Scrubs and masks for baths: their types, rules of use, preparation at home

High temperatures and humid air in a bathhouse or sauna have a general healing effect on the human body.

The steam room promotes the removal of toxins, cellular regeneration and muscle relaxation. For this reason, bath treatments are so popular among women who want to look young and fit at any age. They can improve the condition of the skin and hair if scrubs and bath masks are actively used.

Cosmetics based on natural active ingredients promote maximum relaxation, gentle skin peeling and silhouette smoothing.

Therapeutic effects of bath procedures

The bathhouse for women has long been not just a place for good relaxation and pastime, but also a unique spa treatment.

Hot steam and high humidity contribute to the effective effects of cosmetics on the female body.

The bath has a powerful therapeutic effect on all body systems, which is manifested in the following:

• stimulation of sweat glands, deep cleansing of the upper layer of the epidermis;
• general detoxification;
• warming and cleansing the respiratory system;
• strengthening the heart muscle and blood vessels;
• eliminating stagnant processes in the circulatory system;
• removing residual lactic acid from muscle tissue, relieving fatigue and tension;
• regulating the acidity of gastric juice and improving the functioning of the digestive tract;
• strengthening metabolic processes in cells;
• prevention of diseases associated with high cholesterol levels.

Gentle peeling in the bath includes the procedure of preliminary steaming the body with hot steam and treatment with a broom made of oak or birch branches. The next stage is the application of special cosmetics that gently cleanse the epidermis of toxins.

The most popular are homemade scrubs and bath masks. Natural compositions have a gentle effect on the skin - cleanse, nourish and moisturize. In addition, they improve blood circulation, speed up metabolism, and remove excess fluid from the body.

Regular use of bath cosmetics helps fight excess weight and cellulite.

In addition, masks and scrubs for baths strengthen and nourish hair follicles and prevent the formation of dandruff and split ends.

Who is this type of steam room suitable for?

Since this procedure causes a person to lose a large amount of moisture, many athletes include a visit to the bathhouse in their regimen. The body becomes more prominent, as the fat layer is burned due to active heat exchange. Ladies can take note that the Finnish sauna is ideal for weight loss.

But there are a number of restrictions under which visiting steam rooms is highly undesirable. If you are overweight, visiting places with such temperature conditions is extremely contraindicated. It is also worth paying attention to the general condition of the body. Coronary heart disease, blood pressure and shortness of breath are not the best companions when going on a hot flight.

In order not to harm yourself, you need to know how to properly steam in a Finnish sauna.

The Finns have thought out the purification technology perfectly and low humidity means compliance with safety standards. The higher the temperature, the lower the water droplets in the air, otherwise it will inevitably result in a severe burn.

Photo from the site Proekt-banya.ru

There are some more tips for beginners on how to properly go to the Finnish sauna, which has recently become increasingly in demand:

• Often public baths combine different types of national steam rooms under one roof - hammam, wood barrels, and more classic options. It would be a mistake to visit them sequentially. You need to enter the Finnish corner after taking a shower at room temperature and drying yourself thoroughly with a towel.
• The residence time should be 5 minutes, maximum 10. Do not allow the body to overheat.
• Do not place more than two scoops of water on the rocks at a time.
• The procedure is best completed with a cool shower and a dip in the pool.

Photo from the site 12.livs-novosti.ru

Health Benefits

For many, dry air in a steam room is an anti-argument when choosing the type of ablution. What are the benefits of a Finnish sauna?

You will agree to try this procedure if you find out that it is excellent:

• strengthens all body systems;
• eliminates symptoms of chronic fatigue and depression;
• eliminates acne and rashes of other nature;
• helps in losing weight and fighting cellulite; strengthens the immune system;
• is the prevention of respiratory diseases.

Even avid visitors to steam rooms do not always want to experiment, but after learning how a Finnish sauna differs from a Russian one, and how to steam in it correctly, they decide to try it. After all, this is not only a standard cleansing procedure, but also an introduction to the traditions of another country.

