For many people, the most anticipated moment of a hammam is the first touch of the kese. If you have never had one, it can feel like a bit of an unknown. How firm will it be? How long does it last? Is the foam really like a cloud? This guide walks you through a session from start to finish, with what you are likely to feel at each step. If you are curious about the history and culture of the Turkish bath, our Turkish bath and hammam guide is a good place to begin, and for packing and what to wear, see what to bring to a Turkish bath. Here the focus is entirely on the scrub and the foam.
What is a kese scrub, and what is a foam massage?
Defining the two words separately makes the logic of the ritual much easier to follow.
The kese (pronounced roughly "keh-seh") is a pocket-shaped mitt used to rub the body while bathing. The Turkish Language Association's dictionary defines it as a cloth mitt "worn on the hand to remove dirt while washing", and the verb keselemek simply means to rub the body with a kese. Today kese mitts are woven from silk, cotton, goat hair or plant fibres; how tightly the cloth is woven and which fibre is used decide how coarse the mitt feels on your skin. In English you will also see it called a "hammam scrub mitt" or "exfoliating glove".
The foam massage (köpük masajı) is the soft part that follows the scrub. The attendant dips a cloth bag with soap inside into warm water, then squeezes it or swings it through the air so the air and soapy water inside turn into foam, and empties that foam over your body. Beneath the foam, the attendant's hands move in long, light strokes. It is called a "massage" not because it resembles an oil massage on a table, but because the washing is done with a rhythmic, soothing touch.
In traditional hammam language, the person who carries out the ritual is a natır in the women's section and a tellak in the men's section. The Turkish dictionary describes the natır as a woman who serves and washes guests in the women's bath, and the tellak as a man who does the same in the men's bath. In hotel spas today you will more often hear the simpler term "hammam attendant".
Step by step: how is a hammam scrub and foam done?
At Beatus we sum up the flow of the hammam in three words: warm, cleanse, rest. Below, those three parts are broken down into the smaller steps between them.
1. Warming up: the navel stone and the steam
After you change, wrap yourself in a peshtemal (a thin cotton wrap) and take a quick shower, the ritual begins in the hot room. At the centre of the hot room in an Ottoman-style hammam is a large marble platform heated from below: the göbek taşı, or navel stone. You lie on the stone and let your body warm up. GoTürkiye's hammam guide describes this first stage in the same way: resting and sweating on heated marble.
The point of this stage is to prepare your skin for the scrub. Warm, damp skin lets the kese glide more easily. How long you warm up depends on the ritual and the location, but if you feel overheated, dizzy or uncomfortable at any point, tell your attendant straight away and move somewhere cooler. The start and end of the warm-up are both good moments to drink some water.
2. The scrub: direction, areas and pace
The attendant slips the kese onto one hand and works area by area with long, repeated strokes. The order varies from attendant to attendant; large surfaces such as the back, arms and legs take up most of the time. The mitt may pass over the same spot several times, and you will notice this more on elbows, knees and heels.
As this happens, thin grey rolls start to appear on your skin. This surprises plenty of first-timers. It is simply surface dirt and skin cells that were ready to shed, gathered up by scrubbing wet skin. It can look dramatic the first time, but it is the expected result of rubbing damp skin and nothing to worry about.
You will be asked to turn from your back to your front, and you may need to lift an arm or turn your head to one side. Sensitive areas such as the chest, inner thighs and groin are either skipped or, only with your permission, passed over very lightly. If there is anywhere you would rather not be scrubbed, just say so beforehand.
3. A different approach for the face
The skin on your face is thinner than the skin on your body. Cleveland Clinic advises against using coarse body scrubbing tools on the face and genital area. So rather than having your face scrubbed with the body kese, you can ask your attendant to skip it or wash it with foam only. If you would like care for your face, a separate facial is the gentler route. Ask the branch how the face is handled when you book.
4. Rinsing
After the scrub, the attendant pours water from the marble basin (kurna) over you with a hammam bowl. The rinse washes away what the kese has lifted and prepares your skin for the foam. The water is warm; if you would like it hotter or cooler, say so. Dermatologists recommend rinsing with lukewarm rather than hot water after exfoliating, which is a sensible guide after a kese too.
5. The foam: the bag, the soap and the first pour
This is the most visual moment of the ritual. The attendant dips the soap-filled cloth bag into warm water, closes the opening and swings it through the air, or squeezes it by hand. The weave of the bag mixes air and soapy water into a thick, airy foam, which is then poured from the mouth of the bag onto your body. After a few pours your back or torso is covered in a soft white layer.
For most people the first sensation is a pleasant surprise: the foam is warm, light and almost weightless. After the scrub, that softness feels good on skin that has just been exfoliated. The scent of the soap can differ from branch to branch and ritual to ritual; the Pasha Hammam at Beatus uses an aromatic soap foam. If you are sensitive to a particular scent, mention it at the start.
