Scalp Micropigmentation

Do You Need to Shave Your Head for Scalp Micropigmentation? An Oahu SMP Practitioner Explains

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Do you have to shave your head to get scalp micropigmentation?

Will I need to shave my head?!

This is one of the first questions asked by new clients.
 
I’m happy to inform you that the answer is no!
 
That said, there’s a little more to this and I’m going to go into that in this article.

Scalp micropigmentation looks best in a style that is uniform.

SMP rebuilds your hairline and adds density to your scalp. When you create a style that complements this, that is when SMP looks best and looks most natural.
 

Most clients that come into my studio do not actually need to shave their heads.

Here are 3 common examples where you would not have to shave your head.

1. Decent hairline with concentrated thinning on top

If you have a decent hairline and are only thinning on top of your head, then you can use density SMP to bolster the hairline. This is most common in men. The SMP will make your hair look thicker and darker. That can solve a lot of people’s issues with their hair loss. 
 
For these clients, I wouldn’t suggest shaving your head. Since you have an established hairline, all you need is a density treatment to add volume. 

2. Long hair with concentrated thinning on top

Another situation would be if you have long hair. I see this a lot with women. Where they have a little bit of hair loss that’s concentrated on the top of their head. That is very easy to disguise with SMP. SMP can go between the existing hair and add a hair follicle replication tattoo. This gives the illusion of fuller, thicker hair.
 
Obviously, it wouldn’t be best for you to shave your head with long hair. All that’s needed is a small area of treatment between your existing hair.

3. Concentrated thinning on sides

If you have thinning on the sides of your head, it’s very easy to blend that. This will make a fade hairstyle that’s super easy to maintain and looks really natural. Filling in the sides of your head with SMP can add density and color back to your hair. SMP will also make it easier and more consistent to style your hair every day.
 
It would be a waste for you to shave your head with thinning on the sides. You don’t need to shave off the hair on the top of their head when the problem is with the sides.
 
If you’re in one of these categories, it’s better for you to have scalp micropigmentation done right where you are. It doesn’t make sense to shave your entire head.
 
If you’re wondering if you’re in one of these 3 categories, you can contact me. I’d be happy to do a consultation to tell you how scalp micropigmentation can benefit you the most.
 
When do I need to shave my head for scalp micropigmentation?
 

There are some hair loss situations where it’s best to shave your head to achieve the most natural result.

When I’m designing a style for someone these are the recommendations I usually give. 
 

If you have hair loss on the top of your head and a receding hairline, then picture how it would look if someone had really short hair on the top and really long hair on the sides.

That’s not how people style their hair.
  • If you want to get your hairline back
  • If your hairline is too far back for your taste
  • If you want to transition into a natural full look
Then it would be wise to buzz your head and lean into the shaved look with scalp micropigmentation.
 
Scalp micropigmentation can recreate an entire “buzzed head” look for people that want to shave their entire head.

Hair follicle replication tattoo will make it look like you have that freshly buzzed look every day. 

I would recommend shaving your head if:

  • your hairline is too far back that it would look strange to have short hair in the front.

  • your hair loss is concentrated on the top and you have long hair on the sides.

The main reason I would recommend buzzing your head is to make a cohesive natural look. This way you get the most out of your scalp micropigmentation.
 
The other reason is for maintenance. If you create a specific hairstyle that requires a lot of work, it’s difficult to keep up with. It won’t be the type of result you’re looking for most often. 
 
So, if you go ahead and give yourself a low maintenance cut and use SMP to fill in and make your hairline:
  • more prominent,
  • more realistic,
  • thicker-looking
You’re going to be more pleased with your result at the end. 
 
That said, there are really no rules about SMP.
You can have scalp micropigmentation however you want it.
If you like the way your style looks, that’s the only thing that matters.
 
If you want to get in touch with me for a consult, then fill out the contact form below. Let’s see what scalp micropigmentation can do for you!

Does Scalp Micropigmentation Look Natural? A Hawaii SMP Practitioner Explains

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Does scalp micropigmentation look natural?

