A hair tattoo for men, or male scalp micropigmentation (SMP), is a hair loss treatment for men that offers an alternative to a hair transplant. While SMP for women can also have great results, we’ll focus on men for this article.
A hair tattoo can provide great results for men — a small study from 2021 found that 100% of patients who’d had a hair tattoo would recommend the procedure to others with similar problems [1]. The majority of patients in this study were male. In this article, we’ll explore:
A hair tattoo is a cosmetic procedure to improve the appearance of your hair. It provides an alternative to other hair loss treatments such as minoxidil, finasteride, and hair transplant surgery. While SMP is similar to microblading, the two differ in that a manual blade is used for microblading while an electric tattoo device is used for micropigmentation.
Hair tattoos were only introduced to the cosmetic world around 20 years ago [2], but they’re getting steadily more popular. This is due to the instant results and minimal recovery time available with SMP.
A hairline tattoo uses tiny, layered dots in different shades of black to replicate the appearance of a shadow on your scalp. However, choosing a skilled SMP practitioner is important to avoid scalp micropigmentation regrets.
The style used to create a hair tattoo is called pointillism, and it requires expert precision. The practitioner aims to create definition and depth on your scalp that looks like natural hair growth. When a highly experienced practitioner performs the procedure, the cosmetic outcome tends to be excellent [3].
Hair tattoos can create the impression of thicker hair for men with [4]:
Here, we’ll discuss what happens before, during, and after a hairline tattoo procedure.
You’ll need to wash your head and hair before your appointment. Then, your practitioner will work with you to design your new hairline based on your head shape, age, facial structure, and personal preference.
With the help of your provider, you’ll select medical-grade pigments that match your hair colour. SMP needles are slimmer and smaller than tattoo needles, meaning the procedure is usually not as painful as getting a normal tattoo. However, you’ll still need a local anaesthetic cream to numb the skin on your scalp [4].
The procedure may take up to 5 hours, depending on the size of the scalp area being treated. Your practitioner will use a needle to fill in the chosen areas of the scalp with pigment. Dots of pigment are placed carefully, varying in depth, angle, and size to create a realistic appearance.
You’ll likely need at least 3 sessions of SMP, each several weeks apart [4]. More pigment is added with each treatment, creating the impression of thicker hair.
There are very few side effects of SMP, so it won’t be long before you can return to your daily activities. You may experience some redness on your scalp for several hours after the procedure. For several days after the procedure, you should avoid [4]:
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure to move hair to an area that’s bald or has thinning hair. SMP can be combined with a hair transplant to increase the appearance of thicker, fuller hair. Our clinicians specialise in this procedure and can give you the best of both worlds by combining these techniques.
Research suggests that many men who have had hair transplants and did not get the fullness they wanted can achieve their desired outcome with SMP [6]. As a minimally invasive treatment, SMP is very attractive for people who want more hair after their hair transplant but do not want to or can’t have further hair transplant surgery.
SMP creates the illusion of greater, more even hair coverage and conceals scars on the scalp. Here are some photos to show the effects of SMP in men with various hair loss conditions.
The image above shows a patient with scars on his scalp from multiple surgeries. Before his hair tattoo, the scars and male pattern baldness are clearly visible. After SMP, hair appears to be spread evenly across his scalp.
This photo shows a patient with scarring alopecia before and after SMP treatment. Scars, discolouration and hair loss are clearly visible on his scalp before treatment. After treatment, he appears to have short hair spread evenly across his scalp, and the appearance of his scars and discolouration is greatly reduced.
The picture above shows the effects of SMP on alopecia areata. Prior to treatment, the patient has clearly visible bald patches on his scalp. After treatment, SMP gives the impression of an even, full head of hair that has been shaved down to a buzz cut.
This image shows a patient with a scar from hair transplant surgery. The scar is obvious before hair tattoo treatment but SMP conceals it well, giving the impression of even hair density across the scalp.
The cost of male hair tattoos varies in the UK. Factors affecting cost include clinic location, practitioner’s experience and the size of the area that needs to be covered. Small areas start from £250, while larger areas can cost up to £3000.
Tattoo salons often offer budget options, but their practitioners are usually not medical experts trained in scalp scar tissue management or hair loss. Choose an experienced clinician for high-quality results, such as those at the Wimpole Clinic.
There are many reasons that increasing numbers of men choose hair tattoos to create the impression of thicker hair. These include:
Although hair tattoos aren’t a permanent solution to hair loss, they usually retain their appearance for at least four years [4]. This contrasts with hair loss medications, which usually require daily use to prevent your hair loss symptoms from returning.
