BEDM: Indonesian Pamper nostalgia

Image borrowed from Jakarta city life

I'm not really a pamperer in the traditional sense of beauty treatments and the suchlike. I'll have a pedicure every once in a while, usually one in the summer and I'll have my hair cut.  I'm definitely not adverse to the idea of a massage, pedicure, facial etc- I love them in fact, but I rarely have them. But, my idea of a pampering often includes lying in bed late on a Saturday morning, large mug of tea by bed, book to read, curtains shut but with a little light. This is my idea of bliss.

But when I lived in Indonesia, I was introduced to a wonderful form of pampering and how I long to experience it again.
It is called a 'Creambath' and that's what it is called in Indonesian too!
I was introduced to it by my private Gamelan teacher.  He was teaching me and our Thai friend Waewdao and the three of us went to a salon to try a Creambath.  We even used to nickname him Pak Creambath because he LOVED having a Creambath treatment.

You would take your top off  (with underwear) and wear a towel- velcroed or buttoned towel round your top.  You would sit in the chair and what happens is, they wash your hair and then after a little towel pat dry.
Then, they take a pot of rich, nourishing conditioning cream (based on your hairtype).  This is a thick mixture usually with some natural ingredients- there was one that involved avocado, coconut or milk, carrot also.   The beautician would then apply it to your hair along form the scalp to the full length and massage it into your head. It was incredibly relaxing. The massage was quite firm but felt like it was doing your head great good as well as your hair.  When they had applied it to the full length, they would then put you under one of those head steamers (you know one of those head-dryer things that senior ladies who were having a hairstyle set would be put under.  You would steam for some 10-15 minutes. Whilst that was happening, the beautician would massage your neck, upper back, arms and hands with moisturiser. It was very nice and they were very good at massaging those awkward knots!

Finally, they would wash your hair and then then dry it (I think- it is 9 years since I last had one).  Your hair would feel incredibly  soft, nourished and smell absolutely amazing after the treatment.
My favourite salon was one in Penatih where my teacher lived.  The treatment was very reasonable and cost me about 20,000Rp from that place (around about £1.60!) some 12 years ago.  It was also very important for me when I was there as I was using a traditional Kamar Mandi (bathroom) in the Kos (room) where I lived and only had cold water and a scoop to wash my hair- I wasn't so good at using the Kamar mandi for washing my hair effectively!

I think longingly of going back to Bali and a Creambath would be one of my first treats when I was there!

Have you ever heard of a Creambath or something similar and would you like one?
I'd also love a great big long foot massage!!! Do they do such things in the UK?

xxx


For a little more info, you can look at Jakarta Citylife article about it