Scalp micropigmentation aftercare guidelines

This advice was originally published in 2014, and updated on June 16th 2016 and June 10th 2023.

Important: Guidelines tend to vary from clinic to clinic. Since scalp micropigmentation was first introduced, there has been much debate about standardization of aftercare advice. Some of the timescales and actions recommended by your clinic may differ from the information in this post. You should never invalidate any warranty or guarantee by not following the explicit instructions provided by your clinic.

After each scalp micropigmentation session is over, no doubt you’ll want to get back to your usual routine. Clinics receive a lot of questions regarding aftercare, as do we, and most of these questions are about instructions and limitations for the days following each session.

We have compiled a list of the most important considerations after your treatment. The aim is to avoid disturbing your new pigment deposits, and of course you should do all you can to avoid any interference with the healing process.

1-3 days after your session

• First of all, relax. You’ve probably been building up to your first session, and pre-treatment anxiety is common. Now is the perfect time to take a deep breath.
• You should try to avoid any physical effort which might make you sweat. Don’t wash your head or get water on it. The desire to wash your scalp may be strong, but for the first three days you should resist the temptation.

4-6 days after your session

• You can consider shaving your head at this point. Use an electric foil shaver as these are less likely to disturb your pigments. However, keep the shaver away from scabs that are still present on your head and don’t try to peel them away.
• Now is also a good time to get some water on your head. A light shower will do the trick, but avoid shampoo.
• You can also moisture your head and you can perform activities from which you sweat lightly. Lift some weights at a low pace but avoid tough cardio sessions.

Day 7 onwards

• At this point, you can resume your showering sessions and get back to your usual schedule. There won’t be any issues with the water or with the shampoo when you wash your scalp.
• This is the time when you might consider using a razor blade to shave your head. However, avoid using it if there are still healing scabs on the skin.
• If you’re itching to get back to the gym, you can now get back to your usual routine and sweat as much as you’d like.

Day 30 (after all sessions are complete)

• Fake tan, saunas and swimming pools are fine from here on.
• If you live in a warm, sunny climate, take adequate precautions. A quality non-greasy sunscreen is best.
• Moisturize daily with a light moisturizing cream.
• Although not compulsory, I recommending taking measures to avoid head shine.