Can You Wear a Hat After a Hair Transplant? What You Need to Know

Thinking of getting a hair transplant to cover up hair loss and hoping to keep your scalp hidden during the healing process? You might be wondering: can you wear a hat after a hair transplant?

There's no straightforward yes or no answer to this question. It’s a bit of a gray area since there’s not much research on post-transplant hat-wearing.

While the best advice will come from your surgeon and depend on your unique situation, we’re here to guide you through hat-related do’s and don’ts after your hair transplant surgery. Plus, we’ll share some key tips to help you breeze through the recovery process.

There’s no hard-and-fast rule that says how soon you can wear a hat or cap after hair transplant surgery. Instead, it’s something you should discuss with your surgeon.

The answer may vary depending on several factors, including whether you’re getting a follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplant, which involves making tiny incisions, or follicular unit transplantation (FUT) which involves removing a small linear strip of skin.

The aftercare guidance for these hair restoration procedures may be slightly different.

Consider these general guidelines on hat wearing after a hair transplant:

• Days 0-3. Don’t wear a hat, hood, bandana, scarf, or other head covering in the days right after your hair transplant.

• Days 4-7. You might be able to wear loose-fitting hats that don’t squeeze your scalp.

• After 7 days. You can probably wear any hat for short periods of time, but don’t wear a helmet as it puts too much pressure on the head. Ask your surgeon when you can wear a helmet again, since the guidance varies from two to six weeks post-transplant.

• After 10 Days: As long as you’re not sweating excessively, you can wear a hat for longer periods of time — but skip the helmet unless your provider says it’s OK.

Thinking of sporting a baseball cap, beanie, or fedora to cover up your scalp right after a hair transplant? It’s not a good idea for a few reasons. Here’s why:

It Can Dislodge Grafts

The biggest risk with wearing a hat after a hair transplant is that it might disturb the freshly transplanted grafts. During the first few days, these grafts aren’t fully secure.

A study by a hair transplant clinic showed that pulling on a transplanted hair within the first two days always led to a lost graft. By day three, the risk decreased, and by day six, pulling on a hair no longer dislodged the graft. By day nine, the grafts were stable, likely making it safe to wear a hat for short periods at this point post-surgery.

It Can Cause Infection

Wearing a hat too soon after a  hair transplant can trap sweat, dirt, and bacteria against the scalp, increasing your risk of infection.

It Can Cause Irritation

Tight-fitting hats can cause friction and put pressure on the scalp, leading to irritation and inflammation — even potentially damaging your healing grafts.

It Can Prevent New Hair Growth

Donning a hat during the healing process can put pressure on delicate hair follicles, making it challenging for new hair to grow. If your hat is very tight-fitting, it might even reduce blood flow to your scalp, which can impact the hair growth cycle.

Remember, it’s not just hats that can be a no-no after hair transplant surgery. Be cautious of anything that touches your head, like hoods, clothes you pull over your heads, and over-the-ear headphones.

It’s important not to wear a hat right away after hair transplant surgery unless your surgeon gives you the green light.

After the first few days, your surgeon might suggest wearing a hat to protect your head. When you do wear a hat again, consider these options:

• Loose-fitting beanies, ideally ones made of a soft material that won’t snag

• Baseball hats with snap-backs that you can wear loose

• Soft bucket hats

• Loosely tied scarves or oversized hoods that don’t put pressure on the scalp

• Hats made with breathable materials

Your dermatologist or hair transplant surgeon will guide you on post-care essentials. But here’s a quick rundown of what to steer clear of in the days following your hair transplant:

• Clothing you need to pull over your head. Instead, opt for button-ups or zip front sweaters and sweatshirts.

• Intense exercise. Avoid intense activities that increase blood flow to the scalp, which might lead to bleeding or swelling. Try to stay sweat-free, but if it’s unavoidable, gently pat your scalp with a clean, dry microfiber towel — terry cloth may be too rough.

• Sun exposure. UV rays and direct sunlight can slow the healing process, dry out the scalp, or cause sunburn. Since hats are off-limits after a hair transplant, plan to stay indoors, especially if you live in a sunny area.

• Scratching. Scabs are an important part of the healing process but they can be itchy. Resist the urge to scratch, which might dislodge hair grafts. Research shows that saline spray can help ease itching.

• Washing your hair. Don’t wash your hair for the first three days unless your surgeon says otherwise. Some studies recommend washing with baby shampoo after this period.

Maybe hats are part of your signature style. Or perhaps you’re concerned about hiding the fact that you just had a hair transplant. Either way, it makes sense to wonder about the rules around hat-wearing after this kind of surgical procedure.

So, can you wear a hat after a hair transplant? Let’s recap what we know:

• You should avoid wearing a hat in the first few days after the procedure. Some healthcare professionals recommend staying hat-free for the first week post-surgery. After that, it’s important to find a hat that won’t snag or pull on transplanted hair follicles.

• Consult your surgeon for personalized advice on when and how to wear a hat after your hair transplant. Guidance can vary depending on the procedure and your individual healing process.

• Talk with your provider about what you can expect during hair transplant recovery. Follow all post-operative care instructions carefully, including avoiding sun exposure, strenuous activities, and anything that may disrupt the healing process.

Want to learn more about hair transplants? Check out our guide to hairline restoration surgery.

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