Most patients can safely touch or rub their head around 14 days after a hair transplant, as the grafts are firmly anchored into the scalp at this point. However, if you still have lingering scabs, you should avoid rubbing your head unless you’re washing your hair, and your clinic has advised you to do so.
After a hair transplant, it’s crucial to avoid touching or rubbing your scalp, as this can lead to graft dislodgement. Here, you’ll learn why graft dislodgement is a big risk in the early days after a hair transplant, and how to avoid unnecessarily touching or rubbing your grafts.
Key takeaways
It’s important not to touch your scalp until your clinic directs you to, normally around day 6 after a hair transplant, when all the scabs have fully healed. At this point, you may be asked to gently massage your scalp while washing your hair. This softens the scabs, encouraging them to fall away without damaging your grafts.
At this point, you should still avoid touching or rubbing your head while it’s dry, as the grafts are still at risk of dislodgement. Research shows that grafts aren’t anchored in fully until around day 9 after the procedure [1].
You can rub your head normally around 14 days after your hair transplant, when all the scabs have healed and fallen off. This is when hair transplant grafts are secure for most patients.
When the scalp is dry, rubbing your head too soon could pull on a scab and dislodge it. However, the controlled massage technique used when washing your hair just helps to soften and remove the crusts and dried blood on the surface of the scalp.
Important note: This information is intended for day 6 onwards, or when your clinic has cleared you to begin massaging your scalp as you wash your hair after your hair transplant. Don’t attempt to wash your hair using this method until all your scabs have formed and your clinic agrees it’s safe to start doing so.
Rubbing or even touching your grafts in the first few days after a hair transplant can easily dislodge them. Research shows that pulling on a hair always results in a lost graft within the first 2 days, and sometimes dislodges it within the first 5 days [1].
But even when your grafts have fully scabbed over, you’re not out of the woods. Pulling on or lifting a scab always results in a lost graft within the first 5 days, and sometimes within the first 9 days. Graft loss or dislodgement is permanent unless it’s repositioned by a surgeon within a few hours. Dr Ahmad explains more:
“If the patient falls onto their sides or their front, they might catch the grafts, dislodge them, damage them. That’s why we tell them not to touch, scratch, itch their scalps. That’s why we tell them not to make sure we don’t knock their heads or hit their heads against anything, because any of those actions can potentially damage or dislodge the grafts.”
A couple of displaced grafts may not have a significant impact on your overall results. But they can put you at greater risk of hair transplant infection, and slow down your recovery. So you should always seek advice from your clinic if you rub or touch your scalp too soon.
Yes. While the risk of graft dislodgement only applies to the recipient area, the risk of infection applies equally to the donor area. If you’ve had FUT, avoid touching your stitches for at least 48 hours to minimise the risk of infection.
Symptoms of graft dislodgement include:
If you accidentally brush the recipient area and don’t experience any of these signs, it’s likely your grafts are unharmed. But if you’re unsure (or can’t see the area to judge for yourself) it’s best to seek advice from your clinic.
If you believe you have dislodged a graft, it’s important to act quickly. Surgeons may be able to reposition lost grafts if you’re seen within a few hours. Even if they can’t, they can help you manage the infection risk with antibiotics and ensure you get the best possible results.
Not touching or rubbing your scalp after surgery can be tough, especially if you experience intense itchiness as your grafts heal. Here’s what you can do to avoid rubbing your head post-transplant.
Antihistamine tablets are a common way to deal with itching, reducing the risk of scratching your scalp. Antihistamine (also known as anti-allergy medications) are widely available over-the-counter, and are generally safe to use.
Regular saline spray application is really important while your hair transplant is healing, as it helps to keep the wounds clean and keeps your scabs soft and supple. Dr May outlines the importance of saline spray below:
“Many surgeons recommend saline spray in the first few days post-op because it keeps the grafts and surrounding tissue hydrated, preventing hard crust formation. It forms a barrier over the transplanted area and where the follicles have been extracted.
Saline spray reduces itching and patient temptation to scratch. It aids in faster, gentler scab softening, which can improve graft survival and patient comfort. Nice little tip — keep the saline in the fridge, as it is very soothing when spraying on the head.”
Sleep on your back with your head elevated for the first week or two after surgery. This serves two purposes:
Avoid sleeping on your stomach or side while your grafts are settling into place [2]. If you can’t stop yourself from rolling over at night, use a weighted blanket or sleep on a recliner. This short-term sacrifice will bring long-term benefits.
Avoid washing your hair at all for the first 48 hours after your hair transplant [2]. On the third day, you may be advised to gently wash your hair — most clinics will recommend doing this without actually touching your scalp at this stage.
From day 6 onwards, you can start gently massaging your scalp during hair washes (using the pads of your fingers, not your nails).
Normal hair washing can resume around 10-14 days after your procedure, when all the scabs have safely been removed.
