Is Micropigmentation A Tattoo?
For those who have to deal with it on a daily basis, hair loss is no joke. Losing your hair can cause a loss of confidence, a sense of powerlessness and frustration at the lack of progress medical science has made regarding this issue. Because, while there are myriad creams, sprays, pills and other alleged treatments on the market, there is still no such thing as a cure when it comes to most types of baldness. Enter SMP. SMP, or Scalp Micropigmentation, is not a cure for baldness, it’s a cure for the perception of baldness. One question that often comes up when discussing SMP, however, is this: “Is scalp micropigmentation a tattoo?” In this post, we’ll set the record straight.
Once and For All: Is Micropigmentation a Tattoo?
No, micropigmentation is not a tattoo. There was a time not too long ago when tattoo artists offered their clients the option of having their scalp tattooed so as to counteract the visual effects of hair loss. But in recent years the process of Scalp Micropigmentation split off from traditional tattooing and developed as an art form all its own, with its own processes, procedures and specialized materials. We’ll get into a detailed explanation of those differences in a moment. But first, let’s look at some of the major benefits of SMP.
The Benefits of Scalp Micropigmentation
Many would argue that the benefits of SMP are far more important than the particulars of the process itself. Who are we to disagree with that? After all, you undergo cosmetic procedures to look and feel better. So before we get into a dry recitation of the technical differences between a tattoo and scalp micropigmentation, let’s look at the benefits of SMP.
It restores the appearance of your natural hairline
For men who experience pattern baldness, one of the first things to go is their hairline. Year after year it recedes back across their scalp, eventually joining up with the growing bald spot on the crown of their head. Regardless of whether you are in the early stages of male pattern baldness or in a more advanced stage, SMP can recreate the appearance of your natural hairline.
The effect is very convincing
The art of SMP has progressed to the point that it is barely distinguishable from actual stubble. In the days when tattoo artists were spreading dots across the scalp, you could pick them out from a fair distance. Today, however, you would have to get right up close to a person who has received SMP – and in some cases even run your hand over their head – before you could determine if what you’re seeing is stubble or SMP.
It’s not just for male pattern baldness
While most clients of SMP Liverpool are men experiencing male pattern baldness they are not the only ones who can benefit from this procedure. The fact is quite a few women experience thinning hair as they age, and the result can be just as devastating for them as pattern baldness is for men. The artisans at SMP Liverpool can counteract the appearance of thinning hair and help these women regain confidence in their appearance. The same is true for those suffering from alopecia and medication-induced hair loss.
It’s a non-surgical solution to a vexing problem
Hair transplants remain the only way to restore actual growing hair to areas left bare by pattern baldness or age-related thinning. But transplants are a painful, expensive, time-consuming process that entails lengthy recovery periods and oftentimes yields only so-so results. Transplants can also leave visible scars. SMP on the other hand is extremely low impact, costs only a fraction of what transplants cost and there’s no danger of the SMP falling out, as transplanted hairs often do.
It’s affordable
Hair transplants in the UK can cost as much as £20,000. In some cases even more. While the cost of SMP for individuals will vary depending on the amount of work needed, the cost is typically only a tiny percentage of what you’ll pay for transplants. Leaving you plenty of money for new outfits to complement your new look.
It’s available to anyone
Scalp Micropigmentation exists to help people who have lost hair due to genetics, illness, age, medications or other causes regain their natural appearance. It is available to men and women, young and old, regardless of race, ethnicity or background. If hair loss is causing you to shy away from mirrors and wear hats all the time, contact SMP Liverpool.
Now, with the benefits of SMP firmly established, let’s take a look at how a tattoo and scalp micropigmentation differ.
The Technical Differences Between a Tattoo and Scalp Micropigmentation
As we said at the outset, SMP is an offshoot of the tattoo. Several decades ago tattoo artists realized there were plenty of customers interested in obtaining scalp tattoos to cover bald spots and receding hairlines. Over time some of these tattoo artists began to refine the process of the scalp tattoo and a new art form was born: Scalp Micropigmentation. The following are the major differences between the two processes:
New Technology
As the predecessors to today’s SMP artists worked on more and more heads it became apparent to some of them that the standard tattoo technology was not suited to re-creating realistic-looking hair follicles. As a result, new technologies were invented including new needles that are much thinner and more precise. These new needles have the added advantage of producing less pain. And because they deliver smaller amounts of ink to more specific locations there is less chance that ink will spread over time blurring the effect, as often happens with regular tattoos. The bottom line is that you couldn’t create a tattoo using SMP needles and you couldn’t do SMP using regular tattoo needles.
Special Inks
Those early pioneers of SMP also realized that standard tattoo inks were not providing optimal effects. As a result, new inks were developed with many of them being plant-based. It was discovered that this type of ink was less prone to separating and discoloration, especially in direct sunlight. At the same time, organic ink turned out to be safer for the skin. So with SMP, you get a more durable effect that is also better for your skin than traditional tattoo inks.
A Refined Procedure
With a standard tattoo ink is delivered to the middle layer of the skin known as the “dermis”. There’s nothing wrong with that per se, considering the aesthetic requirements of the average tattoo. The problem is that ink administered to the dermis is prone to smudging and smearing over time and any colors are prone to fading. That just won’t do when one is trying to replicate the appearance of a tiny, stationary hair follicle. As such the SMP artist delivers his or her ink to the upper layer of skin or the “epidermis”. This helps create the kind of precise, stable effect that is required to mimic the appearance of an actual hair follicle.
Constant Improvement
The artists at SMP Liverpool are not content to rest on their laurels and say they’ve got it all figured out. They’re curious, dedicated types committed to the endless search for a better way to help their clients overcome the stigma and loss of confidence that often accompanies hair loss. As a company, we too are never satisfied with “good enough” and are always enhancing our product for the benefit of our customers. When you enlist the services of SMP Liverpool you can be certain that we practice absolute state-of-the-art SMP techniques using only leading-edge equipment and materials.
The Bottom Line
So the answer to the oft-asked question “Is scalp micropigmentation a tattoo?” is “no”. The SMP process was derived from the traditional tattoo process but SMP required the development of new equipment, inks, and techniques in order to satisfy its more rigorous visual demands. To be sure there are still tattoo artists out there who will be happy to provide you with a scalp tattoo, but be aware it is not the same as SMP and could wind up falling apart visually over time.
To Get the Process Started, Get In Touch with SMP Liverpool
Just as there are plenty of tattoo artists who will be more than happy to tattoo your scalp there are also quite a few individuals and companies out there who claim to provide scalp micropigmentation whose qualifications are questionable at best. To ensure you enjoy the full range of benefits this procedure has to offer it’s important that you work with established experts like SMP Liverpool. We’ve helped countless men and women and we can help you too. But we can’t help until you get in touch. Ring up SMP Liverpool today at 07432859488, or write to us at: info@smpliverpool.co.uk.
Remember, there is no cure for baldness, but that doesn’t mean you have to look like you are losing your hair. Get in touch with SMP Liverpool today and turn the tide on the effects of hair loss.