6. A light foam massage
Once you are covered in foam, the attendant's hands move in long, flowing strokes from the shoulders to the lower back, from the arms to the hands, and from the legs to the feet. This is not a deep session like you would have on a massage table; the pressure is light, and the aim is both to wash you and to slow you down. The foam lets the hands glide across your skin without friction. In some rituals the foam is renewed a second time.
7. Final rinse and rest
Finally, the foam is rinsed away with water from the bowl, and your hair can be washed at this stage. Then you wrap yourself in a dry peshtemal or towel and move to the relaxation area. Depending on the ritual, the session may close with a glass of sherbet or herbal tea; ask the branch what is served. Sitting for a few minutes instead of dressing and leaving straight away gives your body time to return to its usual temperature.
Does the kese scrub hurt? How to adjust the pressure
The scrub should not hurt. A firm, rubbing sensation, and now and then a mild sting, is normal; burning, prickling or anything you feel you have to "put up with" is not. How firm the kese feels depends on two things: the texture of the mitt and the pressure your attendant uses. The second is entirely in your hands.
Attendants watch how you react, but they cannot always guess what you do not say. These short phrases will cover most situations. If your attendant does not speak much English, the Turkish versions are short and easy to try:
| In English | In Turkish | Roughly pronounced |
|---|---|---|
| Lighter, please. | Daha hafif, lütfen. | da-HA ha-FEEF, lewt-fen |
| This area is sensitive, could you skip it? | Burası hassas, atlayabilir misiniz? | BOO-ra-suh has-SAS, at-la-ya-bi-LEER mi-si-niz |
| This pressure is perfect. | Bu baskı çok iyi. | boo bas-KUH chok ee-YEE |
| Foam only today, please. | Bugün sadece köpük, lütfen. | BOO-gewn SA-de-jeh kur-PEWK, lewt-fen |
There are also times when the scrub should be skipped. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) clearly advises against exfoliating if you have an open cut or wound, or if your skin is sunburnt. The same caution applies to skin that is irritated, red or has just been waxed or shaved; Cleveland Clinic suggests waiting a few days after shaving before using coarse scrubbing tools. The AAD also points out that prescription retinoid creams, or products containing retinol or benzoyl peroxide, can make skin more sensitive. If you use one of these products or have a skin condition, speak to your doctor before having a kese and let your attendant know; in that case, foam only is a good option.
Another AAD note: people with darker skin, or anyone who tends to develop dark spots after skin irritation, may want to avoid strong mechanical exfoliation. If that applies to you, ask for a light scrub or foam only.
Holiday tip: if you plan to spend a few days on the beach in Türkiye, a hammam on the first day of your trip, before any sun exposure, is easier on your skin than one squeezed in after a day of sunbathing.
How long does a hammam scrub and foam take?
The scrub and foam are one part of the whole ritual; the warm-up and the rest time also shape the total length. Here is how the rituals at Beatus compare:
| Ritual | Length | Scrub and foam | Also included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pasha Hammam | 40 min | Full-body kese scrub, or aromatic soap foam only | — |
| Scheherazade Hammam | 55 min | The Pasha ritual | Aromatic oil massage for the head, hands and feet |
| Sultan Hammam | 80 min | A scrub with grape seed or coffee bean, brown sugar or honey crystals, then foam | Oil massage and sherbet |
If it is your first time, the Pasha Hammam is a good place to start: you experience the essence of the ritual in a short, simple form. If you would like a longer touch after the scrub and foam, the Scheherazade suits you; for a special day and a more ceremonial flow, choose the Sultan Hammam. You will find all the rituals and their descriptions on our Turkish bath page. Ask the branch which rituals are offered at which location and what is available on your day.
The hammam also features in two Beatus packages. The Infinity Duet (120 min) brings together steam and sauna, the kese and foam in the hammam, and a massage in the couples' room. The Jet Lag Package (120 min) combines 40 minutes of hammam, 40 minutes of classic massage and a short express facial.
Allow extra time on top of the ritual itself: around 15–20 minutes before your appointment for changing, and 20–30 minutes afterwards for resting and drying your hair.
Foam massage vs a classic oil massage: what is the difference?
The names sound alike, but the two experiences are quite different:
| Foam massage | Classic oil massage | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | The hot, humid part of the hammam, on marble | A dry, warm massage room, on a massage table |
| What helps the hands glide | Soap foam | Massage oil |
| Pressure | Light, washing strokes | Adjustable, from light to firm |
| Length | A few minutes within the ritual | The whole session |
| Purpose | To wash and gently close the ritual after the scrub | Long, rhythmic work over the muscles |
In short, the foam massage is the hammam's own finishing touch. If you would like a longer massage, there are two ways to get one: choose a ritual that includes an oil massage, such as the Scheherazade Hammam, or book a separate massage after the hammam. Many people find it comfortable to lie on a massage table with a body already warmed by the hammam, and the Beatus packages follow this order too. Our types of massage guide, which compares the options by table, oil and pressure, makes it easier to choose what comes next.