Hair tattoos take less than two weeks to recover from [2]. The procedure itself is less invasive than a hair transplant and does not cause any scarring. In fact, hair tattoos are sometimes used to disguise scars from a hair transplant.
You’ll see instant results after your first hair tattoo session. Although you’ll likely need several sessions over several weeks to achieve the final results, this is still much quicker than other common hair loss treatments.
For example, a hair transplant usually takes 8-12 months for the final results to be visible [8]. Minoxidil, a medication commonly used to treat hair loss, takes around two months to see initial results [9].
Hair tattoos convincingly replicate the appearance of a short buzz cut. They can look good whether you have small areas of hair thinning, a single bald spot, or a fully shaved head [10].
A hair tattoo isn’t the cheapest solution for men with hair loss. However, it is generally cheaper over time than the cost of a hair transplant [11].
Like any treatment, hair tattoos aren’t perfect. If any of these downsides concern you, you may want to investigate other types of hair loss treatment. Here are some of the disadvantages:
Each session of SMP can take up to 8 hours, and you often need several sessions to complete the treatment. This is significantly more time-consuming than medication for hair loss, which usually requires taking a pill or applying some daily ointment.
Unlike hair transplants or hair loss medications, SMP does not prevent balding or encourage the regrowth of new hair. It can disguise thinning hair or baldness, but a short buzz cut is the only style SMP can recreate for someone with large bald areas.
People with natural red or platinum blonde hair don’t make good candidates for SMP. It’s very difficult to match these hair tones with any shade of grey, so the results would look unnatural.
The results of a hair tattoo can be very convincing from a short distance. However, it will be obvious to someone up close that your hair tattoo does not look or feel like natural hair. Your hair tattoo may start to look less realistic if the surrounding hairs turn grey as you age.
Although a hair tattoo lasts several years before it starts to fade, it will require touch-up sessions every few years to maintain results. In contrast, a hair transplant is a permanent cure for hair loss.
All medical procedures carry some level of risk. Possible risks of SMP include [4]:
To reduce these risks, choose an experienced SMP practitioner, such as those at Wimpole Clinic. Ask for photos of their previous work and discuss any allergies before you begin treatment.
When your scalp has healed after your hair tattoo, you can help results last as long as possible by following these tips. With touch-ups and careful maintenance, you can maintain your new look for a lifetime.
Just as excessive sunlight is not good for your hair, too much sun exposure can affect the colouring of your hair tattoo over time [12]. To prevent this, you can limit your time out in the sun, wear a hat, or keep your scalp topped up with sunscreen.
If you choose to get a hair tattoo, you’ll be advised to use moisturiser on your scalp daily. This helps to prevent scalp dryness that can cause hair loss, an itchy scalp and also affects the appearance of SMP.
Touch-ups are part of maintaining your new look, as without further treatment, your hair tattoo will fade. The time before a touch-up is needed varies based on preference, the quality of the SMP, and how your scalp responds to the pigment. People usually choose to have touch-ups anywhere between one and six years after initial treatment.
It is vital to select the right practitioner for your SMP treatment. The final results of your hair tattoo are dependent on the skill level of the practitioner performing the procedure.
It’s also important to understand the cause of your hair shedding before taking the plunge and investing in SMP. Our hair doctors can complete diagnostic trichology tests, such as hair loss blood tests, to discover the reason your hair is falling out.
For assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, our team at the Wimpole Clinic is a great choice. Our practitioners are highly experienced in hair tattoos for men, and can combine SMP with a hair transplant for comprehensive hair restoration. Book a consultation at one of our clinic locations to get started.
Hair tattoos gradually fade before needing a touch up. Most people choose to have a touch up somewhere between one and six years, depending on personal preference, the quality of their hair tattoo and how they have cared for it between sessions.
Hair tattoos can create a more youthful appearance which, with proper care and touch ups, you can maintain for a lifetime. However, they do not actually regrow hair like a transplant, and will eventually fade without ongoing treatment.
You should expect some discomfort during scalp micropigmentation, but it is usually less painful than a traditional head tattoo because the needles are thinner and smaller than tattoo needles [13].
When performed by a skilled practitioner, SMP is likely to turn out how you imagined it, making regrets less likely. However, hair tattoos can look very unrealistic and cause regrets when performed by practitioners without the proper training and experience.
To avoid regrets, choose a reputable clinic and ask for before and after photos to assess the quality of their work.
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