Many men who choose to have a hair transplant aren’t looking for a flowing Jason Momoa-style mane. They simply want full coverage across their head so they can style their hair however they like with confidence, including close-cropped styles like buzz cuts.
With the introduction of techniques like unshaven follicular unit extraction (FUE) at the Wimpole Clinic, you no longer have to cut your hair short before a hair transplant. But if a buzz cut is your style of choice, you’ll absolutely be able to get your hair buzzed once your scalp has recovered from the procedure.
You can get a buzz cut after your hair transplant, but there are some important points to bear in mind. In this article, we’ll explore:
Key takeaways
The good news is that you can have pretty much any style you like after a hair transplant, including a buzz cut when your new hair grows out.
That said, you can’t head to the barber the day after surgery. Hair transplant recovery and new hair growth take a little while, so you need time and patience before you get your hair cut after a hair transplant.
You’ll have to wait at least a month before you can shave or even cut your hair after a hair transplant [1]. However, most surgeons recommend waiting at least 3 months before buzzing or shaving your head.
Post-transplant shedding, known as shock loss, is a normal part of hair transplant recovery. It describes the process of transplanted and native hairs falling out before they regrow, and the shedding phase usually resolves within 3-4 months as new hair starts to grow from the transplanted follicles [2].
Until shock loss has resolved and your new hair has started growing in, a buzz cut will likely look patchy and uneven. It may make it more obvious that you’ve had a hair transplant, which is why some people keep their hair a little longer for the first few months if they want to get a hair transplant without anyone knowing.
Before getting a buzz cut, you should definitely wait until all hair transplant scabs and redness have resolved to avoid further irritating your already sensitive scalp. Within 14 days, scabs usually shed and hair transplant redness disappears, although both can take longer in some cases.
That said, it’s often best to wait as long as possible before shaving your head. This gives your newly transplanted hair follicles the best possible chance of settling in and flourishing, potentially leading to better hair transplant results.
Shaving your head too early in the recovery process comes with a risk of dislodging your new grafts. The time for grafts to become secure after a hair transplant is generally within 10-14 days, as this is the time it takes for the scalp to heal around them.
You’re also at risk of delayed healing if you irritate your scalp before your wounds have fully closed over. Trauma from clippers to the donor or recipient site in those early days may even lead to noticeable scarring.
If your wounds haven’t healed completely, there’s a chance that non-sterile tools like hair clippers or scissors can cause an infection. While most infections are short-lived, they can slow your recovery time and even affect the long-term success of your hair transplant.
In a few cases, infection can also lead to dangerous conditions like sepsis [3]. So it’s really important to wait for your scalp to be fully healed before you shave your head, and it’s best to get your buzz cut from a professional barber rather than a DIY job at home.
Finally, your scalp is more sensitive to sunlight after a hair transplant and many surgeons recommend avoiding direct sunlight on your scalp for the first 3 months or so. If you get a buzz cut too soon, the shorter style exposes more scalp.
If you don’t keep your head covered with a hat in the sun, this may lead to an increased risk of sunburn, affect scar colour and healing [4], dry out your scalp, and potentially even damage the new grafts [2].
No matter which type of hair transplant surgery you’ve had, you can get a buzz cut. Hair transplant scars are minimal with an FUE procedure, so there’s no reason not to have a buzz cut if that’s the look you’re after.
However, FUT surgery usually leaves a thin but visible scar in your donor area (usually at the back of the head). If you shave your head, the scar may be visible through your hair.
FUE scars, on the other hand, are tiny, circular, and often difficult to spot with the naked eye. Learn more here about the differences between FUE and FUT.
Some FUT patients avoid buzz cuts in order to hide the transplant scar. However, most scars fade over time, so some people wait until the scar is less visible before shaving their heads. There’s also the option of scalp micropigmentation or even a minor FUE procedure to permanently conceal an FUT scar if a buzz cut is your favourite look.
If you’re recovering from a hair transplant and considering shaving your head, it’s always best to double-check with your consultant or a member of their team. You should have regular follow-up appointments as part of your hair transplant aftercare, giving you plenty of opportunities to ask the questions you really want to ask about hair transplants.
