theoretically you could get herpes from sharing a towel. there are no documented cases of it happening. towels stay wet and warm longer than regular clothing do and can harbor the virus longer.
The towel the stylist was using isn't a risk for oral herpes at all.
as an adult, oral herpes is almost exclusively transmitted through romantic type kisses. it takes more than just contact with the virus once you are over school age, it takes heat and friction and prolonged contact to transmit it.
grace
Hi Grace,
I saw you were a moderator here on the forums so I thought I'd also throw this one out to you. How much risk here? I guess I was never really "kissed" in the formal sense, however, the dirty towel may have inadvertently brushed against my face, lips, and so on. What can you tell me? please and thanks!
so transmission requires kissing? do you know why some sources say you can get it through towels?
You should get a blood test to see if you are already positive for hsv-1. Alot of ppl are and don't have any symptoms!
I think that there would not be much risk here. Usually you get cold sores by kissing someone. And usually ppl get it before they are an adult.