The Kessa Glove: A Buyer's Guide for Spas and Retailers

The kessa is the cheapest item in the hammam and the one that decides whether the treatment works. A good glove removes dead skin in long rolls with gentle pressure. A bad one scratches, slides, or falls apart after a few uses. Here is how to tell them apart.

What a kessa is

A kessa (also spelled kassa or kese) is a woven mitt with a rough surface. Traditional Moroccan gloves are made from viscose or a viscose blend woven in a crepe texture, which grips softened skin without cutting it. The glove only works on skin that has been warmed and treated with black soap.

Fabric grades

Grade	Feel	Best for
Firm (traditional)	Rough, strong grip	Professional spa therapists, experienced clients
Medium	Balanced	Most retail customers
Soft	Gentle	Face, sensitive skin, first-timers

Tip from experience: retail customers who buy a firm glove and use it on dry skin at home are the ones who write bad reviews. Sell the medium grade in retail kits and explain in one line on the pack that skin must be warm and wet.

How to check quality

• Rub test: on a damp forearm the glove should grip, not scratch.
• Stitching: double stitching at the wrist and thumb; loose threads unravel after a few washes.
• Elastic or strap: a wrist band keeps the glove in place when wet.
• Color fastness: soak it in warm water for 10 minutes. Dye should not run.
• Size: most adult hands fit a standard X × Y cm glove. Ask for a sample before ordering thousands.

How long a kessa lasts

With proper care, a home user's glove lasts several months. In a spa used on many clients, durability depends on your hygiene policy; many spas give one glove per client and include it in the price.

Cleaning and hygiene

• Rinse in warm water after every use.
• Wash with soap, wring and hang to dry fully.
• Never store it wet in a closed bag.
• Follow your local health regulations on reusable tools between clients.

Retail and kit ideas

• Glove in a printed pouch, hung on a hook display.
• Glove + black soap duo: the most natural bundle.
• Full kit: glove, black soap, ghassoul, rose water.
• Men's kit in dark colors with eucalyptus black soap.

Mistakes to avoid

• Buying gloves without testing samples on real, warm, soaped skin.
• Using firm gloves on the face.
• Packing gloves in plastic while still slightly damp from production, which can cause odor in transit.