Sometimes, people may believe that the SMP procedure can be performed by a traditional tattooist. We have heard the following from potential clients – I hear so much about Scalp Micropigmentation and practitioners who perform it but “Couldn’t I Just Go To A Traditional Tattoo Artist?” What they don’t realise is that Scalp Micropigmentation is a specialty procedure that is different than a traditional tattoo.
Like a tattoo or permanent cosmetics, Scalp Micropigmentation is delivered with ink (pigment) and needles, but the similarity ends there. Unlike tattoos, a professional scalp micropigmentation treatment is a technical process administered by a skilled specialist.
Tattoos are delivered by artists to the middle layer of the dermis, which can result in the spreading or fading of colour over time.
A traditional tattoo needle is simply too large and imprecise to approximate the appearance and texture of tiny hair follicles. The needle used for Scalp Micropigmentation is a micro needle. It’s 75% smaller than the smallest needle a traditional tattoo artist can get, The result of using such a small needle is that you ca not even tell the difference between an actual hair follicle and ink deposited by a Scalp Micropigmentation needle.
One of the biggest differences between scalp micropigmentation and traditional tattoos is the technique. Traditional tattooing uses a scraping method to get the design desired. Scalp micropigmentation uses a dotting and pointillism method where the practitioner places tiny dots into the skin to create the appearance of hair follicles. The dots are blended in with the natural hair follicles.
This difference in technique is also why Scalp Micropigmentation is significantly less painful than a traditional tattoo. The pain for tattoos is fairly consistent for most, while scalp micropigmentation most describe it as three out of ten. Some clients even fall asleep and find the treatment to be very manageable! Take it from me, someone who has experienced both procedures, a traditional tattoo is far more painful – I would say six out of ten, if not higher!
Scalp micropigmentation is a highly advanced method of cosmetic pigmentation delivered by a technician that employs needles of various widths to place small drops of ink in the upper dermis. When undergoing scalp micropigmentation, you will begin with a consultation to select the hair pattern that most closely resembles your natural hair growth, using the pigmentation colour that you want to appear on your scalp before receiving a series of treatments.
Scalp Micropigmentation pigment has been tested by practitioners to ensure consistency for every impression. Traditional tattoo ink meanwhile, is often non organic and can be both harmful and irritating to your skin. This ink is known to change colour over time to a blueish or greenish colour. Scalp Micropigmentation pigment, if the procedure is performed correctly by the technician, will only fade over time and will not change colour.
Always remember – no matter how skilled the tattoo artist, hair loss tattoos from a tattoo shop will still have the appearance of a tattoo, while Scalp micropigmentation treatments will produce the natural appearance of hair follicles on a freshly-shaved scalp.
