One of the most iconic images of a jjimjilbang is the towel tied into two horn-like buns on top of the head. It may look purely playful, but this beloved sauna tradition actually serves a practical purpose — soaking up sweat and cooling the head.
Why does everyone have horns on their head?
Folding a towel into a sheep-head shape is an old jjimjilbang tradition, meant to keep sweat from dripping into your eyes and to help cool the heat rising to the top of your head in the sweltering sauna. These days, it's become more famous as the must-have pose for jjimjilbang photos than for its practicality, and plenty of foreign tourists proudly post their sheep-head selfies on social media.
How to Make the Sheep-Head Towel
1. Lay the towel out flat and lengthwise on the floor 2. Fold the bottom third up and the top third down to form a long rectangle 3. Roll each end outward, as if rolling up a sleeve, about 3–4 times 4. Once round bundles (the "horns") form on each end, open up the gap in the middle of the towel and place it on your head like a cap
Tips
The more you roll, the tighter the fit; the less you roll, the looser it will be — adjust to match your head size If it's too loose, roll the ends once more; if it's too tight, unroll slightly And of course, the classic jjimjilbang photo isn't complete without a cup of sikhye in hand while wearing it
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