When can I rub my head after a hair transplant? It’s a common question, especially if you’ve got an itchy scalp after your transplant. Postoperative itching after your procedure is pretty common [1] and nothing to worry about.
But resisting the urge to scratch when you’re not allowed to rub your head can be infuriating. You may also worry about accidentally rubbing your head at night or during other activities.
The good news is that there are other ways to relieve an itchy scalp, and we’ve got some top tips to avoid accidentally rubbing your head too soon after your hair transplant. In this article, we’ll explore:
The answer to this question depends on how vigorously you intend to rub your scalp. It’s best to avoid touching the operated area at all for several days following your hair transplant.
You can touch your scalp after 72 hours, but only very gently [2]. Even if your head is itchy, it’s important to avoid scratching your scalp or rubbing it until your grafts are securely in place.
It usually takes about 14 days after your transplant for your grafts to settle in [3]. To be safe and get the best results possible, avoid hard scratching using your fingernails for several months post-surgery. You should be safe to gently rub your scalp using the flat side of your fingers (no nails) after around three weeks.
Knowing how a hair transplant works can help you understand which area is most susceptible to damage from rubbing. There are two types of hair transplant: follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT).
During both types of hair transplant, hair follicles are removed from areas of healthy hair growth and moved to areas of hair loss. This often means moving hair from the back and sides of your head to the top and front of your scalp.
FUE uses a micro-punch tool to extract follicles, leaving minimal scarring. FUT involves removing a strip of skin containing hair follicles from the back of your scalp, which leaves a larger strip scar but allows more follicles to be moved in one go. See more below about the differences between FUE and FUT:
The biggest concern about rubbing your head after a hair transplant is the risk of dislodging your new grafts. During the first two weeks, these grafts are not secure and are susceptible to damage.
Rubbing the area of newly transplanted hair could lead to grafts becoming dislodged. Dislodged hair follicles may not grow, and your final results may not be what you hoped for.
Rubbing the recipient area (containing the newly transplanted hair) is the main concern, but it’s also important to avoid scratching the hair transplant donor area.
The donor area may have some hair transplant scabbing, swelling, and bruising in the days immediately post-surgery. Rubbing this or the recipient area could put you at risk of a hair transplant infection and set your recovery back.
Don’t rub your head — it sounds simple, right? But in reality, we touch and rub our heads all the time without thinking about it.
It’s hard to break the habit of a lifetime, but that’s what you have to do for a couple of weeks to get the best results from your hair transplant. Here are some tips to avoid accidentally rubbing your head while recovering from your procedure.
Sleep on your back with your head elevated for the first week or two after surgery. This serves two purposes — it reduces swelling after your hair transplant and stops you from tossing and turning in the night and accidentally rubbing your head against your pillowcase.
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. It’s not ideal, but it’s a short-term sacrifice for long-term gain. Discover more tips for sleeping after a hair transplant.
You need to take care when washing your hair after a hair transplant. You should avoid washing your hair at all for the first 48 hours after your hair transplant [2].
You can gently wash your hair on the third day, or as instructed by your surgeon. Wash it very gently for the first couple of weeks and handle your new grafts with care. Don’t blast the shower stream directly onto your scalp — for the first few days, use a cup in the shower to rinse off shampoo and conditioner [2].
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. It’s okay to wear a hat 72 hours after a hair transplant, but keep it loose-fitting and avoid too much contact with the treatment area for the first two weeks [2].
It’s generally safe to have sex from a week after your surgery, but many surgeons advise waiting two weeks for sex after your hair transplant. This is wise advice because there’s a high chance of your partner accidentally touching your transplant site during sex. To play it safe, wait a full two weeks until your grafts are securely in place.
An itchy scalp after your hair transplant is usually caused by the drying and crusting of scabs [1]. This may sound unpleasant, but it’s a completely normal part of the recovery process. A few things that can help include:
The first couple of weeks post-hair transplant can be frustrating if you want to give your scalp a good rub. 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 results you can expect if you follow your instructions as advised:
The photo above shows a Wimpole Clinic patient before and 3 months after his FUE hair transplant. He received 2300 grafts, which completely transformed his hairline. This shows the results that are possible in just 3 months, although it takes up to a year for your full results to become visible.
This image shows another Wimpole Clinic patient who received 800 grafts from an FUE hair transplant. Here, you can see his results one year after a hair transplant.
The quality of your hair transplant results depends heavily on your surgeon’s experience and the aftercare you receive. At the Wimpole Clinic, we work with some of the best hair transplant surgeons in the UK.
As one of the longest-standing hair clinics in the UK, having operated since 1975, we are well known for delivering natural-looking hair transplants. Our surgeons create such natural results that it’s possible to get a hair transplant without anyone knowing.
We’re also relied on for celebrity hair transplants — stars including Rob Holding and Ben Stokes have trusted us with their hair transplant surgery. Ready to learn more about getting a hair transplant at a clinic with world-class results and aftercare? Book a consultation at your nearest clinic location today.
If one of your new grafts becomes dislodged and falls out, you’ll have some bleeding at the site of the lost graft. If you don’t see any bleeding, your graft is probably still safely in place. After the first couple of weeks, the grafts should be securely in place and should not become dislodged.
If you want to keep things under wraps, wear a loose-fitting hat after your hair transplant. You should avoid this in the first few days, and your surgeon will likely recommend a few days of resting at home anyway to encourage healing.
There’s no need for you to remove your scabs after your hair transplant. They will naturally fall off when they’re ready, and picking at them or trying to remove them before that point could lead to bleeding, put you at risk of infection and extend your hair transplant recovery time.
From months 3 to 4, you’ll start to see some early regrowth, but it takes up to 12 months to see the final results from your hair transplant. How soon your hair blends in with your pre-existing hair depends on how long the rest of your hair is.
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