text: can you get herpes from sharing a towel? my best friend bit my head off this morning about possibly passing herpes onto her by letting her use my towel.  i told her i didnt know it's possible to pass it by using same towel because as i read on a lot of sites say it has to be moist in order to pass the hsv and have a direct touch such as kissing, oral sex and sex.  the towel was dry at that time she borrowed it from me.    my understanding about hsv1 is if i have active hsv1 and i share cup, silverware or whatever; it has to be moist and also be in direct touch with another person for them to contract it.    help! herpes is only passed by direct touch. the virus doesn't live for too long on surfaces...