How Can I Hide My Head After a Hair Transplant?

There’s no shame in becoming the best version of yourself, but we understand why some folks may want to cover their heads in the weeks following a hair transplant procedure. There may be some inflammation in either the donor or the recipient area, and depending on someone’s career, they will want to keep their personal matters under wraps.

As the hair transplant aftercare experts, we’re here to share with you a few of our favorite tips and tricks to stay covered as you recover from a procedure.

We’ll also fill you in on how to ensure a safe and complete recovery since some coverage methods could compromise the success of your surgery in the long run.

Let’s get to the tips!

No coverings at first.

We understand the urge to want to cover up your head after you finish up a hair transplant surgery session. Both the donor and recipient areas are inflamed, you are wary of the sun and you are fighting the urge to scratch at the new roots. 

But, you need to do everything in your power to avoid aggravating this area in the first few days after the procedure, and that means NO head coverings at all.

You should avoid all coverings for a minimum of six days, unless they are loose fitting and do not rub against the donor or recipient area, before you reach for the hat or the hoodie. 

We know it’s frustrating, but trust us when we say it in your best interest.

Those precious grafts have just been harvested and transplanted to their new homes, and both the recipient and donor areas are extremely sensitive at this time. You are going to experience inflammation, scabbing and other types of discomfort, but remember that this is your body’s way of healing itself and accepting the new grafts properly.

By sporting a hat or scarf too early in the healing process, you risk sacrificing your hair transplant process. You may not return to square one, but losing even a few new follicles isn’t worth the risk.

Way too many hair transplant patients have ruined their hair restoration journeys by wearing head coverings too soon or disobeying the aftercare protocol prescribed by their doctor. Learn from their mistakes and don’t become one of those patients who spend an excessive amount of time and money by sabotaging their own recovery.

You might also consider taking a week off work to prioritize recovery and reduce the stress that comes with appearing in public during this time. If you can work from your home office or laptop, this is a great option, and if not, make sure you have some vacation time ready so you can lay low.

Change up your style.

However you choose to cover up after a hair transplant, you want to make sure your headwear fits loose and does not weigh heavy on the recipient area.

Loose and light is the name of the game.

That means no motorcycle helmets, no tight-fitting baseball caps, and no massive cowboy hats that require superhuman neck strength to wear! When you do rock a loose-fitting hat or headwrap, make sure to only use them sparingly. You don’t want to keep the area covered all day, as the healing process is still taking place.

Our favorite hats have a mesh lining and rest loosely on the head, providing you with plenty of coverage but without excessive strain on the scalp. 

Your clinic may even recommend specific headwear for the recovery stage, so make sure you procure that gear ahead of time.

In terms of your other garment choices, it’s important to avoid wearing clothes that aggravate the scalp when putting them on. Tight-fitting workout tops, t-shirts, and sweaters all fall into this category, and it’s better to have zip-ups and button-up options in your wardrobe to avoid any accidents.

As your head heals up, you can start wearing your favorite ball caps and bike helmets again. Just use your best judgment and contact your doctor if you have questions.

Let it grow!

Even the most successful hair transplants can leave some minor scarring in the donor area, usually in the form of a horizontal, linear scar like in the case of a Follicular Unit Transplant.

A popular method of covering up this scar is by simply growing your hair longer. It may not be your preferred style, but it can help you out during this initial stretch.

It doesn’t take a lot of growth to lessen the visibility of the scar, and it is common practice to let your hair grow at this time anyways. Barber visits can wait until the scalp is fully healed from front to back.

After you’ve healed up and you feel ready to shave the back of your head again, you can always look into Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP), which is basically a mini tattoo that helps cover up the linear scarring on the donor site.

SMP is one of the most popular treatments to go hand-in-hand with hair transplants, and it is a relatively quick and easy procedure to manage. If you like to rock that bold buzzed look, this will be your best option moving forward.

Use concealer or color corrector.

Like we said earlier, you want to take about a week to let your new hair set in and heal as much as possible on its own. That means no outside products that could interfere with recovery.

After that week, however, it’s totally acceptable to use a bit of light makeup to reduce redness as you heal up. You’ll want to get back to work and life, so concealer or color corrector can help you do this.

Try to find makeup that is hypoallergenic and contains only natural ingredients, as this will allow the scalp to heal more evenly and without agitation. 

Many patients also find that getting a bit of color in their hair can help even out their look and improve the contrast between the scalp and new hair units.

Again, opt for products with natural ingredients that won’t cause added stress to the scalp.

Your doctor is an encyclopedia of information about concealers and colors, so have an open conversation about your options and you will find a solution that fits your needs. There are certain brands that sell products dealing with this specific issue, and your clinic should have a list of their favorites if you inquire.

Conclusion

If you follow these golden rules, you will be able to get all the positive praise for your hair transplant, without any of the unwanted attention.

Just remember that in the first few days of recovery, you can’t wear anything on your head, and it may be smart to simply lay low for that short initial timeframe.

Even after that first week of aftercare, healing is your priority! Continue to tread lightly with your head covering choices until you are certain the new follicles are firmly in place.

Whether you decide to switch up your hairstyle, use concealer, or add a touch of color to the mix, there are easy and harmless ways to make sure your recovery is smooth and subtle.

Even if someone asks about your hair, don’t be ashamed of your decision to improve your appearance! These procedures have gone mainstream in recent years.

In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to our Hair Loss Information blog to stay looped in on the latest developments in the industry!

Sources:

1. https://www.themaitlandclinic.com/can-you-wear-hat-after-hair-transplant-how-long/#:~:text=We%20normally%20advise%20patients%20to,the%20newly%20implanted%20hair%20grafts. 
2. https://www.harleyshairtransplant.com/avoid-these-20-things-after-hair-transplant/ 
3. https://estetigraft.com/understanding-hair-loss/10-ways-to-hide-your-hair-transplant/