Rules for procedures in the bathhouse

To get a tangible effect from visiting the steam room, bath procedures are carried out in compliance with certain rules:

1. You need to get used to hot steam gradually, increasing the duration of your stay in the steam room. Before your first visit, you need to take a warm shower without moisturizing your hair to protect your head from overheating.
2. Before entering the steam room, a bath cap is put on the head, the body is thoroughly dried with a towel so that excess moisture does not inhibit the release of sweat.
3. In the steam room, it is better to stay on the lower shelves for the first 2–3 minutes; as your body warms up, you can move higher. To improve sweating and uniformly warm the body, procedures are carried out in a lying position.
4. After 10 minutes, you need to leave the steam room, rinse your body with cool water and take a short break for 5 minutes.
5. In between procedures, it is recommended to replenish the water balance in the body by taking bath drinks - green or herbal tea, vitamin drink, fruit drink or clean water.

Important! For beginning bathhouse attendants, the optimal duration of one entry into the steam room is 4 minutes. The length of stay gradually increases to 15 minutes. Frequency of visits – 3 visits once a week.

Many women understand that beauty treatments in a bathhouse are the best way to care for their skin, body and hair.

The right end to your bathing day

After you have spent enough time in the steam room, shower and pool, you need to fully relax, and not rush to leave the sauna, as many are used to doing. Otherwise, the desired relaxation in the physical and psychological sense will not be achieved.

Lay down comfortably, relax your muscles, rest, feel a surge of strength and allow your body to cool down, and after that go home invigorated, having regained your strength after a hard week of work and ready for new achievements!

Subtleties of applying peeling in a bath

High-quality preparation for a cosmetic procedure will make it useful and effective. Therefore, it is so important to know about the features of applying bath cosmetics. They may be as follows:

• The natural peeling composition is prepared in advance from fresh and high-quality ingredients.
• To carry out cosmetic procedures you will need a hat, a towel, slippers, brushes, shampoo, a broom, a ladle, and soap. To apply peeling to the body, you can use a brush, massage brush or glove.
• It is better to apply cosmetics after the 2nd visit to the steam room. This helps the skin become as steamed as possible, which means that enlarged pores are able to absorb more nutrients. Some formulations are applied directly in the steam room.
• For better absorption, the finished mask or scrub needs to be preheated to 35 degrees. To do this, leave the jar with the product in the steam room for several minutes. The heated mixture is applied to the skin after completion of the procedure.
• Natural-based cosmetics are applied with soft and smooth movements in a clockwise direction. They start with problem areas - feet, elbows, knees, hands, which require deeper cleansing and nutrition. If you have cellulite, you should pay more attention to the affected areas to increase blood circulation and break down fat deposits under the epidermis. In this case, you should avoid excessive exposure to sensitive areas of the face and body - décolleté, around the eyes, under the knees, in the crook of the arms. Also, the products are not applied to damaged areas with cuts, abrasions and wounds.
• To prevent allergic reactions and enhance the positive effect of the procedures, bath cosmetics must be selected taking into account your skin type. If after applying the composition there is itching, redness or the appearance of spots, the product must be thoroughly rinsed off and, if possible, not used in the future.
• Warm water is used to remove cosmetics. After each procedure, the skin can be protected with moisturizer.

The bathhouse is a wonderful place designed for taking wellness treatments based on healthy and easy-to-prepare cosmetics.

We offer proven recipes for bath cosmetics that you can easily prepare with your own hands at home.

How to behave in a Finnish sauna?

I take a decisive step inside, trying to look like a regular at saunas. A young man sits behind the glass cash register window. In a pointedly cheeky tone, I say: “Me, please...”

"Do you have a towel?" - asks the young man. Damn, I forgot. Now everyone will understand what an amateur I am.

