Dr Otgen Clinic guide

Washing after a hair transplant is not an ordinary hair wash. The aim is to clean the recipient area, soften the scabs so that they come off on their own, and do all of this without disturbing the grafts. Washing correctly supports healing; rubbing, high-pressure water and picking scabs can damage the grafts. The steps below are a general framework; your doctor’s instructions on products, frequency and duration come first.

When is the first wash?

The day of the first wash is set by your doctor and, in most plans, it takes place at the clinic in the first days after surgery. There are two reasons for doing it at the clinic: the recipient area is checked, and you are shown hands-on how to wash at home.

Do not wet the recipient area yourself before the first wash. You will also be told separately when the dressing on the donor area can be removed.

Getting ready to wash

  • Wash your hands with soap; short fingernails reduce the risk of accidentally damaging the recipient area
  • Have the lotion or foam and shampoo from the clinic ready; do not use other products during this period
  • The water should be lukewarm; hot water and steam can irritate the recipient area
  • Instead of pointing the shower head at the recipient area, use a cup or a low-pressure flow
  • Have clean paper towels or a soft towel ready for drying

Washing step by step

The order below is the general method used in most aftercare plans. If you were given a different order or waiting time, follow that instead.

  • Apply the lotion or foam to the recipient area by dabbing lightly with your fingertips, without rubbing
  • Leave it on for the time your doctor specified; this softens the scabs
  • Rinse the lotion off by pouring lukewarm water from a cup or using low pressure
  • Lather the shampoo in your palm and spread the foam over the recipient area with light, top-to-bottom dabbing, without pressing
  • Do not rub the recipient area; the donor area can be washed more freely after a few days
  • Rinse the foam off, again with a gentle stream of water
  • Dry the recipient area by gently patting it with a paper towel instead of wiping, or let it air-dry

A hair dryer is not recommended during this period. If your doctor allows it, use it only on the cold setting and from a distance.

How often and for how many days?

In most aftercare plans, washing once a day is recommended after the first wash until the scabs have come off. The scabs usually fall off between days 7 and 14. Because the frequency may vary with your skin, how much scabbing you have and the technique used, your doctor sets the exact frequency.

Washing more than once a day does not make the scabs fall off faster; it can irritate the recipient area unnecessarily.

What if the scabs are not coming off?

Some scabs may remain after day 10. Rather than lifting them with your fingernails, ask the clinic whether the lotion can be left on longer. Very light circular movements with the fingertips during the wash are usually allowed after a certain day; your doctor will tell you which day.

If there are still a lot of scabs after day 14, sending the clinic a photo of the recipient area is usually enough to tell whether anything needs to be done.

When can you return to normal washing?

You return to normal washing once the scabs have come off and the recipient area has closed. Even then, it is a good habit to keep washing with lukewarm water for the first weeks, without hard rubbing or scratching with your nails.

A fragrance-free, gentle shampoo is enough. Products sold as "hair transplant shampoo" do not speed up hair growth; what matters is that the product does not irritate the recipient area. For hair dye, perms and similar chemical treatments, wait for the period your doctor recommends.

Common washing mistakes

  • Pointing the shower head directly at the recipient area under pressure
  • Drying by rubbing with a towel
  • Rinsing the lotion off immediately instead of leaving it on
  • Using a comb or fingernails to "clean off" the scabs
  • Washing with hot water or in a sauna or steam room
  • Applying products to the recipient area that the clinic did not give you

When should you let the clinic know?

Contact the clinic without waiting if bleeding does not stop during or after washing, if the recipient area shows increasing redness, warmth, pus-like discharge or a foul smell, or if you develop a fever. These signs are outside normal healing.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take a shower after a hair transplant?

You can wash your body, but the recipient area must stay dry until the first wash. After the first wash, do not aim strong water directly at the recipient area in the shower, and avoid very hot water and steam.

How long should I leave the lotion on?

The waiting time depends on the product used and will be given by your doctor. It matters because it softens the scabs; shortening it can make the scabs come off later.

Hair falls out when I wash — are the grafts coming out too?

After the first days it is normal for short hair shafts to come away with the scabs during washing; the follicle mostly stays under the skin. If a scab bleeds as it comes off, let the clinic know.

When can I dye my hair after a hair transplant?

Because dye and other chemical treatments can irritate the recipient area, you wait until the area has fully healed. Your doctor will set the exact timing based on how your scalp is healing.

Dr Otgen Clinic Medical Editors · Last updated: October 6, 2026