How do I take care of scalp micropigmentation in Hawaii?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions that I get in my studio. You want to know the answer so you can take care of your scalp micropigmentation so it lasts for years and years!
Before we start, if you need to know more about scalp micropigmentation and what it is and who it’s for, check out our post: What is Scalp Micropigmentation?
Your aftercare for SMP, both short term and long term, is going to be different because we live in Hawaii.
The unique climate, sunny days, and humidity play a huge part in why it is different to take care of your SMP in Hawaii. Also, people tend to be more active here. So, this will all affect how you are going to care for your SMP after you get it done.
Scalp Micropigmentation Process
The scalp micropigmentation procedure process usually consists of 3 appointments.
After each appointment, there is a 7-day healing period.
So, if you were to receive your first appointment on the first of the month and the other two appointments 7 days after, you would heal by the 21st of the month.
To make this easy, let’s break this down into short term care and long term care.
Short Term Aftercare
Don’t Sweat
After each appointment, you are going to wait for at least 4 days before sweating excessively. So, that means:
- No working out.
- No going in saunas.
- Don’t do anything that would cause you to sweat more than normal.
Now, sweat can’t damage healed scalp micropigmentation. But, it can damage the scabs that are going to form on these tiny tattoos while your scalp micropigmentation is healing.
It’s important to protect these scabs. If you pull them off prematurely, they can actually pull out the pigment. Which is shallow and delicate when it’s healing.
It’s important to protect these by:
- Not using shampoos with lots of alcohol
- Not exfoliating your head during the 7-day healing process
On the 4th day, when you are able to shampoo your head, it’s important to use a baby shampoo and water. Then when you’re drying your hair, very carefully pat it dry. So, you don’t dislodge any scabs before they’re ready to fall off.
This is important for the first 4 days. Again, to protect the scabs.
Avoid UV Exposure
Now, another point here is something that I speak about a lot, but that’s UV exposure. Your scalp micropigmentation is the most fragile during the first 4 days after your procedure.
You want to protect your scalp from the sun, especially during the first 4 days, but preferably during the 7 days after your procedures. It’s important to do this because you want your scalp micropigmentation to heal consistently, to heal quickly, and to look good when it’s done healing.
And the best way to do this is to protect your scalp from outside environmental factors, like the sun.
Don’t Go In The Water
Stay out of the water.
Now, this is for no other reason than that there can be bacteria in the water that can get into your scalp. Now, your scalp micropigmentation is a series of small wounds. They’re all tiny, but it is a bunch of tiny wounds on your head and you want to keep them clean. Like anything else that’s healing.
So, by getting into a lake, a pond, a pool, a sauna, a Whirlpool jacuzzi tub, or the ocean you can be exposing your scalp to bacteria that can give you an infection.
While that’s unlikely, it’s definitely worth staying out of those areas until your scalp heals: 7 days later.
So, during this 3 week period, you should stay out of the sun as much as possible. Not sweat excessively. So, if you normally work out hard, do low impact or stretching and try to limit the amount that you’re sweating. The sweat may dislodge your scabs over time. And we don’t want that.
Avoid Bacteria
Also, make sure that you’re staying out of places that bacteria grow.
If you go to the gym, think about all the germs that are on the gym equipment. If you’re wiping these things down, there are still germs that people transmit to each other. And you don’t want them getting into your healing scalp. So, it’s worth taking a break during the time that you’re getting this done. Just to make sure that you’re getting the great result that you’re looking for.
This is all really temporary. As soon as your scalp heals you can go back to living your life as you normally would.
So, that is how your scalp micropigmentation aftercare is going to matter in the short term.
Long Term Care
So, long term aftercare for people that live in Hawaii is really dependent on the activities that you end up doing.
So, if you tend to go out fishing for long periods of time, then take a hat with you and apply sunscreen. If you’re out hiking, the same thing applies. You should be wearing a hat and sunscreen anytime you have prolonged sun exposure.
Hat and Sunscreen
If you do that, then you’re going to get a lot more life out of your scalp micropigmentation, which is the ultimate goal. This is a good way to take care of your SMP and get more out of it for a longer period of time.
Being Out in the Ocean
When you get out of the ocean, make sure that you do rinse your head off with clean water. You want to keep the salt off of your scalp. When you’re drying your scalp off with the salt it can over-exfoliate your scalp.
Working Out
And as far as working out, you don’t have to worry about the sun or anything if you’re working out indoors. But if you’re working out outside, you know the drill. Hat and sunscreen. These are your new best friends. And really they’re just good for all-around care.
