by Grace Wilson
Oh, the Korean Scrub. It’s not for the feint of heart, nor for any woman who is shy about her body. But if you want to have an absolutely blissful day, go to a Korean spa and let those ladies work their skin-stimulating magic!

Koreans have a bathing culture a lot like that of the Japanese. They enjoy regular visits to public bath houses where amenities are provided for you to scrub yourself up really well and shower off. Once the body has been thoroughly cleaned you create your own hydrotherapy experience by alternating between relaxing in a hot bath, steam room or sauna, and then occasionally taking a plunge in a cold pool to stimulate your circulation.

Any time I’ve had a Korean scrub, it’s been in conjunction with public bathing. You’ll probably be given a locker for your belongings and a robe to wear, but you won’t need it for long. Your scrub attendant will have you start by relaxing in the heated pool or the steam room to open up the pores, then have you rinse off before lying down on a massage table. Don’t be surprised if the tables are out in the open in one corner of the bath house – nudity among the women is normal, and you won’t be sharing any facilities with men.

Once you lie down you will scrubbed vigorously, and I mean vigorously. Forget about any fruity salt scrub you may have had at a luxury spa – these women put on their special scratchy gloves and go to town. It’s the scrub of your life. And nothing is off limits, if you know what I mean. Every inch of your skin is going to be scrubbed, including breasts, inner thighs (all the way up to the pelvis), and buttocks. Don’t be nervous, it’s fabulous. It will be the most thorough, complete, head-to-toe exfoliation you’ve ever had.

During and after the scrub (which takes 30-40 minutes) your spa attendant may dump buckets of warm water over your body to rinse away the dead skin cells, or if it’s more modern she might use a hand-held shower sprayer. Honestly, I prefer the heavy splash of water from the bucket. Then she’ll soap you up (mmm, so smooth and soft now …) and dump water on you again.

Any number of things can happen after this. If you’re getting a massage, they might dry you off and squirt baby oil all over your body. Be prepared for an ass-kicking is all I can say. From what I’ve experienced, Korean women must like a deep, fast, oily massage, and their masseuses are strong! I’ve had my hair shampooed and conditioned, I’ve also had cucumber facial treatments. Whatever they’re offering, say yes! Even if you only get the scrub you will feel completely worked over when they’re through with you. Many spas say you will “glow” after receiving this or that treatment. I think we all know it’s a popular catch phrase in the industry. But glowing is not optional after a Korean Body Scrub. Your skin has never been this alive, I promise.

Not for the Sensitive or Uncommitted

Like I said, this treatment is not for a spa novice. Don’t go unless you can be open to a new experience. If you’re not Korean, you will probably be the only one there who isn’t, but nobody cares. Your attendant might not speak English. It’s best to just relax and let her do her thing. You will be completely nude, possibly in a room with other naked women walking around. Your attendant may toss a washcloth near your “privates” on occasion as a courtesy, but don’t count on any coverage. Still, I have never found the atmosphere to be uncomfortable.

I don’t recommend this treatment for sensitive skin. This is for women who want a serious, therapeutic, skin-stimulating scrub. Don’t do any shaving the morning before your appointment.

Services at a Korean spa are generally less expensive than the local going rate. Do plan to leave a gratuity as usual (15-20%). Finding a Korean spa or bath house can be a challenge, but worth the effort. Start by asking around, especially if you have any Korean friends. More and more are developing websites to offer their services to a wider community so you may be able to locate one through your favorite search engine. Korean restaurants and Asian groceries are also good places to seek referrals. Since Asian businesses are generally located close to each other within certain neighborhoods, you can probably walk right out of the spa and enjoy a delicious meal next door. Get together with a friend and make an afternoon of it!