A kese (pronounced "keh-seh") is a coarse woven mitt used in Turkish hammams to scrub the body. Once the skin has softened in warm water or steam, the kese is rubbed over damp skin in long, firm strokes. The friction lifts away dead skin and leaves the skin feeling smooth. A kese works with water alone, with no soap, scrub or other product.
Where does the kese come from?
The kese belongs to the Turkish bath, or hammam, a steam-bathing tradition that grew out of Roman bathing culture and became part of everyday life in the Ottoman era. In a traditional hammam, a bath attendant does the scrub for you. The attendant is called a tellak in the men's section and a natır in the women's section. A visit usually follows the same order: a long soak on warm marble, the scrub with the kese, a wash with soap, and a rinse.
What is a kese made of?
Traditional keses were woven from natural fibers such as goat hair or raw silk. Many modern keses are woven from viscose or similar plant-based fibers, which give the cloth a fine, slightly rough grain. The texture is what matters. It has to be coarse enough to grip softened skin, and flat and even enough not to scratch it.
How does a kese work?
A kese is a physical exfoliator. It removes dead skin by friction, not with acids or abrasive particles. Three things make it work:
- Soaked skin. Five to ten minutes in warm water softens the outer layer of skin so it can lift away.
- A damp mitt. The kese should be wrung out until it is damp, not dripping. A soaking wet mitt slides instead of gripping.
- No soap or oil first. Soap, shower gel and body oil make the mitt glide over the skin. The wash comes after the scrub.
How is a kese different from a loofah or a body scrub?
A loofah is used with soap to build a lather. A body scrub is a product with gritty particles that you rub in and rinse away. A kese is a reusable cloth mitt that exfoliates with water alone. We compare them side by side in Kese vs. Loofah vs. Body Scrub vs. Italy Towel.
How often should you use a kese?
Once a week is plenty for most people. If your skin feels tender afterwards, leave more time between scrubs. Don't use a kese on broken, sunburned or irritated skin, and if you have a skin condition, check with your doctor first.
How do you care for a kese?
Rinse the mitt well with clean water after each use, wring it out and hang it up to dry. Replace it when the weave starts to feel smooth or worn.
Kese quick facts
- What it is: a coarse woven exfoliating mitt from the Turkish hammam.
- Also spelled: kese, kese mitt, hammam mitt, hammam glove. The similar glove used in Moroccan hammams is called a kessa.
- How it's used: on soaked, damp skin, with water only.
- How often: about once a week.
- Who does the scrub in a hammam: the tellak or natır, the bath attendant.
The Tellak Hammam Exfoliating Mitt is a kese woven in Türkiye and made for your own shower. For the full method, read How to Use a Kese Mitt at Home.