Hair loss can significantly knock your confidence and many find that a hair transplant can help restore that sense of pride in their appearance. If you’re considering the procedure yourself (or if you’ve already booked your appointment and are excitedly waiting for the day to arrive), here are a few helpful tips from the hair transplant experts, Crown Clinic, for discreetly concealing your hair transplant, during the healing period.
How long does it take to get back to normal?
Hair transplants are relatively stress-free on your body and most people find themselves getting back to normal, a day or two after the procedure. On the other hand, it’s very common to notice scabbing and scarring on your scalp as well as swelling and redness on your scalp and upper face, that can sometimes last for around 10-14 days.
It’s well worth taking a few days off work, to give your body some time to rest and to make your recovery as quick as possible, without any mishaps.
How can you discreetly conceal your new hair transplant?
Your new hair needs time to take and during this time, it may be noticeable to others that you have had a hair transplant. If you’re concerned about this and are hoping to keep your transplant under wraps, consider a few of these tips and tricks:
Longer hair can easily cover any scarring or scabs
If you have longer hair, it’s very easy to style it in a way that will hide any scarring or scabs you may have. Hair follicles are usually taken from the back of your head, where hair growth tends to be the heaviest, so longer hair can be styled into a ponytail or even swept back, to cover scarring or scabs whilst your scalp heals.
For shorter hair, consider concealers
If you prefer to wear your hair short, there are plenty of hair loss concealers available. Many of these products are made up of nanofibres that blend in with your natural hair – the perfect cover up whilst your scalp recovers from the transplant.
Can you change your parting to cover the front?
Hair loss usually impacts the front of the head, which is where the follicles are usually transplanted to. If you can, consider changing your parting in a way that will cover this area for a few days, until any scabbing dies down.
Makeup can help reduce the appearance of redness
After a hair transplant, redness can affect the upper half of your face, and while makeup can help, try not to apply it until a week after the transplant. Be sure to wash your face gently when you take the makeup off for the day, as the hair may still be securing itself. After 7-10 days, your makeup regime can return to normal.
Make sure you frequently wash your hair
Washing your hair regularly after the procedure, can help to reduce the likelihood of scabs forming. The fewer scabs that you have, the more effective your keeping the hair transplant a secret will be.
Keep your head elevated whilst you sleep
Sleeping with your head slightly elevated after your hair transplant, can help to prevent swelling. On average, swelling affects three-quarters of hair transplant patients and it can travel onto your nose and underneath your eyes. Swelling can last for up to a week and can significantly impact your efforts to conceal your hair transplant.
Some other tips to consider before booking your hair transplant
Modern technology and procedures mean that doctors can make hair transplants look very natural, however it can take between 1 and 2 weeks for any scabs to disappear. If you’re ready to take the next step and book your hair transplant, bear this in mind and consider the following:
- Think about taking a week or two off, maybe during the holiday season, to fully recover and allow plenty of time for your hair transplant to look more natural
- If time doesn’t allow for you to take a whole 2 weeks off, why not book your appointment between Wednesday and Friday? This will give you the couple of days that you book off work, plus the weekend, to fully recover.
- It can take up to a month for a hair transplant to blend in with your hair and look completely natural. If you have a birthday, wedding or any other big event coming up, allow plenty of time beforehand, to make sure you can show off your new hair and look fantastic in the pictures!
