No, going outside in the cold with wet hair doesn't make you sick
To paraphrase Princess Elsa, it's time to let this myth go.
The link to our Instagram post can be found here.
Many of us were told growing up that we'd catch a cold if we went outside with wet hair, especially in colder temperatures-- but, is there any truth to it?
The short answer is no. Simply being outside with wet hair in cold weather does NOT cause sickness, however, there are factors associated with colder weather that can. During colder months, people tend to congregate and gather indoors for get-togethers, meals, holidays, etc. Being indoors (especially in spaces that are not well-ventilated) with other people increases the likelihood that you'll be exposed to pathogens that can make you sick. Colder air temperatures and lower humidity (common in winter months) provide ideal conditions for viruses to survive and travel through the air.
To summarize: it's not the wet hair + cold temperature that can make you sick (you need to be exposed to a pathogen in order to become ill), but there are factors associated with the cold that increase the likelihood of exposure to germs (so, really, the wet hair doesn't play a role at all).
Say it with us, friends: CORRELATION DOES NOT EQUAL CAUSATION!
For more, listen to our podcast episode on the topic (we also debunk tons of other common myths). We also have a part-two which can be found here.
Let’s do a deep dive and review some of the literature on this topic.
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