It’s okay, the man says, I’ll rent it for you. He hands me a towel and a key on a rubber bracelet and points to the door on the right.

In the wood-panelled locker room I am greeted by a gaggle of white, saggy, wrinkled male buttocks. Thank God, at least there are no women, I note to myself, otherwise additional problems would have arisen. I find a secluded corner and begin to expose myself.

But the clothes are folded in the locker. I stand with a towel in my hands, having no idea what to do next.

Wrap a towel around your thighs - or, God forbid, will this seem like Anglo-Saxon puritanism? Maybe there are different degrees of nudity for different rooms of the bath complex? I don't even know where to go.

I pretend to rearrange my things in my locker, glancing at the others out of the corner of my eye and risking seeming like a pervert. Finally, another sauna lover walks past me with a towel casually thrown over his shoulder. I follow him. My towel is also draped over my shoulder.

Walking naked in front of strangers, I feel constrained to the point of cramps. The more I try to walk calmly, the more awkward my gait looks. We go into the shower room, and I see with horror that at the other end of the room there is a man stretched out on a massage table, being whipped with a birch broom... a woman.

She's dressed and completely focused on what she's doing, but for God's sake! I jump into the shower stall and stand facing the wall. And only after washing, I realize with horror that I have lost the object of my surveillance. Where did he go, and most importantly, did he take a towel with him? There are several towels hanging on the wall, but is his one of them?

I know Finns are obsessed with cleanliness. Can a towel in a sauna be considered unhygienic? Or, on the contrary, is it unhygienic not to take a towel with you? Do I need to spread it under myself or should I go into the sauna with my bare butt? Oh my God! And how did I decide to subject myself to such humiliation?

Natural masks for body, face and hair

Masks promote gentle cleansing, hydration and nutrition. Useful compositions can be prepared from kefir, honey, salt, oatmeal and clay, the benefits of which can be noticeable after the first procedure.

1. Face mask made of colored cosmetic clay. Amazing anti-aging clay compositions help relieve inflammation, reduce rashes and accelerate skin regeneration. The clay is diluted with water to a paste-like state, applied to the face with smooth movements and left until dry. The mask is carefully washed off with water, and the skin is moisturized with a light protective cream.
2. Body and face mask made of oatmeal, yolk and milk. To do this, pour 200 g of flakes with milk and mix until a thick mass is obtained. After complete cooling, add egg yolk and ½ tbsp to the base. l. oils (from pumpkin seeds or olives), mix. The finished mask is evenly distributed over problem areas and left for half an hour.
3. A mask of honey and fine salt to warm up and increase blood circulation. The ingredients are mixed in equal proportions. The resulting paste is applied to problem areas and left for a quarter of an hour. It can be used before starting the main bath procedures.
4. A mask based on salt, soda and water with an anti-cellulite effect. Take 3 tbsp. l. salt and soda, add water in the required volume to obtain a thick mixture. The finished mass is evenly distributed on the body and kept for half an hour. Particular attention should be paid to treating problem areas affected by cellulite. This effective remedy helps fight excess weight, orange peel and sagging skin.
5. Kefir mask for moisturizing and nourishing the face, body and hair follicles. Kefir (store-bought or homemade) is heated to a temperature of 25 degrees, applied to the skin, and washed off after 25 minutes.
6. A mask of honey and burdock oil to strengthen all hair types. To obtain the composition, take burdock oil and liquid honey (3 tablespoons each) in equal proportions. The product is evenly rubbed into the scalp and distributed throughout the hair. To create a thermal effect, the head is covered with a shower cap. The mixture is kept for 35 minutes, thoroughly washed off with softened water and shampoo, and the hair is rinsed with herbal tincture.
7. Mask with henna on a colorless basis and nettle to strengthen hair. The ingredients are taken in the following proportions: per 100 g of dry nettle 3 tsp. colorless henna. To obtain a thick paste, each component is individually steamed with water and combined into a homogeneous mass. The mask is applied to the hair and left for 20 minutes.

