How do you perform wudu and pray after a hair transplant?

Who should you ask about this?

This question has two sides. The religious side is not our area: how wudu and prayer should be done on days when you cannot let water touch the recipient area, or cannot perform sujood as usual, is a question for an imam or a mufti’s office. What we can answer is the medical side: in the first few days, follow your written aftercare instructions on getting the recipient area wet, touching it and rubbing it, and avoid putting pressure on the recipient area. Also ask your doctor when you can go back to movements that bring your head forward and down, such as ruku and sujood.

In this article, we have put together general advice on protecting the recipient area and the donor area (the area the grafts are taken from, mostly the back and sides of the head) during wudu and prayer. We do not give a number of days; the timing depends on where the recipient area is and how large it is, the plan used and how quickly you heal. If your instructions differ from this article, follow your instructions.

Questions you can ask an imam

The following questions call for a religious judgment, so we do not answer them:

• How to perform wudu and masah of the head (passing a wet hand over the head) on days when you cannot let water touch the recipient area or when your head is bandaged
• If your transplant was at the front hairline, what to do on days when you cannot let water touch this area while washing your face
• What to do when ghusl (full-body ritual washing) is required on days when you cannot wash your hair yet
• How to pray on days when you cannot perform ruku and sujood as usual

When you consult an imam, have your written aftercare instructions with you; they state when water may touch the recipient area and when you can touch it. If you are unsure about a medical detail, ask us first.

How can you protect the recipient area during wudu?

In the first few days, the grafts (small pieces of tissue carrying one or a few hairs) have not yet taken a firm hold in the channels where they were placed; this is when they are most sensitive to friction and pressure. As a general guide, keep the following in mind during wudu:

• Do not put your head under the faucet or the shower, and do not point water directly at the recipient area.
• When washing your face, do not splash water onto it; bring the water to your face gently in your cupped hand. If your transplant was at the front hairline, pay particular attention to what your instructions say about getting this area wet and touching it.
• Do not press or rub the recipient area or the donor area with wet or dry hands. When wiping your ears and neck, make sure your hands do not slide above your ears or onto the back of your head, that is, onto the donor area. Ask us when you can touch your head with your hands.
• Rather than bending low over the sink, stay as upright as you can. In the first few days, bending forward can lead to bleeding and more swelling in the recipient area.
• To wash your feet, sit down instead of lifting them into the sink, and keep your back as straight as you can without letting your head hang down. Sitting also lowers the risk of losing your balance on a wet floor and hitting your head on something.
• When drying your face, do not rub the towel against the top of your forehead or your hairline; only dab lightly.

If a little water accidentally splashes onto the recipient area, do not panic. Do not rub, wipe or press it; let it dry on its own. If you have any concerns, ask us.

We state clearly in your written instructions when and how to wash your hair for the first time. You may see different timings elsewhere; follow your own instructions. This information will also help when you ask an imam about ghusl.

Why do ruku and sujood need care?

In ruku (bending forward with your hands on your knees), your head moves forward and down; in sujood (placing your forehead on the ground), it drops below the level of your heart. In positions where your head stays low, the pressure in the blood vessels of your head rises. In the first few days, this can lead to throbbing, bleeding and more swelling in the recipient area. This is also why we ask you to avoid bending forward in daily life in the first few days; we explain the effects of exertion and bending forward in our article on exercise, pools and Turkish baths after a hair transplant.

In sujood, as your forehead touches the ground, your front hairline also comes close to the surface. If your transplant was at the front, the prayer mat may rub or press against the healing skin. If it was at the crown, keeping your head low still calls for care, even without direct contact.

Ask your doctor when you can perform ruku and sujood as usual; the decision is based on where the recipient area is, the plan used and how your healing is progressing. As for how to pray during this period, ask an imam.

When you return to sujood

• Lower your head slowly, and do not press your forehead into the ground.
• For the sake of your healing skin, you may prefer to use your own clean prayer mat for a while.
• If you notice throbbing, bleeding or marked swelling in the recipient area after praying, let us know.

Prayer caps, headscarves and crowded mosques

Headwear such as prayer caps, turbans, headscarves and hats can press and rub on the recipient area. We state in your instructions when you can wear headwear, and what kind; if you are not sure, ask us before you put it on. If you wear a headscarf, tell us during the examination; we will discuss with you what kind of covering you can use in the first few weeks.

In large congregations, such as at Friday and Eid prayers, someone may accidentally bump into your head. In the first few days, choosing a quieter spot and sitting down to put on your shoes will make things easier.

Planning the date of your procedure

Tell us during the examination about any religious observances you are planning. If you intend to fast during Ramadan, talk to your doctor in advance about the timing of the medicines you will take on the day of the procedure and afterward. If you are planning Hajj or Umrah, the crowds, the heat, the sun and the hair cutting or shaving that is part of these rites may affect the date of the procedure; we set the date together with this in mind. We explain how to get ready for the procedure in our article on preparing for a hair transplant.

Whether you are suitable for a hair transplant, and the plan that suits you, are determined during the examination. Healing and results vary from person to person. You can find other aftercare details on the hair transplant aftercare page.

When should you contact us?

If you notice any of the following, contact us without waiting for your follow-up appointment:

• Bleeding that does not stop or keeps coming back
• Bleeding or pain after a knock to the recipient area
• Increasing pain, redness or swelling
• Discharge, pus or a bad smell in the recipient area or the donor area
• Fever
• Painful or growing pimple-like bumps in the recipient area

In an emergency, or if you cannot reach us, go to the nearest healthcare facility without delay. The information in this article is general and does not replace the written aftercare instructions we give you.