When Can You Safely Wear a Beanie After a Hair Transplant?

Quick Summary

Cap Recommendations: Light, breathable caps, such as snapbacks or trucker hats, are advisable if you need to wear a hat after surgery. They should only be worn to protect the scalp from direct sunlight and adjusted to minimise contact with the scalp.

Cap vs Beanie: Caps are preferable immediately post-surgery because they can be adjusted to avoid putting pressure on the transplant sites. Beanies, being snug and elastic, should be avoided for 1 month after surgery to allow for initial healing.

Risks of Early Coverage: Covering your head too soon can lead to issues such as dislodged grafts, allergic reactions, and infections. It’s crucial to allow the scalp to breathe and heal.

When to Wear a Beanie: A beanie can be worn after four weeks post-transplant, provided the scalp has fully healed. Look for the absence of scabs, minimal sensitivity, and no redness.

Protecting the newly treated areas of your scalp—both donor and recipient sites—is crucial for ensuring a successful transplant. In this blog, we’ll explore when it’s safe to start wearing a beanie again and delve a bit into the recovery process to understand the precautions you need to take. Caring for your hair immediately after surgery is equally as important as the surgery itself.

Although it is tempting to cover up, especially in the cooler months, certain fabrics or harsh treatments after a hair transplant procedure can jeopardise the growth of your newly placed follicles. 

In this article, we will provide you with everything you need to know about wearing a beanie safely after undergoing a hair transplant procedure.

You will learn when it is safe to put on snug-fitting hats again and how to do so without interfering with your new hair growth. Aftercare, after all, is part of the entire operation. 

What Is a Beanie and How Is It Different from Other Headwear Post-Transplant?

A beanie is a soft, elastic, close-fitting cap typically made from wool or acrylic to provide warmth during the winter months. These caps typically cover the entire head and extend over the ears, making them warm while also capable of rubbing the scalp and trapping sweat and heat against the skin. 

Beanies vs. Other Headwear after Hair Transplant:

Fit

Beanies can be pretty tight and elastic, which can be an issue for a healing scalp. Looser-fitting caps, such as trucker caps, baseball caps, and wide-brimmed hats, are a better first option. 

Material

The material of the beanie counts. Fabrics should be soft and breathable to prevent friction and irritation of the grafts, as well as snagging caused by loose and wiry threads. 

Timing 

In most cases, it is advisable to wait at least 1 month before beginning to wear a beanie to avoid grafts from being pulled out due to contact with the beanie’s fabric. The scalp needs to heal, and the grafts must be securely embedded beforehand. 

Purpose

Beanies and other headwear generally protect the scalp against sun, wind, and cold, and beanies can still provide warm coverage in cooler months. 

When Can I Wear a Beanie After a Hair Transplant?

A beanie can be worn four weeks post-transplant, provided the scalp has healed completely, with no scabbing, minimal sensitivity, and minimal redness.

Wearing a beanie too early can interfere with the healing process and may leave you prone to infection, irritation, or graft dislodgement.

Can I Wear a Beanie After 7–10 Days Post-Transplant?

No, this is not advisable. The wound at the recipient site has just begun to heal, and the grafts are starting to stabilise within the scalp, although not yet fully. Even the light pressure of a beanie can destroy or displace them. 

Additionally, hats pose an infection risk by creating a hot or humid environment that can facilitate the growth of bacteria underneath. Wearing tight-fitting hats too early can promote infection, irritation, and inflammation. 

Most clinics advise not wearing any tight-fitting headwear until at least 14 days post-transplant, and even then, only to wear highly loose-fitting headwear such as snapbacks.

At The Treatment Rooms London, we recommend waiting at least four weeks before wearing any tight-fitting headgear, such as beanies, or other types of pressure-creating headgear like helmets, to reduce the risk of graft dislodgement and poor healing. 

If you need to wear a helmet, consult with your surgeon to receive personalised guidance or temporary solutions.

Does the Transplant Type (FUE vs FUT) Affect Timing for Wearing Headwear?

Yes, the type of transplantation technique affects the time at which you can wear headgear safely.

FUE (Follicular Unit Excision): FUE surgery involves individually removing hair follicles from the back and sides of the head, leaving you with less than 1mm in size dot scarring.

Recovery is usually quicker, and after approximately four days, surgeons can permit the wearing of loose-fitting, breathable hats to protect against sun exposure and the elements. 

FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation): FUT surgery includes removing hair follicles from a strip of scalp, leaving a linear scar across the back and sides of the head. This scar heals more slowly than FUE’s dot-like scarring, and hats can only be worn once the scarring has healed sufficiently to prevent irritation and poor healing of the skin.

Before wearing headwear, we would recommend you consult your surgeon regardless of the approach used. 

What Are the Best Hats and Materials to Wear After a Hair Transplant?

Opt for adjustable and breathable head coverings as part of the aftercare for hair transplant surgery. 

Materials that are soft, aerated, and loose but also with structure will keep grafts clean, dry, and free of friction.

Examples of this are snapbacks and trucker caps.

Other suitable headwear includes loose hoodies or jackets with hoods, bandanas, and soft cotton scarves, as well as external protection such as sun umbrellas and parasols. 

FAQs

1. Can I sleep in a beanie after a transplant?

You should wait at least one month before wearing a beanie due to the risk of friction and graft dislodgement.

2. When can I go back to the gym or go swimming?

You may return to aerobic and sweaty exercises after 14 days post-transplant, and swim in swimming pools after 1 month. This is due to the risk of infection and irritation of your healing grafts. 

3. How do I know my scalp is fully healed?

After 14 days post-transplant, you should be scab-free. Redness, swelling, and pain should decrease progressively during this time, and the skin should stop feeling tight, itchy, inflamed, and painful. The grafts will also feel secure after this period, and you may return to normal life activities.

4. Is it better to schedule a hair transplant in cold weather so I can wear hats?

Not necessarily. Although cooler weather minimises sweating (a plus), wearing tightly fitting hats for warmth at an early stage remains dangerous, regardless of the season.

Conclusion

Wearing a cosy beanie can be a necessity during the chilly months, and it is safe to wear them after surgery as long as the right amount of time has passed and the grafts are healing well. One month gives the grafts enough time to tether, for swelling and irritation to reduce and for everyday life activities to resume. 

The first month is crucial for protecting your grafts and allowing your scalp to breathe. Light, breathable caps should be worn selectively during the initial days. Remember to check with your surgeon before using any snug headwear. 

These guidelines help you avoid complications and give your new hair the best chance to grow healthy and worry-free. 

If you’re considering a hair transplant or have questions about recovery, contact The Treatment Rooms London. Our award-winning team, including leading London hair transplant surgeons Dr Fernando and Dr Vara, is here to support you every step of the way.

At The Treatment Rooms London, with clinics in Brighton, Oxford, Bristol, Birmingham, and Nottingham, we combine award-winning care with personalised assessments, surgeon-led expertise, and the latest in medical technology.

Our priority is to treat your hair loss with dignity while ensuring you’re fully informed about the options available to you.

If you would like to further understand hair transplant surgery and the recovery process, you can read our comprehensive guides here: 

• Can you wear a cap after a hair transplant?
• When Can I Shave My Head After Hair Transplant?
• When Is It Safe to Get a Haircut After Hair Transplant Surgery?
• What is a Hair Transplant? How it Works, Success Rate & What to Expect
• Hair Transplant Timeline: What To Expect
• A Guide To Hair Transplants and Donor Area Recovery
• Frequently Asked Questions about Hair Transplants
• 5 Tips For A Successful Hair Transplant