The most important rules

Let's start with the most important rules, deviation from which is fraught with either harm to your health or the lack of actual benefits from the Finnish sauna. If you decide to go to a Finnish steam room, be sure to consider the following points:

• Do not turn a visit to the bathhouse into an express procedure. Your blood vessels will not be able to adapt to high or low temperatures, the tonic effect on blood vessels and the calming effect on the nervous system will be minimized;
• be sure to follow sanitary rules when visiting the bathhouse, otherwise you may encounter fungal or bacterial infections;
• be careful when you increase the temperature or humidity in the steam room, this can negatively affect the condition of your blood vessels and can even be fraught with serious complications such as a stroke or heart attack;
• do not stay in the steam room, leave the shower and do not go into the pool if you feel a deterioration in your general condition or realize that something is wrong. Open the windows, go out into the fresh air, and be sure to ask someone to be nearby.

Homemade body and face scrubs

Scrubs help deeply cleanse the skin and increase blood circulation in the cells. Most compositions for bath procedures are prepared from available ingredients - salt, honey and coffee.

Honey scrubs

The honey component in bath cosmetics gives an amazing effect: it cleanses and tightens pores, smooths out wrinkles and slows down skin aging.

1. With honey and cinnamon. For the mixture, take two parts honey and part cinnamon. The ingredients are mixed and applied evenly to the skin. Leave for no more than 5 minutes, rinse with water.
2. Made from honey and ground coffee beans. The ingredients are taken in the same proportions (2:1). The product is applied to problem areas and left for a quarter of an hour.
3. From honey and salt (sea or table). Salt has a wound-healing and antiseptic effect, improves blood flow and cleanses pores well. The cleanser is prepared from ingredients taken in equal proportions. Duration of use – 15 minutes.

Coffee scrub

Coffee beans contain large amounts of linoleic acid, which promotes collagen production and slows down aging.

The most popular recipe is a scrub made from coffee beans with the addition of stone. An equal amount of ingredients is mixed to obtain a powder, then any nutritious oil is added - from olives, almonds or sunflowers. Apply the product evenly to the skin and leave for 10 minutes.

Features of the black sauna

The main difference between such a bathhouse is the absence of a chimney. This feature leads to the fact that all the smoke from the burnt logs remains indoors, settling on all surfaces. Passing through stones heated to enormous temperatures, it envelops the space, heating the air, ceiling and walls. Thus, the entire steam room becomes covered with soot. That's why the name black bath appeared.

To retain heat in such a room, it is made small in size, with low doors and double glazing. Depending on the size of the bathhouse, it is heated for no longer than 3 hours with the windows and door slightly open. After this time, all the burnt coals are removed from here. In this case, windows and doors must be closed. After 1 hour, carbon dioxide will come out and you can start steaming. To remove soot from the walls of other surfaces, they are doused with boiling water.

Salt room

Salt room , or salt grotto , is a room whose walls and ceiling are decorated with salt: made of bricks or tiles of Himalayan pink salt .
Exquisite versions embody the stylization of a salt mine, with relief walls, backlit salt crystals, the floor is covered with an even layer of salt crumbs, which delights the youngest visitors to the salt rooms. There are no shelves here like in a sauna, and for the comfort and relaxation of visitors there are sun loungers inside the salt mine. Halochambers are equipped with salt nebulizers WDT Solfog V2 , which are intended for use in salt rooms and rest rooms at ambient temperatures up to 35C°. The concentrated saline solution is supplied in individual sterile packaging made of dense polyethylene. It is believed that the marine climate indoors promotes healing processes for diseases of the respiratory system and skin. The equipment is equipped with built-in aromatherapy for one scent. The updated WDT dosing station operates almost silently, making the relaxation process more comfortable. As an additional option, you can install an audio system and play the sounds of nature during sessions: for example, the sound of waves or the rustling of leaves in the wind.

