Preparing for your EEG visit!
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How Should I Prepare for My EEG Session?
Clothing: Wear comfortable clothing. A small amount of gel may get on your clothes or skin during the visit, but it washes off easily.
Hair: Please arrive with clean, dry hair. If it’s raining on the day of your visit, do your best to keep your hair and scalp dry on the way to your appointment. If possible, avoid using hair products such as gels, leave-in conditioner, oils, or hairspray beforehand. Different hair types may require different preparation — please see more information on hair types and preparation below.
After the EEG: Your hair will have gel in it after the visit. The gel washes out with water and shampoo, but you may want to wash your hair before continuing with other activities. Our lab has a sink, clean towels, and a hair dryer available if you’d like to wash and dry your hair here. Because the gel can be slightly drying, you may wish to deep condition your hair afterward.
Preparing for EEG with Different Hair Types
To collect EEG data, we place a stretchy cap on your head that has small openings for the sensors. We apply a small amount of water-based gel so the sensors can make good contact with the scalp. This is painless, and the gel washes out afterward with water and shampoo. Hair texture, thickness, and style can affect how easily we can get a clear signal. To help the cap fit properly, we may gently adjust your hair, or you are welcome to adjust it yourself.
EEG caps and sensors were originally developed and tested using a limited range of hair types. Because of this, people with thicker, curlier, coiled, or tightly styled hair have sometimes been unintentionally excluded from neuroscience research.
Our lab is committed to making EEG research more inclusive. With some preparation before the visit, we can successfully collect high-quality data from a wide range of hair types and styles.
Below are more detailed suggestions to help you prepare based on your hair texture, thickness, or protective style. These steps help us record the best possible data while respecting your comfort and preferences. If you have any questions or concerns about your hair, please reach out before your visit. We are happy to talk through options with you.
Suggested Hairstyles for EEG Session Based on Your Hair Type
We recommend scheduling your EEG session to coincide with your haircare routine (e.g., a wash day or between styles). Here are some suggestions based on hair type:
1. Low-density straight or wavy hair
1. Low-density straight or wavy hair
Wash hair according to your usual routine.
Recommended hairstyles include wearing hair down, a tight low ponytail, or a low bun.
2. Low-medium-density curls
2. Low-medium-density curls
Detangle hair and style into a controlled style that gives good access to the scalp.
Recommended hairstyles include a braided crown, braided pigtails, cornrows, or a tight low bun.
3. High-density curls
3. High-density curls
Detangle hair and part hair down the middle to provide better scalp access.
Recommended hairstyles include a tight low bun, 2-strand twists, or flat cornrows.
4. Locs
4. Locs
Schedule your visit to coincide with your haircare routine (e.g., before a retwist). On the day of your visit, wet the roots and flatten with a headwrap or durag while the roots dry. Ensure your hair is dry before your session.
Recommended hairstyles include keeping your hair down in its current style or styling it into a tight low bun.
Additional Tips for Specific Styles and Accessories
Braids and protective styles: If you have a style that cannot be moved or removed, such as cornrows, scalp braids, or twists, please let us know before your visit. We can discuss options or schedule the session at a time that works best with your hair routine.
Hair accessories: If your hair includes accessories that are easy to remove, such as barrettes, small beads, or hair ties, you can choose to remove them at home before your visit, or we can help remove them during the session. If your accessories are not removable, such as stacked beads, please let us know ahead of time so we can plan the session in a way that works with your hair.
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