Can Sleeping with Wet Hair Cause a Cold or Flu?
- This popular belief has persisted in the Brazilian imagination for years, but it does not correspond to scientific facts.
- As winter approaches, many popular beliefs about the "mistakes" that can lead to a cold or flu influence our actions.
- contrary to what many parents and grandparents say, this is a myth.
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Does Sleeping With Wet Hair Cause Colds or Flu? Debunking the myth
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By The South Editorial | January 3, 2026
This popular belief has persisted in the Brazilian imagination for years, but it does not correspond to scientific facts. (Photo: Freepik)
As winter approaches, many popular beliefs about the “mistakes” that can lead to a cold or flu influence our actions. However, not all of them have a valid scientific clarification or are supported when we consult a specialist. One of the best known is that sleeping with wet hair can facilitate the progress of these diseases.
Does Wet Hair really Lead to Cold or Flu?
contrary to what many parents and grandparents say, this is a myth. According to infectious disease doctor and clinical pathologist celso Granato, the flu or a cold only develops in the presence of a virus. In other words, wet hair does not directly influence these viral infections.
Colds are most commonly caused by rhinoviruses, while the flu is caused by influenza viruses. These viruses spread through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Exposure to these viruses,not a change in body temperature,is what leads to illness. The body’s immune system then fights off the infection.
Potential for Scalp Issues
Though, an undesirable consequence *may* be the stimulation of the appearance of fungi and bacteria on the hair. A warm, moist environment is ideal for their growth.
“Our skin is full of bacteria, but with wet hair you create an even more welcoming environment for them. Then there is a chance of it becoming a respiratory problem,” explains Granato, who is a member of the Brazilian Society of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (SBPC/ML).
The Origin of the Myth
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