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14 July 2022

The best scalp micropigmentation in Canada

6 August 2022

Published by MB Elegant Micro on 14 July 2022

Should I shave my head before scalp micropigmentation?

In general speaking, I can say if you want to keep your hair long after scalp micropigmentation, you do not need to shave your head. However, if you want to have a shaved head look after SMP, you have to shave your head before getting SMP.

SMP rule for this: Scalp micropigmentation works for both baldness and thin hair but not a combination of them. For example, if you have baldness on the crown and thin hair on the top of your head and hairline, you have to choose to shave your head completely or skip the bald area.

In the following, I explain all the cases of scalp micropigmentation under different circumstances and show you which ones need to shave their head and which ones can keep their hair long.

Scalp micropigmentation for women:

The thin hair patterns of women are different from men and in all cases their thin hair is diffusive, and they do not need to shave their heads.

Based on my experience, in the worst cases, hair loss and alopecia in women cause excessive hair loss in a monotonous way and there is no baldness on their scalp. So, women can get SMP with their long hair.

Men Scalp micropigmentation for diffuse thin hair:

Men with thin hair and no baldness on the scalp can get scalp micropigmentation with their long hair. In fact, SMP is a proper way to increase hair density.

Do you have to shave your head for scalp micropigmentation

Men after hair transplant:

In this case, most people are not satisfied with their hair density after getting hair transplant treatment and they are looking for a way to increase their hair density. In other words, their hair transplant is not failed but has not given them the desired density they like. This group can keep their hair long and increase the density with hair follicle replication.

Men with thin hair and baldness on their crown:

This is a common pattern of thinning hair in men, in which they have baldness on their crown and probably thin hair on top of the head from the hairline to the crown. For this group two options are available:

Skip the crown and increase the density of the hair on top of their head
Accept to have a shaved head look and shave their head

Notice: SMP dots beside their long hair on the top of their head would not be realistic and that is the reason they cannot have the SMP on the bald area and long hair at the same time.

Men with baldness on the top of their head:

So, they need to have a shaved head look and always shave their heads with machine #0.

Is it better to get the SMP with long hair or short hair?

Whether you want to keep your hair long after getting SMP or have a shaved head, we recommend keeping your hair as short as possible at the time of getting scalp micropigmentation. There are 2 main reasons for this:

When your hair is short, it is really easy for the artist to recognize the spots that need SMP dots and the artist can give you a better density during the treatment.
During the SMP treatment, the artist needs to stretch your scalp to minimize your skin bounce and implant the pigments in the dermis layer of the skin, So, when your hair is long, it causes more pain after 30 minutes.

What should I do before getting scalp micropigmentation with long hair?

Besides the usual precare of scalp micropigmentation, it is very important to wash your head the night before getting SMP because you cannot wash your hair for 3 consecutive days after getting the treatment and it is highly recommended for people who want to get SMP with long hair.

Could I get scalp micropigmentation for the long fair hair?

Yes. You can. All people, men and women, with any skin colour and hair colour, can get SMP treatment. Actually, there is no limitation for hair tattoo treatment and this is one of the fantastic advantages of the SMP. You can read my article about "getting scalp micropigmentation for gray, blonde and brown hair here". The article shows before and after photos with reasons to explain how SMP works for fair hair.

People with receding hairlines and temples should shave their heads or can keep their hair long?

In general, they can keep their hair long and get scalp micropigmentation on the thin area. However, the artist cannot work beyond the hairline and temple line due to unrealistic results.

How do you need to shave your head before SMP?

It is better to have a talk with the SMP artist and (s)he tells you how short your hair should be based on your condition. Totally, there are three groups:

Women: They do not need to cut or shave their heads.
Men with thin hair can shorten their hair as much as they can.
Men with baldness who want to get full SMP, need to shave their heads with machine #0.

When can I shave my head after scalp micropigmentation?

If you get full or sport SMP and want to shave your head to make the shape uniform, you can do it on the fifth day. Please do not shave your head with a razor until 10 days, however, you can use a machine on the fifth day after the treatment.

Conclusion:

All in all, you do not need to shave your head for getting SMP treatment unless you want to get a full SMP or Sport-SMP. You can keep your hair long, while we recommend shortening your hair as much as you can before getting SMP treatment for achieving better quality.