This question is probably the number one question that my clients care about. Naturally, it makes sense. The whole point of any sort of hair loss solution is to solve the problem of hair loss with a natural-looking solution. 

Scalp micropigmentation or SMP does look very natural if…

your SMP is done by a good practitioner and if it’s done correctly.
 
You need to go to somebody who knows their stuff and has real experience doing this form of cosmetic tattoo.
 
SMP is:
  • very precise
  • painstaking

Scalp micropigmentation pigment

Scalp micropigmentation uses a specific pigment and specific machine. 
 
A skilled practitioner will use different color pigments diluted to different variations of tone to match your skin. They will also add layers to the hair follicle replication tattoo every appointment. You really want to make sure that whoever you’re going to has a grasp of this concept.
 
If they don’t, the result you’re going to end with is not going to be realistic. 
 
If your practitioner:
  • uses the wrong pigment,
  • or uses traditional tattoo ink,
  • or if they don’t match your skin tone,
You’re going to get an unnatural looking result.
 
And that is much worse than not having it at all.

Scalp micropigmentation technique

The reason SMP looks natural is because of the specific tattoo process. This process achieves the desired realistic result. If your practitioner applies scalp micropigmentation outside of the very detailed parameters of the procedure, it’s not going to look natural. 
 
SMP is 2 to 3 treatments over the course of almost a month. It’s very important that there’s healing time between procedures. This will allow the pigment to settle. 
 
If you look at your hair follicles now, they’re not all the same size. There is a slight variation in both the darkness of how they look and also the dispersion. So, the pattern, the shade, and also the size of them all is factored into how the desired end result looks. It also determines how realistic it is. The more variation in tone and size will lend to a more realistic, natural look. Once again, it takes somebody who knows what they’re doing to do it in such a way that it looks realistic.
 
If you’re not sure how to tell if the practitioner you are looking at is good, keep reading on or contact me. I’ll be happy to do a consult or find a practitioner in your area.

Bottom line: You want to make sure that you are going to someone who knows what they’re doing. I can’t stress enough how important that is to get a natural-looking outcome. 

I talk more about the difference in technique between SMP and traditional tattoo in: Does Scalp Micropigmentation Hurt? You’ll learn more about the difference between shading and lines in traditional tattoo vs. the precise hair follicle replication tattoo needed for SMP.

There are 3 ways to find a good scalp micropigmentation practitioner.

1. Finding a practitioner that specializes in scalp micropigmentation

You need to find a practitioner who is trained, skilled, and does this for a living. 
 
I can’t do a traditional tattoo. In that same way, a traditional tattoo artist cannot do what I do. It’s very specific.
 
It takes a very specific set of skills and techniques. It also uses a completely different type of pigment than a traditional tattoo. While they are both tattoo forms, they don’t have any crossover.
 
So, you need to find somebody who specializes in scalp micropigmentation. 

2. Your SMP practitioner needs a tattoo license

The second thing is making sure that that person has a tattoo license. Now, scalp micropigmentation is regulated like a traditional tattoo.
 
Licensing is huge. The reason I say this is is that if your practitioner is licensed, then at least they are following the law. They’ve done their bloodborne pathogens. They understand sanitary procedures. They’re also abiding by the rules of the state, county, province that they live in.
 
This is really important!
 
It’s not that hard to get a license. If someone hasn’t made that effort, then you shouldn’t trust them. Especially, with something as important as your scalp. 
 
If someone “specializes” in scalp micropigmentation, but they are not a registered tattoo artist, then you shouldn’t be going to them. They didn’t follow out the laid out channels for making sure that they’re operating within the law. And so, you can’t assume that they’re going to know what they’re doing.

3. Look at their before and after photos

The third thing is you should look at their before and after photos. Take a look at some of our before and after photos as examples.
 
You found a practitioner you’re considering? Great!
 
Now, you need to look at their photos and see how their results look. That’s going to be key to see if they know how to work with your skin type, with your hair type, and with your level of hair loss. 
 
