What is a keesa?
A keesa is a mitt or a glove serving as a long-standing core step in the skincare routine (i.e. the Hammam Routine™) of several Middle Eastern countries, including: Afghanistan, Iran, Morroco and Turkey.
That is where the Hammam routine was born.
What is a keesa glove used for?
A keesa glove is used for skin exfoliation. Specifically, a special type of skin exfoliation: to scrub off cherk, which is a word in Persian that basically translates to "dirt". This cherk from your skin is just the dead skin that you would be better off without.
This type of exfoliation that is usually foreign to most people in the West and as a result, many people here are missing out on one of the East's most effective skincare secrets. Others may know about it, but have trouble finding a source to purchase quality, authentic products from. That's where we come in.
Whether you've heard of it or not, either way, your current skincare routine is incomplete, and truly lacking, without a keesa.
Why you shouldn't use a loofah
You may be thinking, "but I use a loofah already". A loofah is meant for the job of exfoliating your skin but it does only a superficial job. A keesa, by comparison, does a thorough job and peels off the dead skin, leaving you with noticeably softer skin. The results of using a keesa truly makes you feel brand new when you come out of the shower.
How do I use a keesa?
The art of using a keesa can be a little tricky. As a result, some who have tried it already may complain that their keesa doesn't work (i.e. that they scrub and nothing happens and they even hurt themselves in the process, by scrubbing too hard). However, once you get the understand the simple process and get the hang of it, you'll realize it's not difficult to achieve the desired results.
We'll tell you this: if you're human with human skin, a keesa will definitely work on your skin. It's just a matter of applying the correct procedure and appropriate prepping of the skin before using the keesa. Check out the "How to use" section on our keesa product pages or see here:
1. Ensure your skin has been exposed to steam for a good length of time, approximately 15 minutes. Steam from either a hot shower or the steam room. IMPORTANT: Do not attempt to scrub your skin earlier than the recommended time here, the keesa will not work unless the skin has been adequately prepped.
2. Once your skin has had time to absorb some humidity, it should be ready to keesa (verb). Test a patch of your upper thigh or stomach to check.
3. Move the keesa in up and down or in circular motions to srub off all the cherk.
Optional: Use sefidab for a smoother experience. Literally. Sefidab will soften your skin and serves as a primer for scrubbing with the keesa.
TIP: To save yourself from scrubbing your bath tub or shower stall afterwards, scrub various portions of your body, one at a time.
4. Wash off the portion you just scrubbed with water.
5. Clean the cherk (exfoliated, rolls of skin) off the keesa with water.
6. Start scrubbing next portion.
7. Optional: Finish off by lathering body in soap.
Korean Skincare Version
It is also a tradition of Korean skincare regimens. The Korean version differs in that they commonly use a special washcloth for the same purpose or a mitt of a different structure than that of a typical keesa.