Your medical team will know more about the risks of having your hair cut too soon, and can tell you if you’re ready for a buzz cut or not. Once they give you the go-ahead, you can then check with your barber about the best way to shave your head without irritating your scalp.
You may feel self-conscious about your hair while your hair transplant takes effect. This is especially true if you’re used to wearing your hair short.
While it’s not recommended to trim or cut your hair too early, many people choose to wear a hat after a hair transplant, especially while the scabs are healing. You’ll usually have to wait at least 10 days before wearing a hat post-surgery, but it’s common to take this initial time off work and have some downtime at home to help with healing.
A buzz cut isn’t the only styling option for your post-transplant hair. When your head has fully healed and your hair has begun to grow, you can cut, style, and dye your hair as normal after a transplant.
Find out more about cutting and styling your hair in our ultimate guide to getting a haircut after hair transplant surgery.
If your buzz cut doesn’t look the way you’d hoped after a hair transplant, there are ways to improve the look. While a buzz cut can help blend transplanted and native hairs in some cases, a shorter style may also highlight areas of shock loss, scarring, or make newly growing hairs appear more obvious. To address this, you could:
If you are suffering from hair loss and would like to find out more about hair restoration, speak to one of our hair doctors. The Wimpole Clinic has been awarded best hair transplant clinic for four years running. With over 50 years of experience, you can rest assured you’re in expert hands.
Our trichologists will assess and diagnose your hair loss condition and then work with you to create a treatment plan that’s right for you. As well as FUE and FUT transplants, we also offer PRP hair treatment, low-level laser therapy, scalp micropigmentation and more.
If you’re interested in hair restoration surgery but have yet to find the best hair transplant surgeon to perform your surgery, check out our before and after hair transplant gallery.
Our skilled, experienced surgeons have helped hundreds of patients restore their hair, so they can wear any style they like with confidence. For more information about how to tackle hair loss, book a free consultation at your nearest clinic location today.
Buzz cuts don’t speed up or improve hair regrowth after a transplant, but they can make new growth look more even if your transplanted hairs are still very short. Cutting your hair short too early may actually delay healing, so it’s best to wait until your surgeon confirms it’s safe to clip your hair short.
You shouldn’t start working out after a hair transplant straight away because exercise increases blood pressure, heart rate, and sweating. This may increase any swelling you have or slow down healing, and heavy activity also risks trauma to your scalp. It’s best to avoid even moderate exercise for the first couple of weeks, and then gradually reintroduce training once your surgeon says it’s safe.
It’s best to avoid coffee for the first few days after a hair transplant as caffeine can raise your blood pressure, [5] which may increase the risk of bleeding or swelling. Once your surgeon confirms it’s safe, you can resume drinking coffee in moderation without affecting graft survival or long-term results. Caffeine shampoo can even help with hair growth when used regularly.
You should avoid touching your hair as much as possible for the first couple of weeks after surgery to prevent infection and avoid dislodging grafts. It’s particularly important not to scratch or rub your head after a hair transplant for the first 14 days.
However, you’ll need to gently touch your hair from day 6 to wash it. Hair washing involves hands-free rinsing from days 3-5, gentle massage while washing from days 6-10, and normal washing from day 11 onwards.
Wimpole Clinic Services:
Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
After completing full visceral and bone surgical training, Mr. Ulf Kienecker (GMC No. 7046070) gained professional expertise in aesthetic and plastic surgery for six years before transitioning to surgical and non-surgical hair transplant treatments. He specialised exclusively in hair loss and skin rejuvenation. Over the past 19 years, Mr. Kienecker has performed approximately 15,000 individual hair transplant procedures.
He is one of the very few consultant surgeons with a medical license in both Switzerland and the United Kingdom and is highly regarded in professional circles for performing FUT and FUE hair transplants using the most modern incisional slit technique.
Mr. Kienecker has treated high-profile actors and singers, who have consistently given him five-star ratings due to his commitment to patient education and his warm, engaging manner. He is dedicated to understanding each patient’s unique concerns and goals, collaborating with them to develop a personalised treatment plan — whether non-surgical, surgical, or a combination of both — to achieve the desired results.
Mr. Kienecker’s specialties in the field of Hair Restoration include beard hair transplants and hairline densification.