See if the person has been working with people who share your skin tone. There is something to be said for people who specialize in certain skin tones. Some people are more skilled with Fitzpatrick 1 and 2’s. Which would be really pale people and redheads.
 
Then some people are better at specializing in darker skin tones. It does need a little bit of a different skillset and experience.
 
It’s important to look for those markers when you’re trying to find a practitioner. 
 
All these things are basic criteria for assessing whether someone is a good fit for you. You also need to see if you mesh with a practitioner.
 
You want to make sure that:
  • they listen to you,
  • they hear your concerns,
  • they help you to plan a hair loss solution. 

My process before your first appointment

My goal is to give you recommendations to best optimize the look you already have. I do this by listening to your hair loss concerns and providing a unique hair loss plan. So, whatever’s lower maintenance, whatever’s easier to achieve with their type of hair loss, all these things are going to be factored into the look.
 
You need to find somebody who is able to address all these facets of your concerns. Also, they need to get to know what your face looks like, how your hair grows, and also your level of hair loss.
 
A good example of this is if your hair loss is localized to the top of your head. I do highly recommend when someone comes in with that, that they go ahead and buzz the sides. Although it’s not always what people want to do. The reason is because it’s going to look much more realistic. The thing is, I only know that because I’m an experienced practitioner. I’ve been through this with many clients. 
 
If someone doesn’t know what they’re doing, they’re just going to tattoo your scalp. They will not lay out a look and hair loss plan that works for you.
 
That is not what you want! That’s not going to get you a realistic outcome.
 
The service is much more nuanced than that and there’s a lot more to it. There’s hairstyle tactics. There are different methods for trying to regrow your hair alongside scalp micropigmentation. A skilled practitioner can form a complete and realistic hair loss solution. But, these things only come when you pick the correct practitioner. That’s very important.
 
Final note: make sure to have a consultation before your appointment. I always do consultations at my studio. It’s important for people to be able to ask these questions and screen and weigh their options.
 
All these things are elements of a complete, natural SMP look. And they are all equally important.
 
So, when you’re looking to get scalp micropigmentation, take these things into account. Once you’ve met your practitioner, make sure that they are willing to tailor a look for you. Make sure that they lay out a hair loss plan for you because SMP is very personal.
 
So, armed with these three things let that help you on your journey. Ask those questions and find which practitioner is right for you.

If you find the right practitioner your SMP will look real, natural, and amazing.

Fill out the contact form below, if you want to get in touch with me. I’d love to show you what scalp micropigmentation can do for you!

Does Scalp Micropigmentation Hurt? An Oahu SMP Practitioner Explains

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Does scalp micropigmentation hurt?

“Will it hurt when I get SMP?”

“I’ve never had a tattoo before and I’m concerned about the pain. Does SMP Hurt?”

A lot of people ask me this question! And I’m always happy to tell them that the answer is NO!

Most of my clients expect that getting scalp micropigmentation would be painful. Especially, when you consider that scalp micropigmentation is technically a tattoo.

You may think it sounds extreme to tattoo your scalp, but most of my clients have never had a tattoo in their life. The one that they get on their scalp is the first one that they’ve ever had.

So, I do understand the apprehension and coming in being very concerned about the pain because if you’ve never had a tattoo before, you wouldn’t be sure what to expect. 

Traditional tattoo pain vs. SMP discomfort 

Traditional tattoo pain

The pain from traditional tattoo compared to the slight discomfort from SMP is really not comparative at all. If you were to get scalp micropigmentation and you used that as a way to estimate the pain of a regular tattoo and you went in and got a regular tattoo, it actually would be painful. Because scalp micropigmentation is so far away from traditional tattoo. They are hard to compare.

So, you may think that because you are getting your entire scalp tattooed it would be very uncomfortable. But the main factor in the discomfort of traditional tattoos is the length of time and the amount of contact. What I mean by that is the type of needle contact used in traditional tattoo.

