The majority of women from northern Nigeria practice the use of ancient and natural ingredients for body and skin therapy. Dilka is one of those common skin therapies being practised and it has become a flourishing trade for some northern women. Daily Trust Saturday reports.
Having a skincare routine is a necessity for most women, which is why they visit the spa and salon on weekly basis while others visit when their schedules allow them.
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However, some beauty therapists also offer home services to make things more convenient for their clients. One of those many therapies women pay heavily for is the dilka scrub.
Originally from Sudan, it is an ancient all-natural body exfoliating scrub. It’s a routine that leaves the skin feeling supple and also gives it some fragrance. The making of this ancient scrub involves the use of different natural ingredients and fragrances that will help scrub off dead skin tissue. The beauty of this ancient art is the fact that many therapists derive their own special formulas in order to stand out from others who are in the business.
A lot of brides subscribe to this service before their wedding as certain traditions believe that the scrub will help to cleanse, purify and beautify their skin, leaving them glowing, smart and extremely beautiful and desirable in the eyes of their husbands to be.
Asides the beauty benefits this skincare routine renders, the dilka trend is one business that has turned a money-making venture for most young females in the northern part of the country.
Yakaka, a skin therapist who offers dilka services, noted that it takes a while for the dilka to be ready for use.
She told Daily Trust Saturday that she started the business with N30, 000.
“I used to buy it from other people before I started making mine. Customers are presently not much because many people have now keyed into the business and clients now have a variety to choose from. Notwithstanding, the number of people in the business, I still make a profit of N40,000 weekly. I do it for 2-3 people a week,” She said.
She explained that; “I use Irish potato, groundnut and rice to make it. I cut the Irish potato in cubes, and cook it together with rice. After that, I grind all the ingredients together (we don’t add water), then cook it again to remove the water that comes from the mix after grinding. Afterward, I dig a small hole and put some coal inside, then put the pot on it and cover it with a sack to avoid the smoke from going out. It takes 2-4 days before it’s ready. After that, we mix it with musk, some scented and mould it.”
It’s no new thing that a lot of people have their reservations when it comes to trying out skin products or therapies that contain all-natural ingredients.
However, Yakaka stated that the dilka scrub has no side effects on the skin. “I’ve never had a client complain of skin reaction after using the scrub.” She also mentions that the routine can be done twice a day or twice a week depending on the client’s preference.
Another skin therapist Hauwa Goni who shared her dilka formula with Daily Trust Saturday said the mixture could be stored for more than a year. “We cook orange peel, rice, groundnut and scented oil together on a low heat, then put it in a cheese cloth to remove the excess oil. It takes almost 3-4 days before it cooks. It can be stored and preserved for more than a year.”
According to Hauwa, one of the major reasons women patronise this therapy is because of the finishing effect it has on the skin. She also stated that; “When you are done with the scrub, your skin feels very soft and well scented; and when you step out, you will be glowing.”
Kaltume, another therapist, told Daily Trust Saturday that most of the ingredients she uses are edible. She said her formula involves the use of potato, olive oil and hot water. She also mentions that because a lot of clients patronise the routine, she tries to make her price affordable. She noted that; “We charge according to the number of days the client will come for the routine, and the price for one day is N5000.” Kaltume also offers home service which comes at a different charge.
Kaltume who learnt the trade from a Sudanese woman noted that she started the business at home with N100, 000. She also noted that depending on the season, she gets between 2-6 customers in a week and make up to N20, 000 weekly.
Aisha Mohammed, who is also involved in the dilka making business stated that she mixes her dilka according to the skin type of her clients. She said because of the use of different kinds of ingredients, dilka also comes in different colours and scents depending on the kind of fragrance or perfume used. “I make mine with Irish potato, parboiled rice, some chemicals that are good for the body and perfumes. If a person comes for dilka, I mix the dilka with egg, honey, olive oil and milk. For people with dry skin, I add one lemon to the mixture. I rub it gradually and slowly on the skin until it removes all the dirt.”
Aisha noted that a capital of N100,000 is needed to start a robust dilka business, she, however, noted that she started the business with N50,000 and says she makes at leasta profit of N10,000 a week.
According to Aisha, dilka can be gotten at the market as many people make them and sell at retail stores or to spas who offer this routine. However, the dilka Aisha uses on her clients are made by her. She said the scrub can be used everyday or three times a week depending on how supple the clients want their skin to feel.
Aisha charges N20,000 a week for women who come for the service. She further added that it is a healthy skincare routine and should be adopted by every woman because it leaves the skin smooth and hydrated.
Aside the women who make and offer this service, the ladies who pay for it also have good testimonies about the skincare therapy.
Saknina Auwal, a regular user of the dilka scrub, told Daily Trust Saturday that “dilka is among the best skin therapy/treatment I have ever had. I do it twice a week to keep my skin soft and moist. I always go for the dilka because I want my skin to be radiant and hydrated.”
Another client, Sadiya Jamo, said “I have a dry skin, so after doing dilka the first time, my skin became smooth and soft. However, I noticed that after few months it went back to normal. So now, I do it every three months so that my skin can look radiant and beautiful. It costs me about N10,000 per session.”
