After struggling with hair loss for a while, it’s only natural to be excited about playing around with different cuts and styles once you’ve had your hair transplant surgery. You finally have a chance to get creative with your appearance and try out different things, knowing full well that your hair will look healthy and voluminous no matter what you do.
However, while you’ll ultimately get to treat the transplanted area as if nothing ever happened, you’ll want to take things slow. Newly transplanted hairs are sensitive and fragile, and even a simple thing such as a haircut could be damaging to them.
So, the question is, how should you approach your first haircut after a hair transplant?
Things to Expect During Your Recovery
Before you get too excited about getting to see your newly transplanted hair growing and thinking about all the styles you could try out, it’s important to take a step back, relax, and give your scalp enough time to heal.
Whether you’ve had Follicular Unit Extraction, Direct Hair Implantation, or any other transplantation method done, your recovery process will take a few weeks at minimum.
During the first week or two, you might experience some discomfort and itching on your scalp, and you’ll also see some scabs start to form both in the recipient and in the donor area. At this time, your scalp will be too sensitive for any kind of haircut, so you’ll want to avoid visiting your stylist.
While the exact recovery timeline could vary from person to person, after this initial healing process, the transplanted hair follicles will start to strengthen, and your scalp will start to heal. You might see some shedding, which is absolutely normal. You’ll still want to be gentle with your hair and scalp, but you can slowly start returning to your normal daily activities.
About a month in, any irritation or swelling you might’ve had should be completely gone. Your transplanted hair will start entering normal growth cycles, so you’ll see new hair growing, shedding, and growing again.
Your hair might appear slightly patchy over the coming months as the growth cycles stabilize, but within about a year, you should have a full head of hair with clearly visible transplantation results.
When to Have Your First Post Operative Haircut
As mentioned, the first two weeks post-op, your scalp and the transplanted grafts will be extremely sensitive, hence why you’ll have strict care and maintenance guidelines that your doctor will tell you to follow. During this period, you shouldn’t cut your hair as it could damage and displace the fragile follicles and expose you to the risk of infections.
If you’re eager to have a haircut after a hair transplant in Istanbul, you could schedule a scissor cut after week two. Clippers and razors are still not recommended as they cut too close to the scalp and could damage the area and cause irritations that would prolong your healing process.
Ideally, however, you’ll want to wait at least a month post-op before you have your first haircut. It’s still important to avoid shaving with razors or using any aggressive styling, but it’s generally safe to cut your hair with either scissors or clippers at this point.
Of course, should you still experience any scalp discomfort or irritation a month in, consult your doctor before scheduling your haircut.
Tips for Your First Post-Op Haircut
Your first post-op haircut is both exciting and nerve-wracking. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when booking your stylist:
- Wait at least two weeks for a scissor cut
- Wait at least four weeks for a clipper cut
- Wait at least eight weeks for closer shaves
- Don’t use dyes or harsh chemicals on your hair
- Don’t use styling products unless approved by your doctor
- Don’t pull or put any pressure on your hair during washing, drying, and cutting
As a general rule of thumb, the longer you wait for your first haircut, the better. You want to minimize any stress on your newly transplanted hair and give it enough time to settle and strengthen.
Transitioning to Your Standard Haircut Routine
If your healing is going smoothly, it shouldn’t take too long to return to your standard haircut routine. You should only avoid any type of haircut in the first two weeks. Within about a month, you should be able to safely cut your hair using scissors or even clippers, and within three to four months, you should be able to get back to your typical routine.
You should be fully healed about six months after your transplant surgery. This will have given your scalp enough time to recover and your new hair to stabilize in its growth cycle. Perhaps more importantly, enough time will have passed for new hair growth to become visible, which gives you more room to play around with different styles.
Best Hair Styles for Newly Transplanted Hair
Whether it’s transplanted or not, hair takes a while to grow out. Typically, this isn’t a problem. However, after a transplant, your hair might appear patchy, so you’ll probably be anxious to cover it up until it’s completely grown.
Fortunately, there are a few excellent styles that will keep your hair looking flawless even during the awkward transition phase:
- Short: Keeping your hair short helps the new growth blend in better with your natural hair. If you have a textured short hair crop, it will make any patchiness barely noticeable.
- Long: Keeping your hair long will help you better cover both your donor and recipient areas. You might want to opt for a side part until your hair grows out.
- Layered: Adding plenty of layers will give you more volume and allow you to more easily blend in new growth.
- Textured: Choppy and textured hairstyles are modern, stylish, and perfect for covering patchy growth that’s common in the first couple of months post-surgery.
It’s in your best interest to visit a stylist who’s experienced in working with transplanted hair, as they can give you tailored advice and recommendations.
Habits That Support Long-Term Hair Health
To keep your hair looking happy and healthy, you’ll need to adopt some beneficial haircare habits:
- Avoid tight hairstyles
- Avoid using harsh chemicals on your hair
- Use a silk pillowcase/a silk night cap while sleeping
- Use sulfate-free, gentle hair products
- Stick to a healthy diet
- Stay hydrated
Additionally, stick to having regular haircuts once you’re fully healed to get rid of any dead ends and damaged hair before it gets out of hand.
Final Thoughts
For your first haircut after a transplant, you’ll need patience first and foremost. You don’t want to expose your scalp and transplanted follicles to any unnecessary stress until you’re properly healed.
As a rule, give yourself a couple of weeks until you’ve had your first scissor cut, and at least a month until you’ve had a clipper cut. Ideally, however, wait a bit longer and consult your doctor about the best time to have your first haircut.