When Can I Wash My Hair After a Hair Transplant?

The days following your hair transplant surgery are important. Proper aftercare will help aid in healing and hair growth. Whether you choose an FUE or FUT, knowing when and how to wash your hair are important aspects of aftercare.

You may be wondering, how soon after a hair transplant surgery you can get back to your normal routine when it comes to washing and caring for your hair?

Below are some guidelines for the critical two weeks following your hair transplant surgery. While they aren’t terribly complicated, following these recommendations will help you achieve the best results.

Aftercare Timeline

The first few days after your hair transplant, you may experience tenderness, swelling, itchiness, numbness, or minor pain along your scalp. Keep in mind that most patients won’t experience major discomfort. Patients who experience these milder symptoms typically report that these clear up within the first two days after the procedure.

To obtain the best results and avoid discomfort, it’s important you follow the post-op procedure instructions received.

First Wash

We recommend waiting at least 24  hours (but not longer than 48 hours) if you are washing your hair at home. In fact, please avoid touching your scalp and hair for the first two days after your hair transplant. We want you to wait 2 days to wash your hair if you are doing it on your own so that you do not disturb the newly transplanted grafts and allow the donor site(s) to begin healing, however you are welcome to come back the following day and we can do your first wash for you. Please note that waiting longer than 48 hours can allow crust/blood buildup, which is also discouraged. For example, if your procedure was completed on a Monday afternoon, you can wash your hair at home on Wednesday afternoon.

As a Bosley hair transplant patient, we recommend that you come back into our surgical office the day after your procedure to take advantage of a free hair wash by one of our technicians. During this visit, a physician will also examine your grafts and apply a special ointment (from Bosley’s post-operative healing kit) to aid the healing process.

Summary: If you choose to do your first wash yourself, it’s important that you be as gentle as possible so as not to dislodge any of the transplanted grafts. Feel free to shower the rest of your body – just avoid getting your hair and scalp wet for the first 48 hours.

Days 0 – 3

• Use the special shampoo provided after your procedure. Apply gently, using only your fingertips, not your nails.
• When rinsing, do not allow the water pressure to directly hit the recipient area. We recommend using the “pour” method. That is, gently pour water from a pitcher or cup onto your head, rather than allow the shower stream land directly on your scalp.
• The most important area to clean is the donor area. Try using the palms of your hand gently and in a light circular motion. Don’t try to massage the grafted
• Do not use a blow dryer, as doing so could be painful and cause injury to the site. Instead, gently towel-dry your hair. Lightly pat the hair dry rather than rub.
• You may use a comb over the grafted area, but avoid touching your scalp with it.
• Avoid sun exposure for the next several weeks. This could burn and damage your scalp and yield undesirable results.

Days 3 – 6

After your first shampoo, you can continue to wash your hair daily, keeping the area clean to reduce any itching and to promote good healing.

• You can use a blow dryer at this point, but limit its heat setting to low or medium. This will help avoid discomfort or injury to the transplant site.
• Don’t use hair spray, hair gels, or any alcohol-containing products. Avoiding these will reduce the chances of irritating the scalp and causing flaking, itching, or soreness.

Day 7

One week after your hair transplant, you can continue gently washing your hair every day.

• Now, you may use either the shampoo provided in the healing kit or switch back to your regular shampoo. Either is okay.
• You can also re-introduce hair products like hair spray or hair gel.
• By now, you can start blow-drying your hair at a higher heat level, if you wish.

As you introduce new elements, like your regular shampoo, hair products, or heat, take note if anything causes discomfort. If you start to experience itching or irritation, speak to your doctor.

Days 7 – 14

If you had sutures applied during your transplantation (FUT procedure), you will usually come in to have your sutures removed around the second week following your hair transplant.

Throughout the second week, you’re free to wash your hair and scalp more vigorously. At this point, this is actually encouraged. Doing so brings more circulation to the area, helps to remove any remaining crusts and encourages good healing.

Hair Care Products to Use

Your doctor may give you some hair care products to use to help with healing.

At Bosley, we provide patients with a post-operative healing kit to protect your new grafts and encourage proper wound healing.

The Bosley post-operative healing kit includes:  

• Folican Graft Enhancement Night
• Folican Graft Enhancement Day
• Copper Peptide Cleanser/Shampoo
• Antibiotic Ointment

Speak with a Bosley expert today to learn about more of Bosley’s specially formulated hair products to keep your hair healthy for life.

Conclusion

Following the correct aftercare procedures are important to ensuring that your newly transplanted hair will become well established and that you will achieve maximum long-term benefits from your procedure.

If you haven’t yet had a hair transplantation procedure, but are considering it, schedule a free consultation (in-person or virtual) with Bosley, America’s #1 Hair Restoration Experts®.