In a traditional tattoo, you are going to find there’s more lines and more actual shading. Because of this there’s more needle contact as the needle has to be dragged across your skin. 

Traditional tattoo lines are usually done with a really sharp, single needle. These needles are very uncomfortable. The same can be said for shading needles as it’s going to be a larger formation of needles. So, 13 needles, 22 needles. And it goes over the same patch of the same skin multiple times to lay down the correct amount of pigment. When you do that your skin gets raw and irritated.

Scalp micropigmentation discomfort

While SMP is a needle going into your skin, just like tattoo, the levels of pain are nowhere near each other. 

The pain of the extra sharp needle and the shading is avoided with scalp micropigmentation. All we’re doing is creating a really shallow hair follicle replication tattoo and while we are creating many of them most people don’t feel any pain.

If you want to know more about the process of scalp micropigmentation, I go over all of that in: What is scalp micropigmentation? 

It is worth mentioning that there is one spot that people experience a slight discomfort and that is the temples. The temples of your head are the most sensitive area that scalp micropigmentation is performed. So, if you are experiencing thinning on the sides of your scalp and are getting SMP done there, just remember that you may feel a little “burning” sensation as your practitioner does this area. That being said, it’s still not painful. Only slight discomfort.

Most of my clients just fall asleep. 

As you can see, it’s difficult to relate the two because the techniques are so different. And because the techniques are so different the level of pain and discomfort is so different, as well. 

I would say a tattoo is painful. I would say that scalp micropigmentation is not. 

SMP doesn’t hurt

Part of the reason this question is asked so frequently is because most of clients don’t have tattoos. After talking with them about this and speaking with them, I find that a lot of their initial hesitation was actually their fear of pain because they never had other tattoos.

So, they didn’t know that it wasn’t going to be painful. 

Sometimes, they say to me afterwards: “Oh! If I had known that it felt like this, I would’ve come in a lot earlier!”

If this is something that you’re considering for yourself, please don’t let fear of pain stop you because scalp micropigmentation doesn’t hurt.

If it’s something that you want to look into a little more, I do offer a patch test.

I will have you come in and I will sketch your entire hairline for you. We’ll go over your cares and concerns and I will actually do a small section of your scalp. So, you can see if it’s right for you.

You don’t have to take my word for it.

You can try it out!

I promise you SMP doesn’t hurt. 

If you’re in Hawaii and you want to have this done, please let me know. I would be more than happy to do a patch test for you just so you can explore the subject and see if it’s a good fit for you. I always do one before a procedure because it helps people understand what the procedure feels like and I haven’t had one person not come back out of pain.

I hope this relieved some fears that you’ve had about scalp micropigmentation being painful.

The message that I want you to walk away with is that: scalp micropigmentation is for everyone!

If you want to get in touch with me for an in person consult, a virtual consult, or to ask where you can get SMP in your area, fill out the contact form below and I’ll get back to you!

How Long Does Scalp Micropigmentation Last? An Oahu SMP Practitioner Explains

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How long does scalp micropigmentation last?

Today, I am going to answer one of the most frequently asked questions about scalp micropigmentation. And that is: How long does scalp micropigmentation last?

Before reading on, you have to know what scalp micropigmentation is. I talk about what scalp micropigmentation is in detail in another blog post here. For this post, just know that scalp micropigmentation , or SMP, is a revolutionary hair loss solution that gives you the look of hair with hair follicle replication tattoo. 

The whole goal of scalp micropigmentation is to get a long lasting hair loss solution.

And as far as they go, scalp micropigmentation is easily:

  • the quickest,
  • most effective,
  • and longest lasting for the time the procedure takes.

So, a given procedure is going to take about, somewhere between 8-12 hours. Depending on how much reconstruction is needed. 

Once you have that initial time invested, SMP can last between 5-10 years. 

This wide variation comes from a few different factors.

The more sun exposure you get the faster your SMP will fade.

This is a really important point, actually. This is true for both traditional tattoos and SMP. But it does affect SMP more because SMP is much more delicate and is a surface level tattoo compared to regular tattooing. 

