The process ofmicropigmentation
Micropigmentation is a cosmetic procedure whereby pigments are applied into the uppermost layer of the scalp to simulate the appearance of hair follicles. Even up close, the dots of pigment look like natural hair follicles, creating the illusion of close-shaven hair.
The pigment strengths can be perfectly matched to different hair colours and skin tones. This makes it possible to treat every shade from very pale and fair skin tones through to dark skin. And blonde, red or grey hair are no problem either. A course of scalp micropigmentation usually takes three to four sessions. A session in our treatment room usually lasts between one and three hours, depending on the amount of work required.
Scalp micropigmentation dots correspond to the average size of a human hair, which makes them look deceptively real. Many of our clients get used to the result so quickly that they soon forget how advanced their hair loss was before. This also means that, in everyday life, only an informed and practised eye would be able to detect the difference and the transition between real hair and pigments, even up close. Of course, although the pigments are not noticeable in themselves, the people around you may see a positive change in you thanks to your altered appearance, more positive vibe and greater self-confidence.
It’s important to be aware that everyone is different, and everyone’s skin is unique. This means that the exact lifespan of your scalp micropigmentation is impossible to predict. To maximise the lifespan of your scalp micropigmentation, we recommend that you always take good care of your scalp. Above all, this means using adequate sun protection at all times. In very strong sunlight, you should either use suncream with a high sun protection factor or wear a head covering.
Scalp micropigmentation lasts a lifetime. The pigments do fade over time, but they will never entirely disappear. This natural fading, however, means most people want to refresh their micropigmentation every three to five years, and come back to see us again. Other providers claim that micropigmentation only needs refreshing every eight to ten years or more. But if you want your micropigmentation to look perfect, this time frame is unrealistic. Of course, after eight to ten years the pigments will still be there in your scalp, but they will no longer be intense enough to give you the fuller-haired look you want.
The intensity of any micropigmentation fades over time. This process is normal and cannot be prevented.
After completing a course of scalp micropigmentation, you’ll be able to enjoy the results of your treatment for a long time to come. It will be several years before you see any noticeable fading. Thanks to our extensive experience with the correct micropigmentation technique and needle choice, the required pressure and above all the perfect pigment, we can offer optimal and long-lasting scalp micropigmentation.
For an optimal high-contrast appearance, scalp micropigmentation usually needs refreshing every three to five years. For most of our clients, this can be done in just one sitting – only in very rare cases is a second session needed. Our pricing system is designed in such a way that you’ll get an estimate beforehand of roughly how long your session will take. You’ll then make payment at the end of the session. The length of the refresher session will be roughly the same as one session of your original treatment. Our experience enables us to make very realistic estimates of how long a session will take, so that there are no unpleasant surprises when you come to pay. The first refresher session will be needed after three to five years at the earliest.
The colours we use consist of only one pigment, unlike most tattoo and permanent makeup colours which usually consist of many different pigments. These different pigments can change over time, and tip towards a cold or a warm tone, for example. Colours like this must never be used in scalp micropigmentation, because the stability of the different pigment components in the colours is unpredictable.
Scalp micropigmentation practitioners worldwide use carbon black as a single-tone pigment, because shaved hair also looks single-tone, or monochrome. The individual hair colour can’t be seen until the hair has grown a few millimetres out of the skin. Before that it just looks light or dark depending on the hair colour. So with our finely graduated colour scale, we can find the perfect tone for any hair colour. Carbon black has a natural organic source. The colour pigments have no side effects and are anti-allergenic and dermatologically tested. Pigments of the same quality and class are also used as food colourings. None of our clients has ever had an allergic reaction, and no such reaction has ever been recorded by other scalp micropigmentation practitioners anywhere in the world since 2001. Nor have there been any known allergic reactions to carbon black pigment in other products (like mascara, for example).
A patch test can still be useful to rule out potential risks if you have problematic or very sensitive skin, or if you have any allergies or intolerances. During the test, a small area is pigmented to rule out potential reactions to micropigmentation across a larger area. We’ll be happy to carry out this test for you if you like.
Thanks to the precision of the technique and the pigments we use, scalp micropigmentation can be removed. This is done with a special laser which is used exclusively for removing pigments from skin.
Using intense bursts of heat, the laser beam splits up the pigments into the tiniest particles possible. These can then be taken away by the lymphatic system. The laser only responds to micropigmented skin and does not attack unpigmented areas. Because correctly performed professional scalp micropigmentation does not sit as deep under the skin as a tattoo, the removal process is a lot easier. If you want to have your scalp micropigmentation corrected or removed, you will not need nearly as many sessions as for a tattoo removal – which usually takes seven or more sittings.
