Scalp micropigmentation has become one of the most popular hair loss solutions. Clients love it because it’s non-invasive, gives more or less immediate results, and it’s guaranteed to work, unlike many other forms of treatment that require a long time to give results, if any, and even then, they may not last.
When they hear about SMP, men with dark hair who suffer from thinning hair or a receding hairline are immediately interested. But clients with blonde or gray hair may discard the treatment, thinking there’s no way it could work for them.
Well, SMP does in fact work for all hair colors. Here’s what you need to know about scalp micropigmentation for fair hair.
Does Scalp Micropigmentation Work for Fair Hair?
Scalp micropigmentation for fair hair definitely works, but light-haired clients require a slightly different approach than dark-haired ones.
How Is Scalp Micropigmentation for Fair Hair Done?
All scalp micropigmentation is done by puncturing the skin of the scalp over and over again with an electric needle device, and implementing pigments in them. When healed, these tiny dots look like hair follicles that are just about to emerge from the skin.
This means the scalp is covered with a recreation of the buzz cut or given the illusion of more density, and it works both if you have no hair at all, and if you do have hair but it’s sparse and thinning. It can also camouflage bald spots or scars, but you’ll need to keep your existing hair short for it to look realistic.
The only difference when doing scalp micropigmentation for fair hair is the shade of the pigment. Emerging hair follicles always look ashy-grayish, no matter if they’re actually light or dark, it’s only the intensity of that color that varies.
On fair-haired clients, the artist will dilute the pigment enough to get a light grayish shade. When the pigment sets and the skin heals, these faux hair follicles will look indistinguishable from real ones.
There’s one very important thing to know about scalp micropigmentation, though – it should be done gradually, starting light and working towards the right shade. In the first session, your artist should use a very light pigment shade. They’ll assess how the color heals, and they can go darker at the touch up if needed, but if they go too dark straight away, correcting it can be a challenge.
For more info on the scalp micropigmentation technique, healing, aftercare and cost, check out this article.
Image source: Instagram @justindavidsmp
Note – All This Applies to Red Hair, Too
In artists’ experience, red-haired clients are the most reluctant to go under the SMP needle. Well, they shouldn’t be, since the treatment can turn out great on them, just like it can work great for blonde clients.
Does Scalp Micropigmentation for Fair Hair Look Good?
If done by an experienced tech, yes, scalp micropigmentation for fair hair can look very realistic, even if you have longer hair. In that case, it may make the hair appear a bit darker, though.
Head over to our SMP Before and After Gallery to see the results on various clients.
What If I Have Gray Hair? Will SMP Work for Me?
Of course! Gray hair is actually very easy to work with, because, as we said, all emerging hair follicles look grayish anyway.
Image source: Instagram @jana.promicro
And What If My Hair Starts Turning Gray at Some Point?
This is not an issue.
Scalp micropigmentation is not a traditional tattoo which stays in the skin forever. It’s actually a form of cosmetic tattooing, designed to gradually fade over the years, as the body metabolizes the pigments (remember, the color is not a tattoo ink). The longevity of the results can be anywhere from 4 to 8 years on average, depending on how fast your body breaks down the pigments. For some clients, it can last as long as a decade!
It’s possible your hair starts turning gray over this time, but your SMP will still work.
The color of the tiny dots loses intensity over time, going softer and softer. Scalp micropigmentation requires regular maintenance and refreshing if you want to keep the results, but if you have dark hair which starts turning gray, you can just skip the touch up and keep the results less prominent than you’d need them if your hair was still dark.
The pigment fading happens gradually, as does the process of hair turning gray, so the transitional period shouldn’t be an issue.
Does SMP Work for Light-Haired Women?
Yes! Although it may make your hair appear a bit darker at its root, since the SMP gives a somewhat darker shade.
For more information on SMP for women, check out this guide.
Image source: Instagram @hairkraft_smp
Final Piece of Advice
We hope we managed to convince you that scalp micropigmentation for fair hair is actually a great option, but we have to note that, if you’re thinking of going for it, you should find an experienced artist who knows how to work on light-haired clients. Getting the pigment color right takes years to master, and if your artist messes up and goes too dark, the correction process can be a challenge. So choose your artist carefully!
Cover image source: Freepik