So, UV exposure, whether that be through a tanning bed or the sun, is the fastest fader of, specifically, SMP. The reason for that, is as I just mentioned, the different application, level of the skin, and size of the tattoos, themselves. So, SMP can last between 5-10 years. 

If you live in a region where you do have seasonal changes, so fall and winter you are going to be inside a little bit more and you’re not going to be exposed to the sun as often, when that’s the case your SMP is going to last you longer. 

Now, that’s not to say that SMP fades away completely. It doesn’t.

You can bolster your SMP very easily with a touch up appointment.

So, your ultimate foundation of SMP will last you at least 5 years, if not longer. But, the full effect of SMP is going to lessen over time the more UV exposure you have. 

So, the main thing you need to remember about SMP is this:

The sun and UV exposure (including tanning beds), is going to fade your scalp micropigmentation the fastest. The more time that you spend in the sun the faster your SMP will fade. 

That said, it’s not going to look bad if it fades. If your SMP fades, all you’ll have to do is get a touch up. 

So, if you want your initial application to last longer and be bolder you have two options.

  1. It’s reduce sun exposure. By either using an SPF moisturizer everyday or wearing hats when you’re in the sun for extended periods of time.
  2. Get a touch up every few years. This is going to make sure that your scalp micropigmentation remains fresh all the time.

If you do these two things, your SMP can last for decades.

It’s easy to extend the life of your SMP once it’s already there. You can very easily add in little applications of SMP in touch up form over the years to extend the life of the SMP. 

The foundation is the important part and as long as you don’t extended UV exposure your SMP will last for years. 

Scalp micropigmentation is one of the most effective and the longest lasting hair loss solutions.

Many clients are worried about the way scalp micropigmentation fades.

So, they’re worried about the way that scalp micropigmentation is going to fade over time. Now, this is part of the beauty of SMP is it’s designed to age well. 

What I mean by that is: the application method and the type of pigment used are designed to fade naturally as time goes on.

So, what you’ve probably seen are older tattoos. The older they are the more carbon or additives were in the tattoo ink. These are two ingredients that add to tattoo fading. These are not present in modern scalp micropigmentation pigment.

This is why I am so serious about making a differentiation between scalp micropigmentation pigment and traditional tattoo ink because they really aren’t the same. 

Traditional tattoo ink, over time, can oxidize underneath the skin and can lend itself a blue or greenish tint.

You’ve probably seen it.

If you’re thinking about it now, you’ve seen it before. Scalp micropigmentation does not do this because the pigment itself is designed to be stable and to fade according to the way it’s implanted.

So what I mean by that is when you implant scalp micropigmentation pigment you implant it at a level of the skin with extreme precision in the top most layer of the skin. The specially formulated pigment is designed to not change color over time. 

Some of the myths and misinformation about what will fade your SMP or make it change color are as follows:

  • Working out will not fade your SMP. Unless you’re working out in the sun with no sun protection.
  • Swimming will not fade your SMP. Chlorine and salt water are not going to affect your SMP. Once your SMP heals the barrier of your skin over your healed tattoos is going to protect it from any sort of water.

You’ll notice that a lot of these activities overlap with sun exposure.

So, sometimes people, attribute fading to the action instead of to the sun.

But, the sun is the number one cause of any sort of fading. And the reason that is the sun and the UV rays damage your skin. 

When they damage your skin, they damage your SMP because they damage your skin underneath. It’s not just surface level damage. Whereas when you’re talking about hiking, sweating, working out, swimming, none of those things can affect your SMP. And if they do, it’s so minor that it wouldn’t even be noticeable to you. 

So, over time the only thing that can really reduce the lasting effect of your SMP is the sun. I keep saying it, but I can’t stress it enough. It’s really just the sun. 

If you can protect your SMP from the sun, you’re going to get more life out of it.

If you want to get in touch with me for an in person consult, a virtual consult, or to ask where you can go to get SMP in your area, contact me on our contact page.