The session lasts 40-60 minutes, it is recommended to take a course of 10 visits. In terms of its healing properties, one session in the salt room can be equated to 4 days of relaxation on the sea coast.

Internet tales about a black bath

In general, quite a lot has been written and told about the black bathhouse. Unfortunately, one gets the impression that some of these writers have never in their lives been not only to a “black”, but also to a “white” bathhouse. Although there is a small plus in this: when you want to laugh heartily, go to such resources, read and you will really have more fun. Just three examples:

Someone is sure that a black bath does not need to be ventilated during and after heating, as all the smoke evaporates through the microscopic cracks between the logs. It turns out that there is nothing to do with the smoke escaping through the door, windows, portholes (windows) or the exhaust vent of the roof. And, judging by the text, the steam rooms in the white baths are literally stuffed with a complex ventilation system:

“...Many of the bad combustion products will not penetrate the body in any way, since after a good warm-up all the smoke evaporates through microscopic cracks between the logs . There is no need for complex ventilation in the steam room ...”

Someone is convinced that the service life of a wooden bathhouse, if it is equipped with a chimney, is sharply reduced and amounts to a maximum of ten to fifteen years.

It is not known that log houses last 50-80 years, and if they are processed, and the wood is of high quality, then there are also much older specimens...

Harm and contraindications to visiting the sauna

In addition to the benefits, a sauna using salts can also cause minor harm to the body. It is not recommended to visit the salt steam room if you have the following contraindications:

• 
  Chronic diseases in the acute stage;

• High temperature for several days;
• Postoperative period;
• High blood pressure, kidney and liver failure;
• The presence of malignant tumors, internal bleeding;
• Mental illnesses;
• Serious skin damage;
• Alcohol or drug intoxication.

It is not recommended to visit the steam room after taking medications or heavy meals.

To prevent unpleasant consequences of salt procedures, it is better to get timely consultation with a specialist and determine the existing contraindications in each specific case.

Features of kindling

For many, a Russian bathhouse is a dirty place. But this opinion is not true. The fact is that the soot settling on the walls makes them absolutely sterile. Thanks to it, all harmful microorganisms die. In ancient times, this is where Russian women preferred to give birth to children.

Birch, oak or aspen logs are best suited for lighting such a bath. Coniferous wood was not used because when it burns, it produces a lot of sparks, which can result in a fire.

It takes 2-3 hours to warm up a black sauna, depending on its size, the outside temperature and the design of the stove. Typically, firewood is laid 2-3 times. At first, a lot of smoke will be generated, which is normal. After heating the stones strongly, the draft will become better and there will be less smoke in the room. Due to the fact that it does not come out through the pipe, the room warms up faster and less firewood is used.

When the room is warm enough, the fire should be extinguished and the room ventilated. To remove soot from the walls and ceiling, they are doused with water. After 20-30 minutes, a special atmosphere is formed in the room, comfortable for your stay. If the room is built according to the rules, then the heat will remain here for 2 hours.

The heat generated by the stones is soft and well tolerated by the human body. This atmosphere is calming, has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system, improves the condition of the skin, joints and improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system. In addition, the black bathhouse looks unusual and mysterious.

Benefits of a black sauna

The advantages of such a steam room include:

1. Operational heating of the room. It should be heated for no longer than 3 hours. It will take much longer to create the optimal temperature in a traditional bath.
2. Fuel economy. Smoke and heated air leave here only after complete circulation throughout the entire room. Therefore, less wood will be required to kindle and maintain the optimal temperature.
3. Simplicity of construction. Building a black bathhouse will require less time and effort. After all, in this case there will be no need to ventilate and vent the chimney outside.
4. Richness of aromas. With this method of heating, the aromas of burnt herbs and logs are clearly felt in the room.
5. Durability. Repairs to such a steam room will have to be made no earlier than 15-20 years after its construction.