In the weeks after a hair transplant, the products you apply to your scalp can have a significant impact on graft survival and healing speed. Many common hair care products contain ingredients that are irritating, drying, or inflammatory — all of which you need to avoid while the scalp is healing.
Avoid all styling products — gels, waxes, pomades, hairsprays — for at least four weeks. These products create a seal on the scalp that traps bacteria and debris, which increases infection risk. They also require scrubbing to remove, which is dangerous for healing grafts.
Anti-dandruff shampoos containing zinc pyrithione, selenium sulphide, or ketoconazole should be avoided for the first month. While effective for dandruff control, these active ingredients can be irritating to healing scalp tissue.
SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) — a foaming agent found in most mainstream shampoos — is best avoided for the first two weeks. Choose a gentle, fragrance-free baby shampoo or a specifically formulated post-transplant shampoo during this period.
Minoxidil should be paused before and after surgery. Most surgeons recommend stopping at least one week before your procedure and not resuming until at least one month post-surgery, to allow the scalp to heal without the additional irritation that minoxidil can cause on recently treated skin.
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