Avoid wearing tight hats, head scarves, or helmets for the first couple of weeks after your transplant. These could rub your head and damage your new grafts.
Many surgeons advise waiting two weeks before having sex after a hair transplant. That’s because there’s a high chance of your partner accidentally touching your transplant site during sex.
While you may be able to start having sex after a week, to play it safe, wait a full two weeks until your grafts are securely in place.
If you have a condition like seborrhoeic dermatitis or scalp psoriasis, post-transplant scalp itching can feel more intense, making it very difficult to resist scratching your head.
Unfortunately, it’s just as important to avoid it. But when you’ve just had a hair transplant, you may not be able to use the same topical treatments you normally use for itchy scalp conditions.
Instead, you may be able to try oral medication to manage your symptoms during the healing process. Speak to your GP or trichologist in advance.
Depending on where your plaques are located, it may still be safe to use topical emollients, steroid creams, or other treatments during the recovery period, as long as you’re careful not to touch the affected donor or recipient areas for a few days. Speak to your clinic before your surgery; they may be able to plan their procedure around your conditions so you can continue your psoriasis/dermatitis treatment as normal.
Post-hair transplant itching is very common in both the donor and recipient sites [3]. It’s one of the most common reasons you might be compelled to touch your scalp.
As part of its healing response, the body releases a chemical called histamine, accelerating the healing process. Histamine is known to trigger itchy sensations, so antihistamines are often recommended for dealing with itching.
The first few days post-hair transplant can be frustrating, thanks to feelings of itchiness and discomfort. But as surgeries go, hair transplants have a minimal recovery period and your final results will be worth it.
Here are some examples of the long-term results you can expect if you resist touching or rubbing your scalp for up to 2 weeks post-transplant:
Before and 20 months after Rob Holding’s hair transplant at the Wimpole Clinic
“I struggled so much with my hair and self-confidence. I have had so many messages about where I had my procedure. The Wimpole Clinic in London treated me so well and I am so happy with the results.
“I’ve had so many messages from other people affected by [similar] mental health issues and self-confidence issues, I couldn’t recommend this place enough!”
— Rob Holding
Whether you need advice on hair transplant recovery, or you want to find out how many hair grafts you need to restore your hair, book a free consultation at the Wimpole Clinic. With nationwide clinic locations, expert advisors, and a team comprising some of the world’s most esteemed hair transplant surgeons, you’ll get the results you want at the Wimpole Clinic.
Book a free consultation today to get started.
Learn more about restrictions on touching your hair transplant in these frequently asked questions.
It’s best to wait until all the scabs have come off before you apply any non-prescribed lotions or creams to your scalp. This includes sunscreen; while it’s important to protect your grafts from the sun, putting sunscreen on too soon could lead to infection.
Use other measures to protect your hair transplant from the sun. Stay inside, use a parasol or stay in the shade, and wear a hat after the first 10 days.
You should wait at least 10 days after a hair transplant to brush your hair, as any contact with your grafts could lead to graft loss.
If you have long hair that you’ve kept mostly intact (e.g. via FUT or partially shaven FUE), you can brush the lengths of your hair safely from day one. But it’s really important not to touch the scalp with your brush until all the scabs have been removed.
Scalp massage is a proven way to stimulate hair growth, as it encourages blood flow to your follicles [4]. You can start massaging your scalp around day 10-14 post-procedure, when all the scabs have come off.
Use light pressure to begin with, and avoid using your nails. Scalp massage devices can help after a few more weeks, when the scalp has completely healed.
Around 2 weeks after your hair transplant, all the scabs should have come off, and any other symptoms should have mostly disappeared. There might be some lingering redness, but other symptoms like pain, itchiness, and discomfort should all have subsided, or at least reduced significantly.
If your scalp is still itchy after 2 weeks, ask your clinic for advice. They may want to check how your transplant is healing, as lingering itchiness can be a sign of infection.
Wimpole Clinic Services:
Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
Dr Harpreet Kalra is a hair transplant specialist and GP based in our Newcastle hair transplant clinic. Born in Scandinavia, Dr Kalra qualified as a doctor in Denmark in 2007, and was subsequently trained as a hair transplant surgeon by Dr Kapil Dua in 2012 (President of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery). He is registered with the General Medical Council (7126076).
Dr Kalra is an expert hair transplant surgeon with a comprehensive grasp of advanced hair restoration techniques, including FUE and FUT. With his profound commitment to patient welfare, medical innovation, and professional development, Dr Kalra has restored the confidence of hundreds of patients struggling with hair loss.
In addition to his role as a hair transplant consultant at the Wimpole Clinic, Dr Kalra is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) and a practising GP in the UK. Beyond clinical practice, he is an active participant in medical seminars, conferences and workshops, underscoring his dedication to advancing healthcare and improving patient outcomes across the UK.