But please be aware that poorly executed scalp micropigmentation often sits deeper under the skin. When scalp micropigmentation has been done badly, it takes at least as many sessions to remove it as it does to remove a traditional tattoo, if not more.
Have you had bad scalp micropigmentation from another provider? We’ll be happy to help you find the best way forward. Because not all poor-quality scalp micropigmentation has to be removed. We can often help you achieve the result you want without using a laser, simply by applying correct scalp micropigmentation over the top of what you already have.
People have different pain thresholds. Everyone has their own definition of pain and experiences it more or less intensely. Many clients say they don’t find our treatment very painful at all. Some clients have even been known to fall asleep while we were treating the top of their head! The skin on the top of the head has relatively low sensitivity, particularly on the tonsure. The areas around the temples, the hairline, the neck and the sides of the head are a little more sensitive. The latter two areas are often pigmented in people with alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, alopecia universalis, FUT hair transplant scars or sparse FUE donor areas. When we get to the sensitive areas, we’re happy to take breaks if you need them.
We ask our clients throughout the procedure how they’re feeling, and almost all of them say that on a scale of 1 to 10 (where 1 is a light scratch and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine), they would rate the pain at between 2 and 5. In comparison, clients with tattoos rate the pain of getting a tattoo at between 7 and 10.
Another difference between micropigmentation and tattoos is how long they take to heal. Micropigmentation heals after a few days. After a tattoo it takes a lot longer for the skin to stop feeling sore or irritated. We do recommend, however, that you avoid heavy sweating and exercise for at least a week after your micropigmentation in order to minimise the risk of inflammation and get the most out of your session. If you’re careful for the first few days, there’s less of a risk that the pigments will run or fade too much.
There are two different types of hair transplant: FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) and FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction). Both methods leave scars. With the so-called “strip method” (FUT), the scar is longer and much more noticeable, because a strip of skin (with the hair attached to it) is removed and the resulting wound is stitched up. FUE, on the other hand, leaves behind lots of tiny little scars across a larger area. These scars make the hair look thinner. Scalp micropigmentation is perfect for concealing scars of any kind.
How well the scar can be concealed depends on its size and its condition. With FUT strip scars in particular, it depends on the length of the surrounding hair. The ideal hairstyle is either close-shaven or a longer length that means the scars can be covered by your own hair. Scalp micropigmentation will make your scar much less noticeable and in many cases invisible to those around you.
The cost of scalp micropigmentation depends on the extent of a client’s hair loss, and is assessed on a case-by-case basis. The cost will be partly determined by the size of the area to be treated, for example. The best thing to do is to send us some photos beforehand. Using these pictures, we’ll be able to estimate how much work your treatment will involve. The price of a FUT scar correction will depend on the length and width of the scar. A refresher session is always cheaper than the original treatment, because it takes a lot less time.
We’ll be happy to put together an individual quote for you – we can do this as part of your personalised initial consultation, or quickly and easily via WhatsApp, email or our contact form. We just need a few photos of your head to help us estimate the amount of work involved as accurately as possible.The appearance ofmicropigmentation
For most of our clients, it takes three to four sessions to achieve a long-lasting and perfect-looking result. In very rare cases, clients may need only two sessions, or more than five.
Clients who need more than five sessions tend to be those with particularly sensitive skin which doesn’t absorb the pigments very well. Since every person’s scalp is different, the first session is all about carefully working towards your optimal colour tone. At the end of the first session, you might feel your micropigmentation is too weak. This is normal, and nothing to worry about. At each subsequent session the pigment density will be increased. Our clients tell us that the second appointment is always the one they feel makes the biggest difference to their appearance. So after the second session you’ll really be able to visualise what your finished scalp micropigmentation will look like. During the subsequent sessions we’ll perfect the transition between your micropigmentation and your existing hair, and correct the density gradation.
Your scalp will be slightly red after the treatment. This will naturally show up more on fair skin than on darker skin. The redness will last for a day or so, but even the day after the treatment it will not usually be clearly visible to other people. Within the first 7 to 14 days, the micropigmentation will get lighter and this will make the dots look smaller. During this time, the uppermost layer of skin will be shedding its skin flakes, and with them some of the visible pigments. This process happens after every session and is completely normal: it’s just the skin regenerating itself.
Yes, the dots of scalp micropigmentation look like real, shaved hair follicles. Dots that are too fine and positioned too close together can be perceived by the human eye as a sort of veil, solid surface or shadow, and do not look natural. That’s why we’re so careful to get our dots exactly the right size and distance apart, so that they look like real hair growth.
