How to Wash Your Hair After a Transplant: The Instructions to Follow

Washing your hair correctly after a transplant is one of the most important things you can do to protect the grafts and your result. Here’s exactly how to wash your hair after a transplant, plus the instructions before and after surgery.

Before surgery

• Stop smoking for at least 24 hours beforehand.
• Stop supplements and vitamins for two weeks before.
• Stop aspirin and anti-inflammatories for two weeks before.
• Avoid alcohol for three days before.
• Avoid antidepressants and blood thinners for two weeks before.
• Don’t cut your hair, so the donor area grows out enough.
• Massage the scalp for 10 minutes daily for a week or two to improve elasticity and blood flow.
• Antibiotics may be advised to reduce infection risk.
• Over a certain age (e.g. 45+), an ECG and blood tests may be requested.

After surgery

• Don’t rush back to work or activity until you feel able.
• Recovery varies — usually two days to two weeks.
• Take pain relief as directed to reduce swelling.
• Keep your head elevated ~45° on a pillow for three days.
• Avoid exercise for a week and heavy lifting for ten days.

How to wash your hair after a transplant

• You can wash gently from the third day; before that, shower with a cap so the scalp stays dry.
• Don’t pour water directly on the treated area or put your head under the shower — use a cup to pour water for the first three to five days.
• You may touch the roots gently with your fingertips.
• Use a moisturising lotion that softens skin and reduces scabs.
• In week one, apply lotion to the donor area only, dabbing gently, wait an hour, then rinse.
• If scabs remain after seven days, apply conditioner to the treated area and massage gently until they fall.
• In week two, apply lotion to both donor and treated areas — 7–8 drops, dabbed gently, wait an hour, then rinse.
• Always apply in the direction of the grafts to avoid damage.
• Use a medical shampoo: after the lotion, lather in your hands and spread gently over both areas without rubbing.
• Leave the lather two to three minutes, then rinse with lukewarm (never hot) water.

After washing

If scabs persist, keep washing with lotion and shampoo until they clear — they should all be gone within about 20 days. After one month the risk period has passed and you can return to normal, but wash daily for the first month and:

• Don’t towel-dry — let hair air-dry.
• Avoid hair dryers for one to two weeks.
• Comb carefully to avoid moving the grafts.
• Don’t pluck the transplanted roots.
• You can dye, trim or style once the scabs around the roots have fallen.
• Use a moisturiser on the donor area if it itches.

Following these steps closely protects your grafts and your result. Contact the clinic with any questions.