Grooming and coat
Does humidity affect how often I need to brush my dog?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Yes, high humidity makes hair swell and cling together slightly, which speeds up tangling and matting, particularly in curly or wavy coats. Dogs living in humid climates or during a humid stretch of summer often need brushing a day or two more often than the same dog would in dry conditions.
How moisture in the air affects hair
Hair absorbs ambient moisture from humid air much as it does from a light rain or a swim, causing individual strands to swell slightly and grip against each other more than they would in dry conditions, which is why a curly or wavy coat often feels frizzier and tangles faster during a humid week.
Which coat types feel it most
Curly and wavy coats, already prone to trapping loose hair inside each curl, are affected the most by humidity, while short, smooth coats show far less change in how often they need brushing regardless of the weather, since there is little length for moisture to cause tangling in.
Adjusting a routine seasonally
Adding an extra brushing session a week during a particularly humid stretch, and paying closer attention to the usual trouble spots behind the ears and under the legs, keeps a curly or long coated dog from developing more mats than usual until conditions dry out again.
Key takeaways
- Humid air causes hair to swell and cling together, speeding up tangling in curly or wavy coats.
- Short, smooth coats show little change in grooming needs regardless of humidity.
- Adding an extra brushing session during humid weather helps curly or long coats avoid extra matting.