Scalp micropigmentation forums are full of people panicking after their first SMP treatment. Concerns range from “the dots are too large” to “my scalp is turning blue”, with a thousand other worries in between.
Of course, there are some cowboys out there who are offering basic tattooing and calling it SMP, and if you’ve seen one of these then your concerns might be genuine – although the good news is that a properly qualified SMP practitioner can probably resolve the problem for you.
In the main though, if you have been to a reputable clinic, your problems are very easily explained. Here is a round-up of the reasons behind some of the most common complaints:
“My scalp has turned blue!”
Assuming you didn’t visit a tattooist (whose pigments will likely turn blue under the skin), the problem here is likely to be bruising. Even if it looks like the pigmented spots themselves are turning blue, the chances are it is just a combination of the dark pigment together with bruising from the treatment. This should resolve itself within a couple of weeks.
“The dots are too large – they look fake”
After the SMP treatment is performed, scabs will form over the puncture wounds. Because the pigment mixes with the blood that forms the scab, it can look like the practitioner has made the dots unrealistically large. After a few days though, these scabs will fall off, leaving the actual pigmented dots behind, which are much smaller. This, however, can lead to…
“My SMP treatment is fading already”
When the scabs fall off, it can look like your treatment has faded. Because the change is so dramatic, it can be disappointing. Luckily, because SMP is usually performed in several treatment sessions, if you really do want to go darker you can discuss this with your practitioner at the next treatment.
“My hairline doesn’t look natural”
This is most likely because you have chosen a hairline that is too sharply defined, or too different from the hairline you had previously. Thankfully, your practitioner should be able to alter this for you. The key to a truly natural-looking SMP treatment is to go for a softer hairline, and only use pigment that is as dark as your existing hair.
If you are prepared for all these eventualities, your SMP journey will be a much smoother process. The beauty of scalp micropigmentation for hair loss is that it can be tweaked to suit you at any point during the treatment programme – or even later, if you decide there is something you want changed.
