap to soften the skin, making it easier for scrubbing. Then came the intense scrub-down using special exfoliation gloves, removing impurities from every inch of our bodies. Next step was detoxifying the skin by cocooning it in a wrap, a fragrant clay mask blended with rose water, for about ten minutes. Our skin took on a final luxurious touch with a milk and honey moisturiser.

Indeed, scrubbing off dead skin has never been more blissful, thanks to the contemporary twists fused into the olden custom of oriental bathing. Add-ons such as mini-facial, hair treatment and body massage make for head-to-toe pampering in this Royal Hammam Ritual.

The treatment

From boosting blood circulation to whole-body exfoliation and detoxification, getting baby-soft skin for weeks would be worth a visit at Sisters Beauty Lounge for Dh425.

— Sherry Tenorio is a UAE-based freelance writer