- Home
- Blog
- DHI Hair Transplant
- The First Month After DHI: Week-by-Week Recovery, Haircuts a...
The First Month After DHI: Week-by-Week Recovery, Haircuts and Returning to Daily Life
How the first four weeks after a DHI transplant go: week-by-week healing, extra tips for unshaven DHI, first haircut, hats and returning to work.
The first month after DHI is when grafts anchor, tissue heals and daily life gradually resumes. Here are the four weeks, with extra tips for unshaven DHI. Your clinic's written instructions come first.
Week 1: protection
| Topic | Advice |
|---|---|
| Sleep | Head raised, neck pillow |
| Washing | First wash at the clinic, then daily and gentle |
| Swelling | Possible on days 2–4 |
| Scabs | Small scabs form; don't pick them |
| Activity | Rest; walking only |
| Hats | Not until the clinic allows |
Unshaven DHI: keep long hair from sticking to the area by directing it loosely back or aside, keep the comb off the grafts, and use a hair dryer only cool and from a distance.
Week 2: scabs fall
Most scabs fall on days 7–10, redness fades (longer in fair skin), light cardio may start with approval, and itching may increase; don't scratch.
Week 3: shock loss begins
Some transplanted hair may shed (normal), native hair may shed temporarily, ask about returning to weights, and the clinic will tell you when to switch to normal shampoo.
Week 4: back to daily life
Most people have largely returned to normal; wait at least a month for pools, sea and sauna; the first haircut can be planned now or later.
| Haircut | General advice |
|---|---|
| Scissors | Usually after a few weeks |
| Clippers on the recipient area | Later; ask the clinic |
| Donor area | Short cut as advised |
| Tell your barber | Always mention the transplant |
| Work type | General return |
|---|---|
| Home office / desk | Within days |
| Face-to-face clients | Usually 7–10 days for appearance |
| Heavy physical work | Plan with the doctor; often 2+ weeks |
| Dust, sun, dirty environments | Extra protection and longer wait |
Unshaven DHI may allow earlier return to face-to-face work as existing hair partly hides the area.
Hats: none at first; once allowed, use a loose, wide hat taken on and off carefully; wait longer for beanies and tight headwear.
At the one-month check, healing is reviewed, photos taken and the follow-up plan made; supportive treatments such as PRP may start.
At our Istanbul clinic, clients receive a written one-month care calendar and an open contact line, with the first-month check in person or by photo; clients from Yalova, Bursa, Kocaeli and Gebze can use remote follow-up.
