TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - On a clear and sunny day, two women rushed to Spa&Beyond located at Jalan Joko Sutono, South Jakarta.
"I want to enjoy a Moroccan bath. My job during the December 2 Rally made exhausted," Riska Anisti said last weekend.
The 32-year old activist spent the weekend with her friend Tatia Dyasari to try the Moroccan bath.
"The result is apparent after being treated here," Tatia said.
Many people would think Morocco as a hot African country. It turns out that Morocco has a unique skin care secret.
"Based on my experience in Morocco, I want to establish a spa that provides luxurious bath ala Moroccan Queen," Spa&Beyond owner Farah Spears said.
The former flight attendand at a Middle Eastern airline founded Spa&Beyond with her best friend, who was also a flight attendant, Faizah in April 2015. Both of them wanted to recreate their Moroccan bath experience through Spa&Beyond.
"I like seeing Moroccan Women's glowing, bright and healty skin. So, I tried to find the secret," Farah explained.
Farah later asked her friend from Morocco and found out that the secret was a unique bath ritual. The local people call the ritual as hamam magribi.
"I tried hamam magribi, and then I just can't stop," Farah added.
Farah learned more about hamam magribi, by visiting regular places to five-star hotels. Soon, she was inspired to share her experience by providing Moroccan bath in Indonesia.
"When I was committed to found [Spa&Beyond] in Indonesia, I and Faizah visited places in Morocco and bought equipment and materials," Farah revealed.
Now, Spa&Beyond is the only place that offers the Moroccan bath in Jakarta. The spa was built on a 100-square meter land and consists of beauty shop, Ayuveda massage room, steam room, and Moroccan bath.
The market has responded well. Farah said that Moroccan bath enthusiasts are not only females but also males. Therefore, Spa&Beyond offers a package for couples.
Farah explained that Moroccan bath uses natural materials, such as black soap. The soap is similar to dark green gel. The black soap is used for 20 minutes with gloves made of keisha tree fiber.
Another advantage of the Moroccan bath is the use of argan oil imported from Morocco. The oil is used to maintain skin's moisture and softness.
Farah added that the Moroccan bath ritual is started from steaming body for 20 minutes to release toxins. After that, the customer enters a bath room with a bed made of stone and cold and hot showers.
"Where it comes from, the bed is made out of a large stone," Farah explained.
The customer is then given a 25-minute massage before the black soap is applied to the customer’s body. The final step is cleaning the soap with the keisha tree fiber.
Although it seems rough, Farah guaranteed that keisha cloth is safe for any skin types, including the sensitive one.
After all of the above steps, the customer is suggested to have a 20-minute massage with argan oil. The total duration for the full-course treatment ranges from 90 minutes to 120 minutes.
HADRIANI PUDJIARTI
