Hamam wash glove

The hammam mitt made of goat’s hair is suitable for normal skin. For this hammam wash mitt fine, yet tear-resistant goat’s hair is spun into a thin yarn together with cotton. It is typical for a thread partially made of cotton to carry some natural irregularities – hence the slightly grainy texture of the fabric which contributes to an effective skin scrub.

Scrubbing dampened skin is the field of application of the traditional hammam mitt, the kese; and you need no soap or shower gel for the scrubbing. To remove dead skin cells, rub the damp skin with the mitt several times in one direction and then change directions – working either on individual areas of skin or the entire body. Then shower off the loosened skin cells and lather the skin with the soap of your choice. It is not advisable to exfoliate with a kese mitt every day. We recommend using the mitt once a week as part of a basic cleansing routine. Men’s skin is particularly benefitting from this kind of bathing practice.

A Turkish family-run business makes our hammam mitts in Bursa, some 100 km south of Istanbul. The staff there make the kese according to traditional methods and apply only first-class materials. The weaving mill uses yarns from pure, natural raw materials – not always the case with this kind of product – and sets store by having the origins precisely traced. Their skilled weaving results in an outstandingly regular weaving pattern; the fabrics have an excellent texture but are none the less robust and long-lasting. You can use them with or without soap.

The traditional Turkish bath, the hammam, dates back hundreds of years. Impressive examples of this ritualistic bathing culture abound in the Arab region are found, for instance, at the Banu Umayya clan’s summer residence of Qasr Amra, 70 kilometres east of Amman, with its baths and famous frescoes. 
However, bathing culture is not just about striking architecture; it is also a sophisticated cultural practice. In a Turkish steam bath, visitors pass through different rooms where the temperature gradually increases from 30 °C to 55 °C to allow their cardio-circulatory system to adjust to the heat without placing the body under unnecessary strain. And each room has its own function: there is an initial relaxation room, a massage room where visitors get their muscles loosened and various beauty treatments cleanse and purify the skin, and finally a room where cool to pleasantly warm water is poured on the skin to increase the blood circulation. Subsequently the visitors round of the bathing ritual in another relaxation area. 
During the massages, a key element of the hammam, the body is rubbed down with a fine wash mitt known as the “kese”, which is made either of silk or goat’s hair. The rub removes dead skin cells and effectively cleanses the skin’s pores which have been opened by the warm steam. Afterwards, the skin glows radiantly, shows a beautiful, clear complexion and feels soft and smooth.