Hamam, the Ottoman variation of the steam bath, is a time-held tradition of relaxation, rejuvenation and self-care.
The Turkish bath traditionally consists of a main circular and large marble steam room with high ceilings that is heated by a furnace with hot air flowing through conduits under the floor. The center of the main room will have an elevated circular platform called the “göbek taşı” (which translates to naval stone) on which bathers can lay to experience the heat and where the massage and scrubbing take place. The surrounding walls are lined with individual sinks, referred to in Turkish as "kurna," with hot and cold water taps that you sit next to and fill up with water at your desired temperature and use metal or copper bowls that are called “tas” to pour the water over your head and body.
One of the best parts of taking a Turkish bath is receiving a scrub and massage by the skilled attendants. They might not be licensed massage therapists as you might be more used to in international spas; however, they will be skilled in their own right, and you will end up feeling relaxed, cleaner and refreshed. Most hamams in Turkey also offer waxing services, especially for women, and use a lemon and sugar-based wax that is removed with fabric.
The most popular service offered at the hamam is the scrub, which is named after the abrasive fabric used for the process, which is “kese” in Turkish. For this procedure, you are advised to spend a good 20 minutes or so in the heat of the hamam beforehand and to soak yourself in equally warm water. When it is then your turn for the service, the custom is for you to lay on the center stone as the scrubber proceeds to rub the dead skin off of your entire body by using repetitive motions that will reveal dark rolls of skin and dirt. Don’t be shocked if your suntan is scrubbed off as that is also par for the course, or if the scrubber douses you in a big bucket of water afterward. Either way, I can still guarantee that after this experience you will feel cleaner and lighter than you ever have before