How often should you have a kese? Can you scrub your face?
The honest answer is that there is no number of days that suits everyone. A kese is a form of mechanical exfoliation, and the AAD recommends adjusting how often you exfoliate to the strength of the method and how your skin responds: the stronger the method, the less often. The Academy also warns that over-exfoliating can lead to redness and irritation. It notes that dry, sensitive or acne-prone skin needs gentler methods, while oily skin may tolerate stronger ones.
In practice, that means:
- Watch your skin. Redness, stinging or flaking that lasts a few days after a kese is a sign to leave a longer gap next time.
- Do not stack exfoliation in the same week. If you use a grainy scrub or an acid toner at home, keep it away from your hammam day.
- Ask a dermatologist for a precise routine. This matters especially if you have eczema, psoriasis or a similar skin condition, or are using anything that makes your skin more sensitive.
As for the face: facial skin is thinner and more delicate, and a coarse body kese is not suited to it. If you are thinking of your facial skin, the better approach is to skip the face in the hammam or have it washed with foam only, and plan separate, gentle care for your face.
Kese at home, or kese in a hammam?
You can of course use a kese at home, but the experience differs in two ways.
Heat and humidity. In a hammam, the navel stone and the hot air keep your skin warm and damp for a long time. To imitate this at home you need to spend a few minutes under a warm shower, and even then a bathroom does not stay humid for as long as a hammam's hot room. The AAD's advice for dry skin is to keep showers short and use warm rather than hot water, so keeping a home scrub short and gentle within that frame is a sensible balance.
Hard-to-reach areas and pace. Scrubbing the middle of your own back is hard. In a hammam, having someone else do the scrub means your whole body is covered evenly while you simply lie back and rest. That feeling of doing nothing at all is a simple pleasure of the hammam.
If you use a kese at home, the AAD's general exfoliation tips are a good guide: short, light strokes on small areas, a lukewarm rinse and moisturiser straight afterwards.
Many visitors take a kese mitt home from Türkiye as a souvenir. If you do, the cleaning tips below are worth keeping in mind.
How do you clean a kese mitt?
If you use your own kese, keeping it clean matters, because what the mitt lifts from your skin gets trapped in the weave. Cleveland Clinic's advice for similar scrubbing tools works for a kese too: rinse it thoroughly after every use, squeeze out the water and let it dry completely somewhere airy, outside the shower. Clean it more thoroughly at regular intervals, and replace it as soon as you notice mould or a damp smell. Do not share your kese with anyone else.
Ask the branch when you book whether a kese is provided for you, or whether you can bring and use your own.
What should you do after a kese?
Once the scrub and foam are over, your skin may feel more sensitive than usual for a few hours. A few simple steps help:
- Moisturise. The AAD recommends applying moisturiser right after exfoliating. Doing it while your skin is still slightly damp is good timing.
- Be careful with the sun. Avoid long sunbathing sessions on the same day, and wear sunscreen if you are heading outside.
- Save other exfoliation and waxing for later. A second scrub or waxing on the same day puts more strain on sensitised skin than it needs.
- Drink water and take your time. Sitting in the relaxation area for a few minutes with some water is the natural way to close the ritual.
We have gathered tips on drying your hair, what to wear afterwards and the rest of your day in the "after the hammam" section of what to bring to a Turkish bath. If you are thinking of combining the hammam with the sauna or steam room, see sauna vs steam room vs hammam for the order and sensible time limits.
Turkish vs Moroccan hammam: how does the scrub differ?
The scrubbing tradition is not unique to Türkiye. In North Africa, and in Morocco especially, a scrub with a similar mitt sits at the heart of hammam culture too. The layout of the space, the soap that is used and the order of the ritual vary from region to region. The signature of the Turkish hammam is the generous foam, whipped up in a cloth bag, that follows the scrub. We are preparing a detailed comparison of the two traditions; until then, you can read about the flow of the Turkish bath in our Turkish bath and hammam guide.
Where can you have a hammam scrub and foam at Beatus?
Every Beatus Spa location is inside a hotel. You will find our locations in Istanbul on our spas in Istanbul page, and those in Trabzon, Uzungöl and Ordu on our spas on the Black Sea coast page. Our Euro Park location, for example, has a Turkish bath, sauna and steam room together. Ask the branch when you book about the details: whether you would like a female or male attendant, how the hammam is arranged for women and men, which rituals are available at that location and what supplies are provided. For the meaning of words such as natır, tellak and kurna, our Turkish bath and hammam guide is a good companion.
