Can anyone lay out a day by day hair washing routine for a healthy post HT. I'm on day four, and I am very conflicted as to whether I should start massaging the grafts at all yet, or even whether I should let the shower head hit them (I do have weak pressure after all). I find so much conflicting information, and I find my own doctors written procedure to be somewhat confusing. I don't want to dislodge anything, but I also don't want to prolong this healing process. Anyone?

Foundation,

I posted this before on another thread, but I hope you find this helpful

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How Should I Wash My Hair After a Hair Transplant?

Keep in mind that every hair transplant clinic has their own hair restoration postoperative instructions and they vary. Therefore it is always best to get detailed postoperative hair washing instructions directly from the hair transplant surgeon.

That being said, I thought I’d share my personal experience with hair washing after hair transplant surgery that worked well for me.

Day 0: (day of hair restoration surgery): Just relax. Do not wash your hair at all.

Day 1: If at all possible, visit your hair restoration clinic for a postoperative hair wash. If not, fill a cup with water mixed with shampoo and pour it gently over your head several times. Gently massage the shampoo into the donor area, cleaning the area around the scar.

Day 2 and 3: Fill a cup with water mixed with shampoo and pour it gently over your head several times. Gently massage the shampoo into the donor area, cleaning the area around the scar. Wash donor area normally working around the scar with care to work off any dried blood. Apply as much pressure as needed however, avoid using so much pressure that it causes pain.

Day 4: Assuming that your shower pressure is reasonable and not too harsh - let the water from the shower head hit your head normally. Massage shampoo in your hands until it lathers. Gently touch the grafts with the shampoo in the palm of your hands and gently touch with your finger tips. Avoid any massaging of the transplanted hair at this point. Continue washing donor area normally from this point on paying extra attention around the scar as to work off any dried blood and keep the area clean.

Day 5: Repeat the instructions from day 4 however, add very gentle back and forth motions with your finger tips through the transplanted hair. Avoid using your nails at all costs.

Day 6: Resume normal hair washing but be extra gentle with the hair grafts.

Day 7+: Begin showering twice a day normally however, use a little extra care of the follicuar unit grafts. Spend 10 extra minutes in the shower both in the morning and evening massaging with shampoo the hair grafts in a circular motion with your fingertips in order to start working off the scabs. Avoid using your fingernails at all costs. Do not apply a lot of pressure. The trick is to apply a constant circular motion to gradually work off the scabs rather than simply picking them off. Picking the scabs should be avoided at all costs. Whatever scabs don’t come off in the shower will come off after subsequent showers and circular massaging. Additionally, when you come out of the shower and after looking in the mirror see some loose scabs, feel free to perform additional soft circular massaging over the scabs in front of the mirror to work off loose scabs. Scabs still tightly secured to the scalp should not be worked too much. These scabs will come off after subsequent showers in the coming days. Patience is important and don’t force anything off.

I have found that by using the above method, scabs typically come off between 8-12 days.

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Best wishes,

Bill (Falc)

Hi Foundation,
As per my emails mate you have nothing to worry about - The post op routine given by the Doc is not cast in stone. You are 4 days post op and this is an axious time i appreciate - been there several times. You are fine now to gentley apply shampoo to the recipient area along with a bit of water pressure.

If you still have scabs which can linger for 3-7 days then just wash carefully - some patients don't even form scabs (due to their own healing)After 3 days the grafts are ROCK solid technically. Try not worry too much mate and try not rush the healing process - I appreciate you want to keep it clean and healthy so a trick i did was gently placed my hand over my recipient area and went under the shower so the direct force of the water was not on the recipient are - Try be patient from here on in with the entire process mate as its a long one and not one that can be rushed!!! - Heal well and grow fast!

You popping into the Docs to have staples out?

Spex

Thanks Falceros, I'm going to go with a gentle cleaning of the recipient area in a few hours.

Spex, I'm going to get the staples removed, but not until friday . I would definitely describe it more as discomfort than pain, so I'm probably just being a wimp. I am scabbing a little bit in some of the spots but not all over. Hope I haven't done any damage as far as losing grafts (I can't help it, I'm a worrier). Guss I'll find out on Friday. Thanks again brother

Your concerns are 110% normal - i get MANY emails and even phone calls in the early hours with guys panicking so do not worry bro - you are fine. Just sit back and try not over analyse as you will drive yourself crackers - you have a LONG way to go. See my HT tips post op in my signature - it will hopefully help.

Rest up !!