My Transplanted Hair Is Darker and Curlier Than My Native Hair
Hello Doctor
Last year I underwent a hair transplant. Seven months have passed and I am very happy with results, the regrowth is quite fast. I have noticed one thing I’d like to ask about, though. The color and the texture of the transplanted hair differs from my native hair. The transplanted hair grows darker and it’s somewhat kink and curly.
Is a texture change something that happens in the early phase of regrowth after transplant? When should my hair return to its normal state? Is this something I should worry about?
Thank you
Changes in hair texture are somewhat common, though kinky hair occurs less frequently. Usually patients that experience a characteristic change see their straight hair get more of a wave in the transplanted hair. It’s possible that you’ll need to wait out a full hair cycle (2-4 years for the average male) to see if the kinky change disappears.
The transplanted hair should replicate the native hair in the donor area and most changes in color reported reflect a comparison with miniaturized hairs in the recipient area when compared to the transplanted hair in the recipient area. I do not believe that transplants themselves influence changes in hair color, other than maybe accelerated aging issues like early graying.
One patient from 2006 showed changes from blonde to brown which is a process of color change that many blond people go through as they age. My three sons (born with blonde hair) saw their hair change from blonde to brown by the time they got into their late teens. So what you’re describing is unusual unless it is in the aging genetics that you have triggered ahead of schedule.
I had a similar experience with my first transplant 5 years ago. The doctor did a horrible job. There was cobblestoning and it seemed like he might have also jammed large grafts (or multiple small ones?) into holes that were too small. He also placed the hairline too low. I had to comb my hair forward to hide it because the transplants looked almost like hair plugs and the whole thing made me depressed for years because I felt like a freak.
He told me the same thing about the sun lightening. That’s probably true for most cases but not in my case. I have moderately fine light-colored hair (light auburn) and many of the transplanted hairs were very thick and black (and also kinked/curly).
I think my doctor actually had very little hair transplant experience and his poor technique caused the issue.
The very painful lesson I learned was to choose your doctor wisely! My second transplant (with an experienced doctor) was much better.
I had a transplant at NHI back in 2005. I believe it was about 1800 or 2000 grafts (hairline only). My hair is very fine, and super, super straight (about the wave and bounce of dental floss)! :) For at about 2 years, the front of my hair had a very noticeable wave, and in humid waether, the front (and only!! the front) would actually even somewhat curl up. Not a good look. I became good friends with a flat iron, silicone shine serum to block humidity and humidity resistant hairspray. I am now 7 years post transplant, and the front of my hair is back to perfectly straight!! :)