What is Scalp Micropigmentation? An Oahu SMP Practitioner Explains

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What is scalp micropigmentation?

In its current form scalp micropigmentation, only started in the early 2000s. It is a cosmetic tattoo solution for hair loss.
  • It’s non-surgical.
  • It’s completely effective
It’s just depositing tattoo pigment into the scalp to create a 5 pm shadow.

The goal of scalp micropigmentation is to cover hair loss.

This is a great solution for anyone.
 
Because it ranges from those who are completely bald and ready to shave their heads to those who have long hair with concentrated areas of thinning. As it can reduce the contrast between the scalp and the hair and also create the illusion of thicker hair.
  • There’s no downtime for it.
  • It’s not painful.
  • And it’s a very quick solution for those who need a practical answer to hair loss.

Scalp micropigmentation is technically a hair tattoo.

The procedure uses a:
  • small digital tattoo machine,
  • a different sort of pigment from traditional tattoo ink,
  • and then a different technique to apply hair follicle replication tattoos.
It sounds technical, but what I really mean is it’s just thousands of tiny dots.

Scalp micropigmentation is a hair loss solution.

Scalp micropigmentation exists because there’s nothing between hair loss drugs and hair transplant surgery.
 
Both of which, have really negative side effects.

Hair Transplants Negatives

If you get a transplant, there’s a high probability it won’t work. And even if it does, you might not have enough density or you might get a scar from it on the back of your head.

Hair Loss Drugs Negatives

With hair loss drugs there can be serious side effects. There are different hormonal issues. And while they are effective there’s a lot more negative associated with them than positive.

Scalp micropigmentation benefits

This is pretty universal across people struggling with hair loss. Out of that came SMP, or scalp micropigmentation. Because there’s:
  • no downtime,
  • there’s no risk,
  • and it’s non-surgical.
  • It also doesn’t involve any form of drugs. 

So, it’s a great solution for people who are looking for a fix.

  • You want it fixed.
  • You don’t want to interrupt your life to have a solution.
  • You don’t want to take drugs to solve your hair loss issues. 

It’s completely effective because it’s a tattoo.

While it is a tattoo it is very different from a regular tattoo. The method of application, the pigment used, and also the machine used are all different. They’re specifically designed for SMP.
 
So, most folks think that it may be a little bit extreme to tattoo your head. But with the current technology that is available, SMP is becoming one of the most popular treatments for hair loss.

Who can get scalp micropigmentation?

Almost everybody can have scalp micropigmentation.
 
It can be useful for filling in problem areas or addressing other hair loss concerns.
 
SMP or scalp micropigmentation is a form of paramedical reconstructive tattoo. Scalp micropigmentation can benefit you in these 3 major ways. There are different applications but these tend to be the 3 main categories.

1. Diffused Thinning

The first one is going to be for folks who are suffering from diffused thinning. Diffused thinning is when you lose the volume of hair. So, the amount of hair that you have is reduced all over.
 
You usually still maintain your hairline in diffused thinning. But you’ll notice that there’s more of a noticeable contrast between your scalp and your hair. And what that means is that you’ve lost a good deal of hair so your scalp is much more prominent than it was before.
 
SMP is fantastic for this because you can go between the diffused areas, where you have lost hair, and are experiencing thinning, and fill in and create density in those areas.
 
Most people believe that you need to be completely bald to have SMP. They’re surprised to learn that a lot of people who get SMP actually have diffused thinning. Instead of complete baldness. 

2. Total or Complete Balding

That being said, if you are completely bald, then SMP is perfect for recreating your hairline. Scalp micropigmentation can create an entire shaved stubble look that is easy to maintain.

3. Medical Reconstruction and scar cover-ups

Third, is going to be people who come in for medical reconstruction.
 
Which is going to be scars, skin graphs, and, ironically enough, hair transplants scarring.
 
A lot of men or women have U-shaped hair transplant scars from the donor area where the hair is pulled from. And that actually needs to be covered up after a transplant. Even if the hair transplant is successful.
 
So, those are the main applications of scalp micropigmentation.
 
