What is micro scalp pigmentation?
Micro scalp pigmentation is the pigmentation of the scalp using semi-permanent make-up. Small pixels are applied that look like trimmed hairs. This can be placed to fill in the hair or over the entire head, depending on the wishes and baldness.
Micro scalp pigmentation creates the illusion of greater hair density by covering the scalp with pixels of PMU. The pigments are placed shallowly in the skin, which means the treatment feels very mild and is therefore very easy to tolerate.
The treatment cannot be compared with tattooing the head; tattoos are placed quite deeply into the skin, whereas with semi-permanent make-up we do this very superficially. This ensures that the pigments can never discolour.
Is micro scalp pigmentation only suitable for men?
Micro scalp pigmentation is suitable for both men and women. Of course there are not many women who choose scalp pigmentation over the entire head, but this is possible as well. Women more often choose scalp pigmentation to fill in small areas of the scalp.
In addition, scalp pigmentation can also be carried out on people who suffer from alopecia. Alopecia is a condition in which the hair falls out. With alopecia totalis the hair disappears almost everywhere. Micro scalp pigmentation can then be a beautiful solution without any underlying hair follicles being damaged.
Men more often choose scalp pigmentation to give their hairline more optical definition, to fill in receding hairlines or to give a number of bald spots more colour.
Can you still have long hair with scalp pigmentation?
Micro scalp pigmentation consists of small dots or pixels that give certain bald spots a fuller effect. Because the dots are placed superficially and are not 3D like real hair, it only fills in as an illusion. So it gives a fuller effect but it is certainly not comparable with longer hair.
It is therefore often most beautiful to keep the hair short and trimmed. For women we can fill in empty spots more between long hair, so that it is less noticeable that hair is missing.
As we have just explained, micro scalp pigmentation consists of small dots, or small pixels, that give certain bald spots a fuller effect. Because the dots are of course placed superficially and are not 3D like real hair, it only fills in as an illusion. So it gives a fuller effect but it is certainly not comparable with longer hair. It is therefore often most beautiful to keep the hair short and trimmed. For women we can fill in empty spots more between long hair, so that it is less noticeable that hair is missing.
When a complete hairline is chosen, or for example filling in receding hairlines, the most beautiful effect is still achieved by keeping the natural hair short.
For whom is scalp pigmentation not intended?
Not everyone can undergo a scalp pigmentation treatment. Scalp pigmentation cannot be applied if you suffer from diabetes, are currently undergoing chemotherapy, suffer from an immune disease, use blood-thinning medication, are pregnant, have active skin diseases, have active psoriasis on the treated area, have burnt skin or are using antibiotics.
In addition, the semi-permanent make-up cannot always be applied when certain medications are being used. Are you unsure whether the treatment is suitable for you? Then ask the practitioner for more information before you book a treatment.
Not everyone can undergo a scalp pigmentation treatment. That is purely because we work with semi-permanent make-up, and this is not suitable for everyone either. Scalp pigmentation cannot be applied when:
You suffer from diabetes
You are currently undergoing chemotherapy
You use blood-thinning medication
You are pregnant
On burnt skin or skin that has just been tanned by the sun
You are using antibiotics
Which problems can micro scalp pigmentation solve?
Micro scalp pigmentation can solve quite a lot of problems and take away your insecurity. Scalp pigmentation can help with alopecia, total baldness, scars on the head, thin hair, an irregular hairline, a non-symmetrical hairline, bald spots and receding hairlines.
How long does scalp pigmentation remain visible?
Just as with other permanent make-up treatments, it depends on many factors. Normally scalp pigmentation remains visible for about 4-8 years. In some cases even around 10 years. When the aftercare has been poorly followed, you may lose the pigmentation on the head more quickly.
Eventually permanent make-up always fades. This happens because the skin slowly but surely sheds the pigment. We work in the first layer of skin with scalp pigmentation, and when a real tattoo is placed you work in the third layer of skin.
Why is scalp pigmentation not tattooed instead of pigmented? That is because when you do go into the third layer of skin on the head, you will eventually always end up with discolouration of the pigment. Walking around with blue, purple or red pigment on your head is of course something nobody wants.
Eventually permanent make-up always fades, and so does scalp pigmentation. This happens because the skin slowly but surely sheds the pigment. We work in the first layer of skin with scalp pigmentation, and when a real tattoo is placed you work in the third layer of skin. This means that our SPMU for the head does fade over time, while real tattoos always remain more clearly visible.
How does a scalp pigmentation treatment proceed?
Of course it is first important to go through whether this treatment is suitable for you. We do this by means of a consultation. If treatment ultimately takes place, these consultation costs are deducted from the full treatment price.
In a treatment you receive 2 sessions. The first session always consists of measuring out the areas that will need to be filled. The second session consists of filling in the first, healed session, and then also intensifying where needed.
After the first scalp pigmentation session you lose about 40% to 60% of the pigment. After the second session you lose only about 20 to 30%. That is because the pigment is already known to the skin. If you have the entire head pigmented, count on spending at least about 6 to 8 hours per session.
A scalp pigmentation treatment is not something that can be done in a hurry. It certainly takes both us and you some time to place the pigmentation in each session. In a treatment you receive 2 sessions. The first session always consists of measuring out the areas that will need to be filled. The second session consists of filling in the first, healed session, and then also intensifying where needed and giving definition to the colour.
You can work out the number of hours depending on the amount of pigmentation that needs to be placed. If you have the entire head pigmented, count on spending at least about 6 to 8 hours per session.
Of course it is first important to go through whether this treatment is suitable for you. We do this by means of a consultation. If treatment ultimately takes place, these consultation costs are deducted from the full treatment price. During the consultation we look at the options, discuss your wishes and can explain how the whole process will go.
After the first scalp pigmentation session you lose about 40% to 60% of the pigment. That is because the skin is encountering it for the first time in the areas being pigmented, and it leaves the skin more quickly precisely because we work superficially. The skin wants to reject the pigment; this is normal with all other PMU treatments too. After the second scalp pigmentation session you lose only about 20 to 30%. That is because the pigment is already 'known' to the skin and is placed to fill in, rather than being completely new.
Is scalp pigmentation a painful treatment?
It seems self-evident that it would be a painful treatment, thinking of the fact that you are constantly placing a little dot on an often sensitive scalp with a needle. But the treatment is often experienced as very mild.
How can that be? Semi-permanent make-up for scalp pigmentation is always applied in the first layer of skin. To compare: a tattoo is placed in the third layer of skin. In addition, anything that goes into the third layer of skin often cannot be numbed with a cream either, and anything that is placed in the first layer of skin can.
It seems self-evident that it would be a painful treatment, thinking of the fact that you are constantly placing a little dot with a needle on what is often a sensitive scalp — and for several hours in a row at that. But the treatment is often experienced as very mild. How can that be? Semi-permanent make-up for scalp pigmentation is always applied in the first layer of skin. To compare: a tattoo is placed in the third layer of skin. In addition, anything that goes into the third layer of skin often cannot be numbed with a cream either, and anything that is placed in the first layer of skin can! So although scalp pigmentation seems to be a painful treatment, it is not. Have you heard experiences from others for whom scalp pigmentation was very painful? Then they simply did not go to the right place.
My name is Isabella Levels and, with years of experience in the industry, I love sharing my permanent make-up knowledge and techniques. My passion lies in accentuating natural beauty, and I hope to inspire others with tips and insights that can help both beginners and professionals in their careers!