Our experience enables us to create precise, high-contrast dots of pigment that simulate the look of close-shaven hair perfectly. We keep in touch with other micropigmentation practitioners worldwide and follow the work of studios in other countries to make sure we’re always up-to-date and moving forward in our practice. We often hear from our clients that even their partner, friends and family members can’t tell the difference between their scalp micropigmentation and their actual hair.
Straight after the treatment (on days 1 to 2), some slight redness may be visible on your scalp. Once this has faded and the rest of your hair is shaved normally, no visible traces of the treatment will remain. How obvious your scalp micropigmentation is to the people around you will, of course, depend on how much your own appearance has changed. If you used to have a large bald patch, the change will be more noticeable than if you’ve had a receding hairline concealed. The process itself, however, is barely noticeable.
In the first week after the treatment, the dots will look slightly more intense – this is because the uppermost skin scales have also taken on some colour. By the end of the first week this uppermost layer of skin will start to renew itself and the dots will look softer. They’ll blend in with your natural existing hair.
With scalp micropigmentation, we can create any hairline that suits you and your personal style. We’ll discuss your preferences with you and propose a suggested hairline. We’ll take into account your age and personality, because a fitting, age-appropriate hairline will emphasize your character. Our clients report that reactions to their new look are always positive and nobody notices the micropigmentation itself.
In the first week or two after your session, you’ll notice that the pigments fade more quickly. During weeks three and four the pigments will only fade slightly. This process is completely normal and nothing to worry about. All that’s happening is that the surplus pigments contained in the skin scales are now falling off. After around four weeks, the pigments will be completely settled and will not start to visibly fade until several years later.
All professional scalp micropigmentation eventually needs refreshing in order to maintain the perfect look. But this doesn’t mean your micropigmentation will ever start to look bad or unattractive. It will just look like your hair growth is diminishing. How quickly the colour fades depends on your skin’s texture, your immune system and external influences like UV radiation. Most of our clients come back for a refresher session every three to five years, to maintain a high-contrast look for their hair.
Our refresher appointments are always cheaper than your initial treatment, because you only need a single session. Find out more about our refresher system today!For the first three days you should avoid cosmetics, strong sunlight and contact with water, shower gel and shampoo. The only thing you should apply to your head is the skincare product you will get from us. You should also avoid heavy sweating (which can be caused by exercise, sauna visits or very spicy food, for example). This will stop your skin being exposed to any unnecessary irritation, and help preserve the pigments.
After about four days, you can carefully shower your head and give it a dry shave. To clean it, you can use gentle shower gel for sensitive skin or a pH-neutral skin cleansing gel. Try not to scratch your head or rub it too hard. After a week you’ll be able to shower normally again, have a wet shave, use your usual care products and resume your workout. For the first three weeks you should avoid saunas, tanning salons, swimming pools, going to the beach and swimming in the sea. After that, your scalp will not need any special care – anything that’s good for your skin will also be good for your micropigmentation. Do remember to always use good sun protection, however, because getting sunburned can damage your skin and therefore your micropigmentation.
After every treatment, we will of course provide you with detailed information about the do’s and don’ts following scalp micropigmentation.
At Modern Hair Loss Solution® we will individually tailor your new hairline to suit you. We’ll discuss all the details with you at length. The ideal shape depends on your age, the shape of your head and the geometry of your face. Our goal is always to design a natural hairline that suits you perfectly. Most of our clients want quite a soft hairline.
This is usually a good idea, because for many clients it’s a big change, after five or ten years or possibly even longer, to suddenly regain the hairline they may have lost they were quite young. If at some point during the treatment you realise you’d prefer a stronger hairline, we can easily create one at that stage.
We always take care to ensure your new hairline suits your natural look, and we’ll be honest with you if we think your preference would look fake or unnatural.
Over the years we’ve seen a lot of bad scalp micropigmentation, both online and on clients who came to us to have their poor-quality micropigmentation corrected. In most cases it had been done by providers who were lacking in experience or who only practised scalp micropigmentation on the side. Permanent makeup artists, for example, may have many years’ experience with micropigmentation for eyebrows, eyelashes and lips, but may be unfamiliar with the correct technique for proper scalp micropigmentation. This can lead to mistakes.
The biggest mistake tends to be that a client’s micropigmentation comes out too dark. This can be due to an inexperienced practitioner, the wrong choice of colour or the wrong technique. Our aim is not to achieve a very dark look but to make the transition between your natural hair and your micropigmentation as inconspicuous as possible.
We also see lots of unnatural hairlines which make it very obvious that the person has had micropigmentation. This can be because the new hairline is too stark or because the micropigmentation has an unnatural shape or the wrong proportions. Scalp micropigmentation is aesthetically pleasing when it makes you feel like you’re looking at close-shaven hair rather than a dark veil or shadow. If the hair looks like a homogeneous shadow, it means the individual dots have been placed too close together.