But there’s really no limits to what it can do. So, it’s definitely worth looking into if it may be able to solve whatever your major concern is.

How long does scalp micropigmentation take?

Scalp micropigmentation is a quick procedure.
 
It takes 2-3 sessions of layered, healed tattoo to get the finished result.
 
The reason for this is you want to make sure that the skin has time to heal. Also, that the pigment has time to settle before you add in different layers.
 
When you’re adding in different layers for SMP, sometimes, a different pigment is used. So, a different color.
 
Sometimes practitioners will use a different size needle. I do because I find that varying the size of the hair follicle tattoos lends to a more realistic and natural result.

Scalp Micropigmentation Appointment Overview

I have clients come in on their first appointment. Which usually takes about 2-4 hours because it is a very delicate and intricate process.
 
And then, after that, there is at least 7 days between their first and second appointment.
 
And then, at least 7 days between their second and third appointment. Usually, appointment times go in descending order.
 
So, the first one is always the longest because we have to build the foundation for the rest of your SMP. And the rest are shorter and shorter.
 
Appointment Length
  1. First Appointment – 2-4 hours
  2. Second Appointment – about 2-3 hours
  3. Third Appointment – Usually, about 2 hours, sometimes 1 and a half.
The last appointment is usually the quickest since the foundation is already there. Now, we are going for density and touch up.
 
Keep in mind this is a general guideline. It depends on the level of hair loss you are experiencing and the level of reconstruction we’re doing.
 
But that is the general overview of how much time and how fast you’ll get to a complete result.
 
If you’d like to get a hold of me, fill out the contact form below. I’d love to discuss what scalp micropigmentation can do for you!
Scalp micropigmentation is the fastest and easiest way to rebuild your hairline in Honolulu, Hawaii at YAMA Studios.

The Fastest Way to Get Your Hairline Back

Having it tattooed on.

Scalp tattoos sound crazy, but they aren’t any more.

More and more pro athletes, stars, and working men are choosing hair tattoo as a more sure and safe alternative to hair transplant.

There’s a few reasons why I believe this upward trend is happening.

Downtime:

You need to treat your scalp like a newborn baby while is scars up, sheds all the donor hair, and (usually) regrows it. The process takes a couple months, and you need to be out of work for 2-5 days. You’ll probably be on anti inflammatory or antibiotic drugs to prevent infection.
And probably most inconvenient, you have to have actual surgery, but you won’t get actual hair growth for 3 months, and you won’t get good growth for 9-18 months.

You can get shock loss, which is where the transplant hairs kill the original hairs where they’ve been placed.

You are also at risk for folliculitis, which is hair follicle inflammation that eventually leads to hair loss.

Hair tattoo, a couple hours, 2-3 times to get best results. Redness for an hour or so after, don’t scrub your hair for 4 days.
You are are risk for infection like a traditional tattoo, but it carries little risk when held up next to a hair transplant.

There’s really no competition here.

Maintenance:
From my experience, hair transplant does not make clients significantly less self conscious. It gets worse before it gets better, and if the transplant isn’t really successful, you will have to go back to all of the things you did before to hide thinning, except now you will have wasted a lot of time and money.

With hair tattoo, you have to wait 10 days before cutting your hair. And then you go back to barbering as usual. Yep. That simple.

Money:

Hair transplants are expensive. There’s no way around it. Sometimes, they are flat out amazing. But, only sometimes do they contribute the thickness and new growth that clients were looking for. 

In Hawaii, the average cost is going to be between $10,000 and $15,000, and that’s hefty price tag.

Transplant is the right solution for clients looking for actual hair. 

Other good options would be platelet rich plasma therapy or dermarolling with topical minoxidil or finasteride to try to stimulate hair growth. There can be reactions to topicals, so ask your doctor before beginning.

The only solution that does not require surgery or consistency is hair tattoo. Scalp micropigmentation is not cheap, as it is labor intensive and takes skill and care, but for a growing number of active men, it’s the best solution for their lifestyle.