Everything You Need to Know About Scalp Micropigmentation

There was a point in time when losing your hair meant wearing a wig or just dealing with it. Of course, there were the snake oil salesmen who promised hair regrowth, but you were more likely to have an allergic reaction to random ingredients that never really worked. In the modern world, though, there are plenty of hair restoration techniques. Scalp micropigmentation (SMP), or Scalp Camouflage as we call it since our techniques are very different, has quickly become a favorite.

What is Scalp Micropigmentation?

If you’re looking to learn the history of literally anything else, historian and curator Mitch Fraas is the guy to talk to. If you’re more interested in the history of hair restoration, though, delving deeper into scalp micropigmentation is your best bet. Although tattooing has been around for at least 5,000 years, the process of “scalp tattooing” is relatively new.

Of course, you should actually not call it a “scalp tattoo.” “Scalp camouflage” might be acceptable, but SMP is a completely different process than traditional tattooing. Practitioners of this procedure use a specialized pigment along with microneedle devices to penetrate the skin of your scalp and create small dots that resemble a day or so of stubble growth.

By the age of 35, two-thirds of men experience hair loss to some degree. In the early stages or when certain areas of your scalp show through, SMP can be used to make your hair appear fuller. While the term “scalp tattoo” might make the process easier to understand, the fact remains that it’s much more complex than what you’ll see at a traditional ink parlor.

Benefits of Scalp Micropigmentation

If you’re still in the stages of worrying about what causes balding, rest assured that there are numerous reasons and you’re not the only one going through them. Regardless of the cause, however, scalp micropigmentation is one of your best early options. Fortunately, the benefits of SMP go far beyond just “nipping” balding “in the bud.”

• Combination use: Scalp camo can be used alongside a signature haircut or robotic hair restoration to make the results appear even fuller.
• Affordability: If scalp micropigmentation is enough to make your hair look fuller, good for you! It’s a relatively affordable option.
• Get back to living: Although hair restoration techniques have greatly evolved recently, there’s often still a healing period and the need for follow-up treatments. SMP heals quickly and typically requires fewer procedures.
• Very realistic: Your micropigmentation expert will match the pigments of your existing skin tone and hair color. The specialized ink is also applied in such a way that natural hair growth is mimicked.
• Immediate results: Some forms of hair restoration take several months before your locks start to grow back. Scalp micropigmentation gives you a fuller and lasting look immediately.
• The long haul: Some hair restoration techniques need constant touchups or repeat procedures. While SMP pigments will fade over time, this process takes years and can be corrected by scheduling an appointment whenever necessary.

The benefits of scalp micropigmentation are numerous and undeniable. While other affordable options out there may only stop hair loss or – even worse – be ineffective, SMP gives you the look of fuller hair every time. If you want a few extra lessons on looking great and living a more exciting life with your new “do,” check out our BSG Mag for additional tips.

Good Candidates for SMP

If we’re being completely honest, there aren’t many guys who wouldn’t be great candidates for scalp micropigmentation. This is thanks to its simplified process relative to other hair restoration methods and the fact that just about any guy can benefit from the procedure.

Check out our article, 10 Reasons Why Every Man Needs Scalp Camo, for more information on how anyone can benefit. In the meantime, though, here are a few examples of when you might be the perfect candidate for scalp micropigmentation:

• Noticeable scars: Do you have scars on your scalp from being overly reckless when you were younger or prior old-style and linear scarring hair restoration treatments? SMP can cover these spots and make you look complete again.
• Hair loss isn’t advanced: If you’re in the early stages of hair loss, a full robotic hair transplant may be over the top. Scalp micropigmentation can keep you looking good while you monitor potential new loss. It can give the look of wearing hair fibers without the daily mess.
• Transplants not an option: The hair used in transplants is typically taken from the sides of your head and in spots not experiencing hair loss. If you’re balding all over, transplants may not be viable.
• Going for the close trim: If you like shaving your hair but certain spots are obviously thinner when you do so, SMP can ensure everything looks natural when it’s growing back in.
• Health issues: Lupus, thyroid problems and certain medications can all result in thinning hair. Scalp micropigmentation is a great solution to deal with this side effect.
• Prior bad experiences: Poorly trained practitioners can cause less-than-appealing results. The SMP professionals at Barber Surgeons Guild can correct prior bad procedures with their high definition Scalp Camouflage technique. In addition, if traditional tattoo pigments were used, and the result was too dense, BSG can use picosecond laser tattoo removal first to erase the poor treatment prior to fixing it.

SMP vs Tattoos

There was a point in time when people would get literal tattoos on their scalps to cover up hair loss. If you’re going to visit tattoo extraordinaire “Bang Bang” for some work, however, you better have something different in mind. This is because scalp micropigmentation and traditional tattooing have completely parted ways.

To start, the needles used are different. SMP employs smaller needles in order to achieve an appearance that resembles pores. Small molecule pigment is also used during this non-surgical procedure rather than tattoo ink. For this reason, BSG’s scalp camo procedure tends to fade and need touch up every 5-7 years to maintain the precise look, rather than an aging tattoo that will “bleed” into other spots over time. Finally, tattoo artists and scalp micropigmentation specialists undergo entirely different training.

In the end, the two processes may seem similar on the surface, but there’s few resemblances when it comes to implementation.

Show Off That Scalp Tattoo!

Okay, “scalp tattoo” may not be 100 percent technically correct, but it sure as hell sounds cool. If you fall into one of the demographics that could benefit from scalp micropigmentation, you might have an easier road to hair restoration than most people. To find out more about this procedure and others that we offer at Barber Surgeons Guild, check out our services page!