When is it Safe to Use a Blow Dryer After Hair Transplant Surgery?

This question comes from a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums: 

Several months ago, I underwent hair transplant surgery, and I now want to start styling my existing hair (and newly growing hair) as I did before the procedure. However, I’m concerned about using a blow dryer with the newly implanted grafts. Because of this, I was wondering when it was safe to use a blow dryer after hair transplantation?

First, it’s important to understand that using a blow dryer at a cool to low heat setting on low speed will not cause any damage to the native hair.

As far as the transplanted hair is concerned: because the grafts are anchored by day 7, it is unlikely that blow drying will actually cause any loss of the implanted follicles at several months post-op.

However, if individuals are still concerned, it may be useful to look at a similar comparison: although it’s not an “apples to apples” comparison, most hair restoration physicians recommend covering your head while in the sun for the first 3-6 months after the procedure. Because of this, I suppose direct heat to the scalp via a blow dryer could cause a similar phenomenon. Therefore, if patients did want to be very careful, I suppose they could follow the same sun protection guidelines and avoid blow drying for the first 3-6 months post-op.

However, as previously stated, I still believe a cool to low heat setting on low speed will not cause excessive scalp irritation and should be fine for transplanted hair as well (after the grafts are fully implanted).

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Blake Bloxham – formerly “Future_HT_Doc”

Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

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