The Korean body scrub
A scrub is a firm exfoliation, done by hand
It is how bathhouses in Korea have done it for generations, and it is the reason most people come to Mugwort.
You lie on a padded table in a tiled room with a hose station. Your attendant uses a textured mitt and warm water to exfoliate the skin, one area at a time, and rinses as they go. It is firm by design. Nothing happens that your attendant has not told you about first.
You set the pressure, and can change it at any point
You wear the disposable underwear we give you, or a swimsuit
One attendant stays with you the whole time
Step by step
What happens, in order
About an hour and a half from the warm-up to the rest.
- 0110 to 20 minutes
Step 1: Warm up
A short sit in a warm room before the scrub. Your attendant tells you when it is time to move on, and you can leave any time you feel dizzy or unwell.
Sit in a warm room until your attendant calls you
Bring a towel to sit on
Leave any time you feel dizzy or unwell
- 025 minutes
Step 2: Rinse
A quick rinse in the scrub room, so you begin clean. You wear the disposable underwear we give you, or a swimsuit if you would rather.
Disposable underwear is at the front desk
Tie your hair up
- 0330 to 40 minutes
Step 3: Scrub
Your attendant works one area at a time with a textured mitt and warm water: back, arms, legs, then the front. It is firm, and you set the pressure.
Back, arms, legs, then the front
Tell your attendant to go lighter or firmer
Areas you would rather skip are skipped
- 0410 minutes
Step 4: Rest
A last rinse and a towel, then a cup of tea. Take your time getting dressed; nobody is waiting for the table.
A final rinse and a clean towel
Tea in the rest lounge
Before you start
Tell your attendant three things
A scrub is for most adults, and a minute of conversation at the start is the whole preparation.
Any allergy, skin condition or sunburn
If you are pregnant, or have a heart condition or any health concern with heat. Ask your doctor first
How firm you like it, and any area to skip
Questions
About the scrub
What should I do before I come?
Skip shaving or waxing the same day, and avoid the sun beforehand if you can. Eat lightly and drink water.
How long does it take?
About an hour and a half from the warm-up to the rest. A scrub with a scalp massage runs a little longer.
Can I book a scrub with a friend?
Yes. Book two tables for the same time and you will be side by side in the scrub room.
Is it only for women, or only for Koreans?
No. Neighbors of every kind come, and many are doing it for the first time. We explain each step as we go.
Ready for a scrub?
Pick a time that is open and we will have a table, a locker and a towel ready.