We reserve the right not to continue treatment for clients who are aiming for a result that’s too dense, too dark or generally unnatural, because our goal is to achieve a natural-looking result.
Compared to hair loss, scalp micropigmentation can bring about an incredibly positive change in your appearance. But you should also make sure your expectations about the possibilities of scalp micropigmentation are realistic. Even without hair loss, your scalp would still be shiny in certain situations if it was completely shaved. The dark pigments do make it look less shiny, however. If you’re bothered by how shiny your head is, you can use a light powder to tone it down a bit. In our clients’ experience, however, the shininess isn’t really noticeable at all and they still feel totally happy with their new look.
The procedureand what it involves
Your micropigmentation practitioner will greet you and show you into the treatment room, which is set up to make you feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible. After a short chat we’ll take a full medical history and go back over exactly what you want to get out of your scalp micropigmentation. We’ll explain in detail what you can expect from the treatment, what the first session will involve and what will happen at the subsequent sessions. Once we’ve answered all your questions, you can make yourself comfortable on our extra-large Gharieni massage couch. These couches are used in five-star hotels all over the world. During the treatment we can take a break at any time for you to refresh yourself and enjoy the range of snacks and drinks available at our studio.
We design every hairline individually and match it to the client’s age and personal style. Of course, your own preferences about your hairline will always be paramount. We’ll discuss your preferences with you and let you know if we think your desired hairline might not look quite right. Together, we’ll design a result that looks natural and suits your personal style perfectly. At your first appointment we’ll set out the hairline in such a way that there will still be scope for corrections. Many of our clients haven’t had a hairline for years, and need time to get used to their new appearance initially. In most cases, the creation of the new hairline is not a one-off decision but an ongoing process over the course of the first two or three sessions.
We select the right colour for you according to your skin tone and hair tone. We have a very broad palette of pigment gradations so we can find the right pigment for all our clients. We also take plenty of time to get to know your skin during the first session. It’s important to do this so that we don’t make the micropigmentation too dark at the first session. At this appointment we use a lighter colour as a precise foundation for your scalp micropigmentation. Once the results of the first session have healed, they will often look very pale. This is intentional, and starts to change from the second session onwards. The goal is a natural result that creates depth. We achieve this by building up several layers with different intensities which blend harmoniously together.
Once all your questions have been answered, your micropigmentation practitioner will clean and disinfect your head. Then you’ll make yourself comfortable on an adjustable extra-large massage couch and we’ll get you into the right position. Naturally, we use individually packaged sterile needles which we dispose of appropriately after use. All the products that come into contact with your skin are sterilised single-use products.
Once your scalp has been disinfected, your micropigmentation practitioner will start applying the first micropigments into your epidermis. Depending on the size of the area that needs to be treated, your session will last between one and three hours.
Depending on how much work is required, a treatment session will last between one and three hours. Of course, you can take a break at any time to have a drink, go to the toilet or just relax for a while. After a certain amount of time your practitioner will also need a 10 to 15 minute break so he can do some stretches and rest his eyes. This is our way of ensuring that your scalp micropigmentation is carried out with the utmost attention and concentration.
At the end of the session your practitioner will clean the treated skin and apply a care product to help it relax again quickly. After that you can get up and take a few minutes for yourself.
Finally, we’ll give you another detailed rundown of the things you need to be aware of in the first few days after the treatment, to ensure the best possible longevity for your scalp micropigmentation. Your scalp will be slightly red, so you may want to cover it with a baseball cap or loose-fitting hat on your way home. If you don’t have any further questions, simply book in your next appointment and head home to enjoy your new look!
During the treatment we’ll happily provide you with various snacks such as chocolate bars, cereal bars, nuts, sweets or chewing gum. We also have a large selection of alcohol-free drinks for you to choose from, including premium soft drinks and juices. All snacks and drinks are free of charge. We recommend you don’t drink alcohol before your treatment and ideally avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee, black tea and energy drinks. That’s because these drinks thin the blood, which can have an adverse effect on the micropigmentation process.
On the day of your treatment it’s best to arrive at our studio feeling well-rested and having eaten a good meal: we’ve found this is what makes for the most pleasant experience. If you want to get comfy, you’re welcome to bring some loungewear to change into. We want you to feel comfortable and at ease in our studio!
FAQ videos
If you want to see more:
We also have a playlist of FAQ videos on YouTube. In these videos we address the most important questions one by one. And you can also get to know George, our micropigmentation practitioner, a little better.
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