Perhaps you’ve noticed that your hairline is thinning out and you’ve heard about Scalp Micropigmentation. You’re eager to give it a try, but you’re a bit concerned on how the SMP treatment will match with your existing hair colour. Many people undergo Scalp Micropigmentation to address their hair loss problems and it’s safe to say that the majority experience satisfactory results. Knowing how Scalp Micropigmentation blends in with your hair can go a long way towards making you feel more confident in undergoing the treatment. But how exactly do SMP artists match the Scalp Micropigmentation pigment to your hair colour? Today we’ll be taking a look at how you can achieve a full head of hair that matches perfectly with your natural hair colour.
Diluting the pigment correctly
SMP artists use a special scalp micropigmentation ink that’s usually made of deionized water, and an organic carbon-based pigment. Distilled water is added to the ink to achieve the desired colour and tone that matches the client’s hair. For example, if the client has light-coloured hair, the SMP artist will add more water when diluting the pigment to achieve a lighter tone. For clients with darker-coloured hair, less water will be added so the pigment retains its black colour and blend in perfectly with black hair.
But what happens if the client has blonde or gray hair? How can SMP artists match the ink with such hair colours? Again, it all comes down to how the pigment is diluted. They can manipulate the shade of the pigment just by adding or using less water. To match your hair colour correctly, your SMP artist will prepare different shades of pigments prior to each of your session. They do this by adding water using a syringe for the exact measurements when diluting the pigment.
This dilution process plays a huge role in how scalp micropigmentation can work with almost all hair colours. Of course, this can only be possible if you work with a reputable scalp micropigmentation clinic that knows how to dilute pigments in a precise manner.
How scalp micropigmentation works with fair hair
There’s a common misconception that scalp micropigmentation works only for clients with dark-coloured hair. This is because some people think it’s just a hair tattoo, thinking that the ink used for the treatment is only a black pigment. The good news is that clients with fair hair can undergo scalp micropigmentation and experience realistic results as well.
Clients with darker hair usually have denser hair follicles, meaning they look larger and darker upon close inspection. This is where scalp micropigmentation becomes favourable for darker-haired clients because they are able to go a shade darker with their treatment to achieve their desired look.
But that’s not to say that scalp micropigmentation doesn’t provide the same results for clients with fair hair. Actually, some of the most natural and indiscernible scalp micropigmentation results are from clients that have pale skin tones or fair hair. This is where the experience and expertise of your SMP artist will come in as they are responsible for blending the pigment perfectly to match your existing hair colour.
SMP artists can choose up to 60 different shades, ranging from black all the way up to white smoke. Usually, the artist will select a light shade during the initial session to ensure the treatment won’t look too dark after succeeding sessions. The patient can choose to have the pigment a shade darker depending on their preferences, but this will require them to wet shave regularly to avoid colour clash between their natural hair and their scalp micropigmentation treatment.
Concerns with scalp micropigmentation fading
One of the main concerns most SMP clients have is the fading of the treatment. While scalp micropigmentation is designed to be as permanent as possible, fading will eventually occur over time. This can take anywhere from a year or five years depending on how you care for your treatment. It’s not true that clients with fair hair will experience fading much sooner than those with darker hair. You also don’t have to worry about your scalp micropigmentation treatment looking ‘unnatural’ because the fading process takes years before you see any noticeable difference.
To maintain that realistic-looking hairline, your SMP artist will recommend touch-up sessions to restore the shade of your treatment. A scalp micropigmentation however, is expected to provide lifelong results provided that you care for your treatment and visit your SMP artist every year or two.
While there are many factors that contribute to scalp micropigmentation fading, there are a couple of things you can do to help slow down the process. Here’s how:
Use a moisturiser every morning to keep your scalp hydrated, ideally after taking a shower.
Avoid direct sun exposure to your scalp as this can damage the pigments and encourage fading.
Avoid excessive sweating during the first 30 days of your treatment. Excessive sweating can make your scalp micropigmentation treatment look blotchy.
Avoid using bleach or alcohol-based products that can ruin the pigment on your scalp.
Follow the aftercare procedures as per instructed by your SMP artist.
We hope this article clarifies your concerns about scalp micropigmentation and your hair colour. No matter your hair colour, an experienced SMP artist will be able to match it with your scalp micropigmentation treatment to give you the best results possible.