You’ve completed your expert Hair Transplantation procedure from a specialist like Dr. Joseph Williams, whether Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) or Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), and you are ready to rock that new look.
But wait – you don’t want to damage your investment in your fresh new style, right? Today we’re going to look at how to make the most of your new locks – safely and with style!
A quick note before you read further: Always consult with your Transplantation Specialist about care for your Hair Transplants! Every person and procedure is unique – Listen to your doctor!
When Can I Start Using Hair Styling Products Post-Transplant?
The simple answer is: anywhere from eight to fourteen days after your Transplantation procedure.
The better answer is: it depends on many factors!
The first thing you want to consider is whether this was your first Transplantation procedure, your last in a sequence, or a solitary procedure to handle a specific need, such as Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) to handle specific areas or problems with follicular growth.
As you might recall from our previous blog on Maintaining Healthy Hair Post Transplant, your scalp is going to need time to heal no matter what type of procedure you receive. This means that you will need to follow the doctor’s instructions for washing your hair and scalp for those same couple of weeks anyway, so your best bet is to refrain from using products on your scalp until at least that time has passed.
The most important thing to remember is to keep your eye on the prize! The healthier you keep your hair and the better you take care of your new investment, the longer you will be able to benefit from it.
The biggest problem with hair styling products is that they leave residue on the scalp and hair, and they can also contain harmful chemicals that might cause damage to not only your hair or scalp, but also restrict or slow down your healing process if used too soon after your procedure.
For more information about what chemicals to look out for in your hair styling products, check out our previous blog about What’s In Your Hair Care Products.
What Kinds Of Hair Styling Products Should I Use Post-Transplant?
This is going to depend on what kind of look you are going for, what kind of procedure you received, and how long after your Transplantation you are. Here are some general guidelines about common Hair Styling products that you can use in conjunction with your Hair Transplant Specialist’s advice.
Mousse
Once you have the all-clear from your Surgeon, mousse is a great option for hair-styling after a Transplant because it helps add on volume and make your hair look more full.
There are many mousse products on the market that use natural ingredients and that don’t have the harsh chemicals that many other products have, so look for those to enhance that new look!
Hair Spray
This is by far the most commonly-used product on the list, but it also has the tendency to be the most harmful to post-transplant hair and scalps.
Hairsprays include aerosols to propel the product out of the can, and that simple additive, along with many other normal hairspray ingredients like alcohol, gum arabic, and harsh polymers to keep the hair stiff.
Be sure to look into products that either don’t have those kinds of ingredients that can cause damage to the scalp after FUE and FUT treatments. You should also consider other products for a while after your procedure because the artificial stiffness these products create also allow for more buildup on the scalp around the follicles and the potential for more brittle, more easily-damaged hair.
If you have questions, check with your Hair Transplantation Specialist about the products you currently use and they can give you some recommendations!
Gels
Like hairsprays, gels are used to make hair stand up and achieve some sort of artificial stiffness for a specific desired look. Gels are slightly more concerning after a Hair Transplant than other styling products because they tend to be thicker and also tend to leave areas of sticky residue on the scalp after use.
Hair Transplantation starts with the follicles in most cases, which means that you are either transplanting individual follicles with FUE or sections of scalp with follicles with FUT. Gel can leave buildup that covers the follicles, forces the hair to remain upright, or clog the follicles and prevent healthy growth and recovery.
This doesn’t mean you can’t ever use hair gel again, however! The important thing is to remember, once again, the investment you have made in your new look and follow your surgeon’s advice. If you want to continue using gel products, consider giving it a few months after your procedure to let your scalp and hair recover and allow you to learn how your new look sits naturally.
What Kinds Of Styling Tools Should I Use Post-Transplant?
There are endless numbers of hair styling tools on the market today, including straighteners, curlers, flat-irons, hair dryers, and more. So what is safe to use after a Transplant and what isn’t?
Hair Dryers
Hair Dryers are pretty safe, right? Everyone uses them, so it can’t be that bad! Except, it can be for people after a Transplantation procedure. Make sure to ask your doctor about when you can begin using a hair dryer after your visit.
Much like you want to avoid sunlight on your scalp for a while after your procedure (see our previous blog about Post-Op Care for Hair Transplantation), you want to avoid excessive heat on your scalp and hair to avoid damaging the follicles or hair itself.
That doesn’t mean you can’t use them though! With hair dryers it is important to find one that has a room temperature or cool setting which will allow you to avoid the excessive heat that many of them produce.
You also want to make sure you have a hair dryer with several speed options so you can use a lower setting to avoid causing strain on the hair and follicles during the drying process. Remember – hair is actually more brittle when it is wet, so be careful with it!
Flat-Irons, Straighteners, and Curlers
This is a tough one. All of these products tend to rely on excessive amounts of heat to produce the desired result. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use them – eventually!
You want to wait for a while after your procedure to use these products, specifically depending upon your doctor’s advice, but a general rule of thumb is to wait at least three months before using any of these tools on your hair.
Specifically after receiving LLLT or FUT you will want to be very wary of putting heat near your scalp because your scalp is going to be healing from the procedure and an accidental burn or contact with the hot surface could cause permanent damage to your new procedure.
When and if you decide to use these, the first thing you want to do is make sure you find one with a temperature readout on it and has multiple temperature settings. You will want to use the coolest setting possible to avoid damaging your hair!
This might make the process take a little longer, but the slow exposure to the heat and lower temperature allow the hair to avoid the damage of a sudden burst of heat, and will allow you to enjoy your new look for a longer period of time.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, we all want to look amazing every day, but remember that post-transplant care requires some patience and, likely, a change in habit from previous hair-care behaviors.
Even though the procedures today as performed by experts like Dr. Williams in state-of-the-art operating rooms are generally quick and painless, the process does take time to allow the Transplantation to take root and transform into the look you desire.
As always, ask your doctor about specific tips, products, and tools that you might use or plan to use on your hair and scalp post-transplant, and if you want to find out more about how you can receive the best in Hair-Transplantation care, contact Dr. Joseph Williams today to find out how he can help you find your best look today.