Everyday Life
But in Hawaii specifically, a lot of folks are very busy. We work two jobs. There’s long commutes. And sometimes you can be exposed to the sun in the car as you’re driving. And that’s something that you’re going to want to be cognizant of as well.
SPF Moisturizer
So, for people that live in Hawaii, it’s good to add to their daily routine an SPF. You don’t need this in all parts of the world. But in Hawaii, you get sun most days. So, adding a moisturizer with a little bit of sunscreen in it into your daily routine is a good idea. This will help you even on those days when you don’t actively prep for being outside. Or if you last-minute get called up to go to the beach.
That will help to incorporate this care into your lifestyle without having to devote a lot of thought or effort to it
Touch Ups
Normally, scalp micropigmentation lasts about 8-10 years. If you’re rough on your SMP, and you just live your life, don’t apply sunscreen, don’t wear a hat, that’s fine. It might shorten the life of your SMP by a couple of years. And that’s really minor, all things considered.
So, if you do want to get a touchup at some point. That’s not a big deal. So, maybe I won’t see you every 8-10 years, maybe I’ll see you every 5 years. And that’s completely up to you. It’s about what you want and the result that you want to get out of it.
It’s not going to make a huge difference. All these tips can help to extend the life of your SMP. And that said, you can always get a touch up if you want.
Don’t Let SMP Rule Your Life
Now, in Hawaii, a lot of us are really busy. People are working 2 jobs, they’re going to the beach, they got to pick up kids, they got to pick up grandkids.
You have a lot to do and a lot going on.
That’s something that’s important here.
Your taking care of your scalp micropigmentation shouldn’t be a third job.
The whole point of it is to solve your worries.
Not to add more to it.
So, if you want to be rough on your scalp micropigmentation, then be rough on your scalp micropigmentation. It doesn’t really matter because it’s still going to last for years. These tips are to prolong scalp micropigmentation for people who live in Hawaii.
But that said, if you go out and live your life, you can always get a touch up if you want to make your look a little bolder. Or extend the life of it a little bit.
But, the whole point of scalp micropigmentation is to help you have a lower maintenance solution and not to have to put so much work in. So, live your life.
One of the greatest things about scalp micropigmentation is that it’s not like a traditional tattoo. In that, it’s not going to fade differently. It will fade uniform. So, it’ll be hard to tell when it fades to anyone but you. So, you only have to worry about maintaining the result that you want for yourself. Which is the beauty of it.
So, if you want to keep your fresh, out of the studio scalp micropigmentation look, then I highly suggest following these tips to help extend the life of your SMP. And help you keep that look longer.
That said, if you don’t, you can always come back because it’s not going to fade in an ununiform way. And if you want to punch up the color a little bit it’s easy to do that. And it’s not something that you’re going to have to worry about.
SMP Maintenance
A lot of people will say to me that the maintenance for SMP sounds like a lot.
But actually, it’s important to address this and point out the fact that the entire point of scalp micropigmentation is to free you up.
Not to take up your time.
Scalp micropigmentation is supposed to work for you. You don’t have to work for it.
So, when I make these suggestions about tips for optimizing your look, it’s to help you lengthen the amount of time that your SMP looks like you just came out of the studio.
That said, the whole point of it is to make it so you’re not actively worried about your scalp. And caring for it. And constantly trying to keep it a certain way.
So, it’s important to take this with a grain of salt and realize that the point of scalp micropigmentation and the benefit of it is that now you don’t have to think about it all the time.
Scalp micropigmentation is supposed to solve your hair loss issues. It’s not supposed to add another chore on the long list of things that you need to do.
Overview
So, we went over short term care, which is essentially not sweating too much for 4 days. Washing with baby shampoo on the 4th day of your recovery. And also making sure that you stay out of the sun during the 7 days while you’re healing.
Long term care is very similar. It’s to avoid UV. Protect your scalp from UV as much as you can. And also to make sure that you’re putting on sunscreen or a hat when you go out
But, as we went over, all these things are optional because SMP is supposed to work for you. You’re not supposed to work for it.
Hopefully, this answered your questions about how to take care of scalp micropigmentation in Hawaii.
If you’re in Hawaii, please feel free to get in contact with me because I’d love to educate you about this service. We’re super active here and super busy. And that’s why this is a really great solution for people who live outdoors, work multiple jobs, or just live how we do here. So, please get in contact with me if this sounds interesting to you.
I do free consultations and love to share this with anyone who this can help. Fill out the form below and I’ll get back to you!
