Korean Italy Towel: The Bathhouse Secret Behind Smooth Korean Skin

Why Koreans Still Use This Famous Exfoliating Towel 2026 — And How to Use It

Everyone talks about exfoliation.

Scrubs, peels, AHAs, BHAs.

The global beauty industry has built
entire product lines around removing
dead skin cells.

But in Korea, there’s been one
exfoliation method that hasn’t changed
in decades.

A single green mitt.

Called the Korea Italy Towel.

And it has absolutely nothing to do
with Italy. : )

Today I want to explain exactly what
the Korean Italy Towel is, why it
works, and how to use it at home —
even if you’ve never been to a
Korean bathhouse in your life.

The Day I Made Italians Laugh With an “Italian” Towel

I had the opportunity to live in
Rome, Italy for two years.

One day, I pulled out my Korea Italy
Towel and showed it to some Italian friends.

“Do you know what this is?”

They looked at the green mitt and
immediately started laughing.

“Why is it called an Italian Towel?
We don’t have anything like this
in Italy!”

And that’s the thing.

It’s called the Italy Towel, but
Italy has never heard of it.

It’s entirely a Korean invention.

After that day, the Italy Towel
became one of my favorite things
to explain to people from outside Korea.

The irony never gets old. 😄

Why Is It Called an Italian Towel?

This is the question everyone asks first.

If it has nothing to do with Italy,
why the name?

The Korea Italy Towel was first
created in Korea in the 1960s.

At the time, it was made using
viscose rayon fabric imported
from Italy — and that’s where
the name came from.

Today, it’s manufactured entirely
in Korea and has become a deeply
Korean cultural tradition.

The Italians who laughed at me
in Rome had never seen one in
their lives.

That’s the irony. 😄

The Bathhouse Memory That Started It All

At the bathhouse, after soaking
in warm water for a long time,
my mom would slip on an Italy Towel
and scrub my back.

The moment I first saw what came
off my skin, I couldn’t believe it.

“That came out of my body?”

But the way my skin felt afterward —
smooth, soft, somehow completely
renewed — was unlike anything else.

That was where it started for me.

I still use one today.

Why European Towels Didn’t Work

Living in Europe, one of the things
I missed most was the Italy Towel.

European bath towels are genuinely
lovely. Soft, fluffy, warm —
the texture is wonderful.

But when I tried to use one the
way I’d use an Italy Towel,
it just felt like being tickled.

No real friction. No satisfying
scrubbing sensation. My skin
never felt properly clean afterward,
no matter how long I scrubbed.

Eventually, when I came back to
Korea for a holiday, I bought a
stack of Italy Towels and took
them back to Europe with me.

When my foreign friends tried one,
the reaction was always the same.

“What is this? Can you bring me
one next time too?”

I ended up giving them away as gifts. ; )

What Is the Korean Italy Towel? Colors, Types, and Where to Buy

What Does It Look Like?

The Korea Italy Towel is a thin,
textured mitt — usually green,
blue, or yellow — that fits
over the hand.

When you rub it against warm,
softened skin, it removes the
dead skin cells that have
accumulated on the surface.

What rolls off is called “ddeh”
in Korean — essentially, a visible
accumulation of dead skin cells
that the skin hasn’t shed on its own.

Colors and Coarseness

Each color has a different texture level.

Green — the most common option,
gentler and less irritating.
Start here if you’re new. ← Recommended

Blue — slightly coarser, suitable
for normal skin that needs
more friction.

Yellow — the softest option,
best suited for sensitive skin.

The Back Scrubber

In recent years, a plastic
long-handled back scrubber
has become popular alongside
the traditional mitt.

It reaches areas that are
difficult to access with just
your hands — especially the back
and heels — and works on the
same principle as the Italy Towel.

Where to Buy

In Korea, Italy Towels are available
at supermarkets, Daiso, and Olive Young
for just a few hundred Korean won —
essentially a few cents per towel.

Outside Korea, they can be found
at Korean grocery stores or ordered
online through platforms like Amazon
or Coupang Global.

Why the Korean Italy Towel Works — The Science Behind It

How Exfoliation Affects the Skin

The skin renews itself approximately
every 28 days.

As new skin cells form, old ones
are meant to shed naturally.

But factors like age, environment,
and lifestyle can slow this process —
leaving dead skin cells sitting
on the surface longer than they should.

When dead skin cells accumulate,
the skin can appear dull and feel rough.
Skincare products may sit less
evenly on the surface. Pores may
become more prone to congestion.

What Happens After You Use an Italy Towel

After removing the layer of
accumulated dead skin cells,
the skin may feel noticeably
smoother and softer to the touch.

The skin tone may appear brighter
and more even.

