Traditional Balinese Beauty Rituals and Where to Try Them

In Bali, beauty is not just skin deep—it’s a spiritual practice that reflects balance, harmony, and inner wellbeing. For centuries, Balinese women (and men) have nurtured themselves with natural, time-honored treatments passed down through generations. These beauty rituals combine the healing powers of herbs, flowers, and oils with a philosophy rooted in self-care, respect for the body, and spiritual cleansing.

Today, these ancient practices are alive and thriving, and many spas and wellness centers around the island offer authentic Balinese beauty experiences using traditional ingredients and techniques. Whether you’re seeking to rejuvenate your skin, reset your energy, or simply indulge in sensory bliss, these time-tested rituals will leave you feeling transformed. ✨🌿

🌺 Boreh Body Mask: Bali’s Herbal Warming Tradition

The Boreh treatment is one of Bali’s oldest and most beloved healing rituals. Originally developed by rice farmers in the highlands, this warming body mask is made from a blend of ground spices like ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, cloves, and rice powder. It’s applied to the body to improve circulation, soothe muscle aches, and fight colds—making it the perfect recovery treatment after long hikes or surf sessions.

The mixture is gently massaged into the skin and left to dry before being rinsed off with warm water or herbal tea. The sensation is deeply relaxing, with a subtle heat that seeps into the muscles and joints. The ritual ends with a shower and often a Balinese herbal tea, leaving the body soft and the mind refreshed.

Many traditional spas in Ubud and central Bali still offer Boreh in its purest form, using recipes passed down through generations. This isn’t just a beauty ritual—it’s a connection to Bali’s agricultural roots and ancestral wisdom.

🛁 Where to Try It:
✔️ Fivelements Retreat (Ubud)
✔️ Karsa Spa (Ubud)
✔️ Ayusha Wellness Spa (Munduk)

🌿 Mandi Lulur: The Royal Javanese-Balinese Glow Up

Originally a royal treatment reserved for Indonesian princesses, Mandi Lulur is a luxurious exfoliating ritual that has become a spa staple throughout Bali. The experience begins with a full-body massage using coconut or jasmine oil, followed by the application of a turmeric-based body scrub made from rice powder, sandalwood, and fragrant herbs.

Once the scrub is gently buffed into the skin and removed, a cooling yogurt mask is applied to hydrate and balance. The ritual ends with a fragrant flower bath, where you soak in a tub filled with rose petals, frangipani, and hibiscus—surrounded by candles and soft music.

Mandi Lulur is more than a beauty treatment—it’s a full-body sensory journey. It leaves your skin glowing, your mind clear, and your spirit renewed. Traditionally, brides undergo Mandi Lulur daily in the lead-up to their wedding for both physical and energetic cleansing.

🛁 Where to Try It:
✔️ Taksu Spa (Ubud)
✔️ The Ritz-Carlton Spa (Nusa Dua)
✔️ Thermes Marins Bali at Ayana (Jimbaran)

🌸 Balinese Flower Baths: Sacred Soaking for Body and Soul

One of the most iconic and Instagrammable Balinese rituals is the flower bath—a beautiful tradition that is more than just aesthetics. Balinese flower baths are used in ceremonies and healing rituals to restore harmony and purify the aura. Each flower has symbolic meaning: frangipani for spirituality, hibiscus for passion, and marigold for blessings.

After a massage or scrub, guests are guided into a stone or copper tub filled with warm water and flower petals arranged in artistic patterns. It’s an invitation to pause, reflect, and connect with nature. Some versions include herbal tea or a guided meditation during the soak.

Today, flower baths are popular in wellness retreats and eco-luxury spas across the island. Beyond their photogenic charm, they honor Bali’s deep connection to nature, ritual, and beauty as a spiritual practice.

🛁 Where to Try It:
✔️ Kayon Jungle Resort (Ubud)
✔️ Bali Botanica Day Spa (Ubud)
✔️ Tirta Empul Healing Sessions (with purification bath)

🧖 Balinese Hair Treatments: Coconut Oil, Hibiscus & Scalp Healing

Hair care in Balinese tradition is about more than shine—it’s about calming the nervous system, clearing negative energy, and nurturing one’s crown chakra. Women often apply warm coconut oil infused with hibiscus, aloe, and lime to the scalp and hair, followed by a gentle head massage to improve blood flow and relax the mind.

These treatments promote healthy hair growth and are especially helpful after long exposure to sun and saltwater. The rituals usually include a scalp massage, hair mask, steam wrap, and herbal rinse, often followed by a gentle blow-dry or braid.

It’s not just self-care—it’s self-honoring. In Balinese culture, the head is considered the most sacred part of the body, and treating it with care is part of spiritual upkeep.

🛁 Where to Try It:
✔️ Goldust Beauty Lounge (Canggu)
✔️ Sundari Day Spa (Seminyak)
✔️ Tjampuhan Spa (Ubud)

🏨 Where to Stay for a Traditional Beauty Experience

✔️ Fivelements Retreat Ubud – A deeply spiritual eco-luxury haven offering authentic Balinese healing, rituals, and sacred flower baths.
✔️ The Kayon Jungle Resort – Known for luxurious spa packages in a jungle setting, ideal for full ritual immersion.
✔️ Ritz-Carlton Bali – Nusa Dua’s refined retreat with a signature Balinese Royal Ritual package.
✔️ Ayana Resort and Spa Bali – A beachfront sanctuary with legendary spa rituals including Boreh and flower baths.
✔️ Alila Ubud – A hillside design hotel offering wellness rituals in harmony with nature.

Traditional beauty in Bali is rooted in intention, balance, and reverence for the body. These ancient rituals are not just about how you look—they’re about how you feel, connect, and honor yourself. Whether through a spice-infused scrub, a flower-filled soak, or a warm coconut oil massage, every experience is a chance to tap into Bali’s wisdom of wellness and inner radiance.

So next time you’re on the island, indulge in more than a massage—immerse yourself in a ritual that has soothed bodies and lifted spirits for centuries.

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