Hair transplant aftercare in the first 14 days centres on protecting the grafts, managing scabs, and reading the line between normal healing and signs that warrant a same-day clinic call. Shedding of the transplanted hair at weeks 3–6 — sometimes called shock loss — affects 30–50% of patients and is almost always followed by full regrowth from month 3 onwards. This guide covers the wash protocol, activity restrictions, the 12-month timeline, and what to flag to the clinic.
What's normal vs what isn't
The first 14 days after a hair transplant include several phenomena that can feel alarming but are clinically expected. Equally, a small set of symptoms warrant a same-day call to the clinic. The most useful thing this guide does is tell you which is which.
Normal — no clinic call needed
| Symptom | When | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Redness in recipient area | Days 0–14, sometimes longer | Surgical inflammation; resolves naturally |
| Itching in donor and recipient | Days 3–14 | Healing nerve endings; resist scratching |
| Tight, raised forehead | Days 1–4 | Local oedema; sleep elevated |
| Visible scabs | Days 3–10 | Slough off naturally with gentle washing |
| Donor-area numbness | Weeks 1–8 | Temporary nerve sensitivity; resolves |
| Transplanted hair sheds | Weeks 3–6 | Shock loss; follicles still alive |
| Recipient looks worse | Months 2–5 | "Ugly duckling phase"; growth phase pending |
Same-day clinic call
| Symptom | What to do |
|---|---|
| Asymmetric or sudden severe swelling | Call clinic same day |
| Yellow pus or exudate | Call clinic same day |
| Increasing (not decreasing) pain after day 4 | Call clinic same day |
| Fever above 38°C | Call clinic same day, A&E if rising |
| Significant donor bleeding beyond day 1 | Call clinic; A&E if uncontrolled |
| Sudden change in vision | A&E immediately (rare but reported) |
The two-week wash protocol
The most fragile period is the first 14 days, when transplanted grafts are vulnerable to dislodgement.
Day 1 (procedure day): No washing. Sleep elevated.
Day 2 or 3: First wash, usually performed in-clinic at credentialed UK practices. The clinic shows you the technique. Hand-rinse only — no shower-pressure water on the recipient.
Days 3–14: Hand-rinse twice daily with the prescribed shampoo. Apply gentle pressure from the donor area outwards. Saline spray applied throughout the day to keep grafts hydrated and prevent thick scab formation.
Day 14 onwards: Normal showering and shampoo resume. Gentle for the first 30 days; vigorous scrubbing waits until the recipient area is fully healed.
Saline spray's evidence base for graft survival is thin (no major RCT proves it improves take rate), but it's the global ISHRS-recommended standard for graft hydration and crust prevention.
When sweat, sun, swimming and exercise are safe
| Activity | Safe from |
|---|---|
| Light walking | Day 1 |
| Driving | Day 2–3 |
| Desk work | Day 5–7 |
| Stationary cardio (no sweat) | Day 7 |
| Light gym, low-intensity cardio | Day 14 |
| Heavy weights, full sweating exercise | Day 14 |
| Steam room, sauna | Day 30 |
| Swimming (chlorine pool) | Day 30 |
| Open water swimming | Day 30 |
| Contact sports (football, rugby, martial arts) | Day 30 |
| Tight cap or helmet | Day 30 |
| Direct sun on scalp | 3–6 months |
| Hair colouring/dying | 4–6 weeks |
The 12-month shedding and regrowth timeline
| Period | What's happening |
|---|---|
| Days 0–10 | Surgical healing; scabs slough |
| Weeks 2–6 | Transplanted hair sheds (shock loss) |
| Months 1–3 | "Ugly duckling phase"; native hair may also shed |
| Months 3–6 | New growth begins, accelerates through this window |
| Months 6–12 | Density visibly builds; ~80–90% of final result by 12 months |
| Months 12–18 | Final result; texture and density mature |
A common patient mistake is judging the result at 6 months. Real results are visible at 12 months minimum, ideally 15–18.
Native hair shedding ("shock loss") around the transplant
A separate phenomenon from transplanted shedding: native hair adjacent to the recipient area can also enter a temporary resting phase from the surgical trauma. Roughly 30–50% of patients experience some shock loss of existing native hair. The mechanism is ischemia-reperfusion injury — temporarily reduced blood supply followed by reperfusion — and recovery rate for healthy non-miniaturising native hair is over 95%.
If your native hair is partly miniaturised when you go into surgery (common around an existing hairline or thinning crown), some of those follicles may not recover from shock loss because they were already at the end of their viable life. This is one reason most UK surgeons strongly recommend being on finasteride or minoxidil pre-procedure.
When PRP and medication should join the protocol
Finasteride: Most surgeons recommend continuing through surgery if you're already taking it. Starting fresh: typically from month 1–3 post-op to protect native hair.
Minoxidil: Stop 7 days pre-op (reduces intra-op bleeding). Restart day 14 post-op.
PRP: Optional. Strongest evidence for sessions at months 1, 4 and 8. UK pricing £200–£450 per session.
Full medication picture in our medications guide.
Where to start
- See the full recovery timeline day-by-day
- Read our medications guide for finasteride / minoxidil context
- Browse UK surgeons for ongoing care or revision questions
This guide is informational and not medical advice. Specific aftercare must follow your clinic's written protocol. If anything feels wrong, call the clinic — that's what they're there for.