How to Wash Your Hair With a Scalp Wound

Suffering a scalp wound can be scary and painful. A laceration, cut or incision on the head often requires stitches, staples or medical glue to close the skin and help it heal properly. But while caring for this delicate wound area, you still need to wash your hair!

Proper hair washing technique is crucial when you have a healing scalp laceration to avoid complications like infection or re-opening the wound. Certain steps must be taken to keep the area clean while avoiding too much disturbance of the healing tissue.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about safely washing your hair after sustaining a scalp wound, including:

• When can I wash my hair after a scalp wound?
• How to wash scalp wound hair the first 2 days
• How to wash scalp wound hair after 2 days
• Tips for gentle hair washing with a scalp wound
• Signs of complications to watch for
• When to resume normal hair washing
• Seeking medical care if needed

Arm yourself with information to cleanse your scalp wound area properly. Taking the right precautions when shampooing can promote healing and minimize risks.

When Can I Wash My Hair After a Scalp Wound?

If you’ve recently suffered a laceration, cut or incision to your scalp that required medical treatment, your doctor likely advised you to initially keep the area dry. This allows the wound to begin healing undisturbed during the first 24-48 hours after injury.

During this initial period, avoid wetting the scalp wound to prevent disrupting the repaired skin and increasing chances of infection. That means no shampooing, bathing, swimming or other water exposure.

After the first 1-2 days, you can begin gently rinsing and washing your scalp wound area. But special care must be taken not to disturb the healing laceration until it has fully closed up.

Follow your doctor’s specific instructions on when to start washing, since the timing depends on factors like wound size, depth and location. But in general, gentle cleansing can begin after the first couple days as long as proper precautions are taken.

How to Wash Scalp Wound Hair the First 2 Days

For the first 24-48 hours after a scalp laceration, your doctor likely recommended keeping the area completely dry. But some gentle cleansing may be permitted to remove any blood and debris around the wound.

Here are tips for washing scalp wound hair the first 2 days:

• Avoid submerging the head or wound area in water.

• Carefully trickle lukewarm water over the hair near the wound to wet it.

• Use your fingertips to gently work water through the hair, avoiding disturbing the wound.

• Rinse away any blood or debris particles from the surrounding hair.

• Pat dry with a clean towel. Don’t rub over the wound.

• Do not use shampoo or scrub the first 2 days.

• Blow dry on a cool setting if needed, carefully avoiding the wound area.

The goal is just to lightly rinse and remove any blood or dirt around the wound. Don’t directly wash, soak, scrub or disturb the healing laceration yet.

How to Wash Scalp Wound Hair After 2 Days

After the first couple days, you can start gently shampooing and washing your scalp wound area. But extra care must be taken to avoid disturbing the healing laceration or getting soap and shampoo into the damaged skin.

Follow these tips for shampooing scalp wound hair after 2 days:

• Carefully wet your hair in the shower or with a detachable showerhead, avoiding the wound.

• Apply a very gentle, fragrance-free shampoo to your hair, avoiding the laceration site. Focus on cleaning the surrounding hair.

• Use your fingertips to lightly massage shampoo only into hair around the wound, not directly on it.

• Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water to remove shampoo residue. Avoid lengthy direct water contact with the wound.

• Be extra gentle when patting dry with a towel. Don’t rub over the wound.

• Blow dry on a cool setting if needed, carefully avoiding the tender area.

Repeat this gentle shampooing process every 2-3 days as your scalp wound continues to heal. Avoid getting products in the wound or soaking it excessively.

Tips for Gentle Hair Washing With a Scalp Wound

Here are some additional tips for keeping your scalp wound clean while avoiding disruption of the healing laceration:

• Use a gentle, fragrance-free shampoo labeled for sensitive skin or babies. Avoid harsh soaps.

• Wash your hair in the sink if possible, using a detachable nozzle. This gives you more control than in the shower.

• Let lukewarm water trickle over your hair to wet it rather than holding your head directly under the faucet.

• Gently massage shampoo into the hair around the wound rather than directly on it. Handle the scalp delicately.

• Rinse very carefully and avoid lengthy direct water contact with the wound.

• Pat dry gently with a clean towel. Don’t rub over the tender area.

• Use a blow dryer on a cool setting to speed up drying if needed. Keep it moving to avoid overheating.

• Have someone help wash your hair if needed to avoid bumping the wound.

• Wait at least 2 weeks before using any hair styling products.

Signs of Wound Complications to Watch For

It’s important to monitor your scalp wound for any signs of complications like infection as you wash around the area. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice:

• Increased pain, swelling or inflammation around the wound

• Redness spreading from the laceration site

• Red streaks extending from the wound

• Green, yellow or foul-smelling pus

• Bleeding that won’t stop

• Warmth or heat coming from the area

• Fever over 100°F

These could signal an infection or other healing issues requiring medical treatment. Don’t ignore any worrisome symptoms.

When Can I Resume Normal Hair Washing?

Once your scalp laceration has completely closed up and healed, you can resume your regular hair washing routine. But avoid scrubbing the area roughly.

Your doctor will let you know when the wound has healed enough to handle normal shampooing and water exposure. This is usually around 2 weeks but may take longer depending on factors like wound size and depth.

Even once cleared for normal washing, continue using a gentle shampoo and handle the area delicately for awhile. Don’t pick at scabs or scrub vigorously over healing tissue.

Be sure to keep follow-up appointments so your doctor can monitor the wound for proper healing. Don’t attempt to remove any stitches or staples on your own.

Seeking Follow-Up Medical Care

Don’t neglect follow-up medical care for your scalp wound. Contact your doctor right away if you experience:

• Increased pain or swelling
• Fevers, redness, red streaks or pus
• Excessive bleeding
• Loss of sensation around the wound
• Wound reopening
• Any other worrisome symptoms

Ongoing monitoring and care from your healthcare provider can detect and treat any healing complications early. Don’t hesitate to call if you have any concerns about your wound.

With the proper hair washing precautions and technique, you can keep your scalp laceration clean while allowing it to heal properly. Use gentle motions, mild products and careful rinsing to avoid disrupting the sensitive area. And consult your doctor at the first sign of any infection or healing issues.

The Takeaway

Suffering a scalp wound can make hair washing challenging while caring for the delicate healing tissue. Avoid wetting the laceration for the first 1-2 days after injury. After that, gently shampoo around (not directly on) the wound every 2-3 days with a mild cleanser. Monitor for signs of complications and clear normal washing with your doctor once fully mended. With the right approach, you can wash wound-area hair without compromising its recovery.