Body lotion and oil may feel
more comfortable and settled
on the skin afterward.

That noticeable difference walking
out of the bathhouse — it makes sense.

Why Warm Water First Is Essential

The Italy Towel should only be
used after soaking in warm water
long enough for the skin to
become soft and comfortable.

Attempting to use it on dry or
unprepared skin can cause irritation.

The warm water step is not optional —
it’s what makes the whole thing work.

Curious about Korean bathhouse
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How to Use a Korean Italy Towel at Home — Step by Step

You don’t need a Korean bathhouse.

Everything you need is already
at home.

Step 1. Soak in Warm Water

Fill the bathtub with warm water
and soak for at least 10 to 15 minutes.

If you’re showering rather than
bathing, run warm water over
your body for at least 5 minutes
before you begin.

This step is the most important one.
The skin needs to be soft and
comfortable before you start.

Step 2. Put On the Italy Towel

Slip the mitt onto your hand
and dampen it slightly.

Too much water makes it slippery
and harder to control.
Just slightly damp is right.

Step 3. Scrub Gently

Begin with your arms and work
your way down in long, even strokes.

Recommended order:
Arms → legs → stomach → back → neck

Use moderate, consistent pressure.
Scrubbing harder doesn’t produce
better results — it just irritates
the skin.

Step 4. Rinse Thoroughly

Rinse the skin well with warm water
after scrubbing.

Leaving residue on the skin can
cause irritation or congestion.

Step 5. Moisturize Immediately

After exfoliating, the skin may
feel drier than usual.

Apply body lotion or oil right away.

On freshly exfoliated skin,
moisturizer may feel noticeably
more comfortable and settled —
this is completely normal.

For the Back — Use a Back Scrubber

The back is nearly impossible to
reach properly with just your hands.

A long-handled plastic back scrubber
solves this entirely — and works
on exactly the same principle
as the Italy Towel.

Things to Avoid

Don’t Use It Too Often

Once every two weeks or once a
month is the right frequency
for most people.

Using it too frequently can
disrupt the skin barrier and
cause sensitivity over time.

Don’t Scrub Too Hard

More pressure doesn’t mean
better results.

Even, moderate strokes work
far better — and with far
less irritation — than aggressive
scrubbing.

Avoid It on Sensitive or Irritated Skin

If your skin is reactive, broken,
or going through a flare-up,
skip the Italy Towel until
things have settled.

Never Use It on the Face

The Italy Towel is strictly
for the body.

Facial skin is significantly
thinner and more delicate —
using the Italy Towel there
can cause irritation or damage.

For facial exfoliation, use
a gentle scrub or a chemical
exfoliant instead.

F A Q

Q1. I tried it for the first time and so much came off. Is that normal?

Completely normal.

What you’re seeing is accumulated
dead skin cells that have built up
over time.

With regular use, the amount that
comes off each session will gradually
decrease.

Q2. Nothing came off. What did I do wrong?

Most likely, the skin wasn’t soaked
long enough.

Go back to the warm water for
a few more minutes and try again.

Q3. Do I have to go to a Korean bathhouse to use this?

Not at all.

A warm bath at home works perfectly.
Even a long warm shower before
you start is enough.

Q4. Which color should I start with?

Green is the best starting point
for most people — gentle enough
for regular use, effective enough
to see real results.

Q5. Can I do skincare after using an Italy Towel?

Yes — and it’s actually a great time
to do it.

On freshly exfoliated skin,
skincare products may feel
more comfortable and evenly
settled on the surface.

Go to the Bathhouse Today

Scrubs, peels, AHAs, BHAs.

There are so many exfoliation
methods out there.

But in Korea, a single green mitt
has been enough for decades.

Not complicated. Not expensive.

Just one small green towel.

It’s called the Italy Towel —
but Italy has never heard of it.

Which somehow makes it even
more interesting.

Have you ever tried a Korean
Italy Towel before?

Or is this the first time
you’re hearing about it?

Let me know in the comments! 😊

─────────────

One more thing, honestly.

I don’t go to the bathhouse
much these days.

The reason is simple.

There’s no one to scrub my back. ㅠ

In Korea, the bathhouse isn’t
really a place people go alone.

Whether it’s a friend, your mom,
or your sister — when someone says:

“I’m going to the bathhouse,
want to come?”

What they actually mean is:

“Will you scrub my back?” 😄

Because you simply can’t reach
your own back properly.

That’s why the back scrubber exists.

For brave souls like me who
go alone. ㅋㅋ

And for everyone outside Korea
where public bathhouses don’t exist —
just fill your bathtub with warm water,
soak for 10 to 15 minutes,
and let the Italy Towel do its thing.

Leave the back to the back scrubber. 😊

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