Once the pigments are deposited, the skin needs to heal. A recovery period of one week should be allowed, so that the micro-wounds created during the procedure may dry up and close while the pigments get assimilated into the dermal layer.

This remarkable hair restoration technique can be applied to much wider range of hair loss variations than hair transplant surgery or other traditional hair loss remedies can.

From general balding to hairline recession, to burn or surgery related hair loss, and of course alopecia (most commonly alopecia areata). It can be also utilised to conceal hair transplant scars or blemishes as a result of trauma to the head. The method can even be adapted to blend noticeable birthmarks into the scalp.

Numerous terms are used to describe this process. These terms include scalp pigmentation, micro scalp pigmentation, SMP, MSP, hair follicle replication, tricopigmentation and according to Wikipedia, hair tattooing. Please note that all these terms refer to the same basic scalp technique.

This is the fastest growing solution for hair loss in recent history. It is non-invasive, has almost universal appeal and is permanent. A temporary option known as tricopigmentation also exists to further broaden its appeal.

Furthermore, it remains the only cost effective hair loss fix to offer instantaneous, guaranteed results backed by thousands of genuine before and after photos. It is easy to understand why more than 300,000 men and women worldwide have now opted to have this procedure.

The cost of treatment varies from clinic to clinic, and also depends heavily on the clients requirements. However, remember the best results can only be achieved by an experienced technician who has received adequate training, and has a number of good reviews from previous clients.

There are many claims about who was the first person to ‘invent’ SMP. Some of these claims go back to the 80’s and 90’s when permanent makeup artists and paramedical tattooists started experimenting with scar concealment and hairline reconstruction using basic dot techniques.

The earliest record that we’ve been able to verify is a newspaper article from Rocklin, California. Nina Ragan of Ultimate Image Studio performed a hair loss camouflage procedure in 2003.

The full commercialization of this service is jointly credited to two companies – HIS Hair Clinic in the UK and Beauty Medical in Italy. Permanent SMP was standardized by HIS Hair Clinic in 2009, while Milena Lardi of Beauty Medical launched a tricopigmentation (shorter duration SMP) service that she’d been developing for some time, and worked alongside the hair transplant industry to gain recognition for this new technique.

Two new providers, Artistry Concepts in Florida and Spanish company Headstyl, launched shortly after. Then Good Look Ink and Vinci Hair Clinic entered the market, and the industry started to grow rapidly.

For most people who are experiencing hair loss, SMP provides a workable option to hide or even completely conceal the problem. It depends entirely on the skill of the technician, the expectations of the client and suitability of the treatment plan that is drawn up during the consultation process.

It is perfectly possible for this treatment to be entirely undetectable to the untrained eye, enabling the client to return to their job and family without fear of being discovered. It depends on the situation however, as a previously bald man, lets say a Norwood 7, is likely to be questioned when they suddenly ‘regain’ their hair. It is important that the client knows what to expect when they return to their everyday life.

For female clients, their treatments usually go undetected as any woman losing her hair has often done a good job of hiding the problem before their treatment anyway. As the procedure is not designed to mimic shaved hair, rather to reduce contrast between the hair and the bare scalp, the visual difference before and after treatment is less dramatic and therefore less noticeable.

The vast majority of male and female clients are never discovered to have had any kind of cosmetic procedure, and fears of being found out are often without cause. Furthermore, SMP is becoming more common now, and so is more socially accepted than it used to be.

So you’ve booked your scalp micropigmentation treatment, and want to know what’s next? Of course you do. The chances are you’re probably feeling nervous or excited (usually both), and you want to know what comes next. Well, let me explain.

When you arrive at the clinic, usually you would be asked to follow your consultant or technician to a private area for a pre-treatment discussion. If you haven’t had a consultation yet, now is the time. Otherwise, the conversation is likely to be a brief recap or summary of the objective. Make sure your technician is fully aware of what look you hope to achieve. Although you may have discussed this already during your consultation, it is always a good idea to reiterate your wishes, especially if your consultation was with someone other than your technician.

Following this discussion, you will be lead to the treatment room or booth. Again, the order of proceedings will vary depending on the clinic, but the first step is usually to choose your hairline position, shape and style. Your technician will use a charcoal, wax or makeup pencil to draw out your hairline, and together you will adjust it until you are satisfied. This can take time, and the process shouldn’t be rushed. It is common for the design of your hairline to take half an hour or more to confirm.