Washing hair after a hair transplant
MHR Clinic Manchester’s Ethan Denton looks at how to wash hair after a hair transplant, explains the dangers of washing hair too soon after a FUE surgery and offers hair washing tips for hair transplants.
FUE surgery is an intricate, minimally-invasive procedure which creates a series of minor wounds to the skin, rather than one large incision.
The immediate physical outcome of a hair transplant is usually light scabbing, formed from small spots of blood rising from hundreds of minor nicks to the scalp, in both recipient and donor areas.
When they form, these tiny scabs are so small that in the long term they are very unlikely to cause any visible scarring.
However, to minimise the risk of any scarring at all, proper care of wounds created in of utmost importance.
MHR Clinic advises its clients on best practices so their freshly transplanted follicles are protected and encouraged to adapt to their new growing environment on top of the scalp.
Part of our immediate aftercare programme covers washing hair after a hair transplant.
When is too soon to wash hair after FUE surgery?
There are dangers around washing hair too soon after a hair transplant and leaving follicles in an unclean state for too long.
However, leaving both donor and recipient areas too long before washing hair after hair transplant risks bacterial and fungal infections.
Our clients are, therefore, asked to follow a clear programme around washing hair after a hair transplant.
After a hair transplant, hair should remain unwashed for a minimum of three days before any shampoo or conditioner is applied to newly implanted follicles.
On occasions, we advise some clients with less oily hair to wait for five.
This allows a suitable length of time for transplanted follicles and the donor area’s extraction points to begin to heal.
Most importantly, it allows a period of time in which newly-placed follicles take root in the scalp and join with its nerve endings and blood supply.
This makes the follicles much less susceptible to damage and dislodgement when washing hair.
When to start washing hair after a hair transplant
The purpose of washing hair after a hair transplant is to prevent the formation of as many scabs as possible, so minimising the amount of scarring from a FUE procedure.
Recommencing hair washing does though help to gently dry and loosen miniature scabs formed around follicles and over-extraction points on the scalp.
In which case, the act of washing hair after a hair transplant helps scabs to fall free and to advance the healing process.
How to wash hair three days after a hair transplant
MHR’s consultants will also advise on suitable techniques for washing hair at different stages after FUE surgery.
After three days, a very basic and gentle hair washing routine can begin.
For the following four days, until one week after the hair transplant procedure, take a large clean bowel and fill to ¾ full with lukewarm sterile water.
The best shampoo for cleaning a hair transplant
MHR stocks its own specially formulated, suitably mild tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner for cleaning hair after a hair transplant.
Each is sufficiently gentle to avoid any irritation to healing wounds. Each also avoids any chemical pollution of hair follicles at a critical stage of their attachment to new blood and nutrient supplies.
Tea tree oil also has natural antifungal, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory qualities which calm the scalp and prevent too much production of sebum and yeast between follicles as they heal.
Add a modest amount of tea tree oil shampoo to the water and mix to a foam.
Soak a soft sponge in the shampoo solution, remove and squeeze the sponge over the recipient and donor areas of the scalp.
Repeat three or four times before leaving the last soaking of the scalp for five minutes before rinsing clean with sterile water.
Perform the same routine with MHR Clinic’s Tea Tree Oil Conditioner before leave the scalp to drip dry.
Do not touch, dab or dry the scalp using a towel, cloth or hands.
Please follow these directions twice daily for four days.
How to wash hair one week after a hair transplant
The advised method involves the use of a clean flannel / face cloth draped and over the follicles.
The flannel is soaked from the rear side with lukewarm tap or shower water. Small amounts of shampoo are tapped gently onto the flannel.
With the absolute minimum of pressure, move the flannel gradually a gentle and small circular motion.
This provides enough movements to wash hair and brush the scalp lightly so only loose dry skin and scabs are removed from around implanted hair and extraction points.
Leave the flannel on the scalp for five minutes before rinsing with lukewarm tap or shower water.
Perform the same process with MHR Clinic’s Tea Tree Oil Conditioner before rinsing clean with sterile water and leaving the scalp to drip dry.
Do not touch, dab or dry the scalp using a towel, cloth or hands.
Please follow these directions once daily for seven days.
How to wash hair two weeks after a hair transplant
A more usual, slightly vigorous style of washing hair can recommence after a fortnight post FUE surgery.
MHR Clinic’s formula tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner should be used for washing hair for four weeks after a hair transplant.
In these final two weeks of the first month, a light touch on the scalp is key.
Placing shampoo, then conditioner, in the palm of the hand and applying generously with a light touch is a safe way to wash hair from two weeks after a hair transplant.
Regular use of MHR Clinic’s shampoo and conditioner products, containing a mild soap and the natural antiseptic of tea tree oil, will help to heal the scalp with minimal scarring from extraction and implantation procedures.
Hair should be lightly towel dried during this period with no excessive rubbing of the scalp.
Hair should also not be dried using a hair dryer or other heated appliances for four weeks after a FUE procedure, to avoid heat damage to follicles.
Furthermore, all hair styling products containing chemicals and other hair products such as micro fibres should also be avoided for this period.
Once an entire month has elapsed, fully normal hair washing and styling routines may then resume.
If you want to understand more about FUE hair transplants, please talk to MHR Clinic about the options available to you. Telephone 01565 745 344 or through this contact page.