After your hair transplant, your surgeon will provide you with special hair wash products to use. These come with specific instructions for use so that you don’t end up damaging the transplanted grafts. Washing your hair after an FUE hair surgery can help to remove scabs and support the healing process.
How To Wash Your Hair After FUE Hair Transplant?
You should start your post-transplant hair washing 2 days after the surgery and follow through with this until the scabs fall off. Before that, you can, however, take a shower or a bath. Just make sure that you do not get your hair/head wet.
As far as washing your hair after a hair transplant is concerned, it should be done in the following order:
Soften the Scabs with Lotion
First, apply a foamy lotion to the specific area(s) to which you have had grafts transplanted. You can’t just use any moisturiser/lotion for it; a medicated lotion will be provided to you by the surgeon. Only use that.
Apply the lotion gently, and make sure you apply enough to coat the specific area in a light layer. Let the product soak in for 30-60 minutes (the soak time can vary depending on the product; specific instructions will be provided to you by your doctor or will be present on the label of the product itself).
Wash Off the Lotion
Once this time period has elapsed, make sure to wash the lotion out of the hair and the transplanted site with lukewarm water using a cup to pour the water.
A powerful shower or “power-shower”, as well as hot water, can damage your new hair. This will also be painful as the transplanted site can still be sore 48 hours after the procedure and will remain delicate up to 1-2 weeks following the transplant.
Apply the Shampoo
Take a small amount of your shampoo and work it into a lather before applying. You should then gently massage the area and take extra care not to be too vigorous as this can dislocate or even dislodge the new hair grafts. You also need to apply the shampoo to the donor area.
As with the lotion, you must make sure to rinse the shampoo out of your hair with lukewarm water and a cup or a jug.
You need to shampoo and rinse the recipient and donor areas twice to make sure that they’re clean. While washing, only use your fingertips. Do not try scratching the scalp using your nails; it can snag the hair grafts.
Pat Your Scalp Dry
Once you have fully rinsed your hair and your head, you must not use a towel to dry yourself. Towels are abrasive and can cause a great amount of damage to your new grafts. They can dislodge them or even knock them out. Furthermore, we do not recommend that you use a hairdryer as the strong airflow can also dislodge your hair grafts.
The best and safest method to dry your hair after the wash is to use paper towels. Toilet rolls or soft paper towels are not recommended as they can come apart when wet and/or leave a residue. The best paper towels to use are thicker and more absorbent. To ensure that your hair is completely dry, pat the scalp while being incredibly gentle.
When Can You Normally Start Washing Your Hair After Hair Transplant?
You have to wash your head once a day, every day using the medicated shampoo and lotion until the hair transplant scabs fall off (which can take 2 weeks). After that, you can start shampooing your head just like you did before and with the same frequency. It’s important that you avoid using any kind of pressurised shower for at least 15 days after the surgery.
Can You Massage Your Scalp When Washing Your Hair After Hair Transplant?
After hair transplantation, you must wait one week before massaging the scalp during hair washes. You have to do it very gently, though. In addition, you need to do it using your fingertips. Continue the massage for as long as you have the scabs. It’ll help them fall off and speed up the recovery process.
Concluding Remarks
Washing your hair after a hair transplant is critical to recovery. It will keep the surgical areas clean (lowering the risk of infection) and help the scabs fall off more quickly. Keep in mind that it should be done in the same way as you normally shampoo your hair.
You have to use the special products given to you. In addition, you need to follow the washing instructions specifically provided to you by your surgeon. If you do not, you can end up displacing the grafts or completely uprooting them. This will affect the final result by decreasing the overall hair density.
