SMP Aftercare Guide
So, you made it through your first micropigmentation session. Congratulations on what is going to be a positive change to both your appearance and your confidence! You’re not quite done yet, though. Make sure to follow the aftercare guidelines carefully, otherwise you might end up with some unpleasant results.
How to Take Care of Your Recent Scalp Micropigmentation:
- Avoid touching your scalp. This may not be completely avoidable, as many people struggle with absentminded picking and fiddling with their heads, but try to minimize irritation with your scalp. Even water can cause irritation at this point. It’s still incredibly tender for the first few days, and one way to minimize the urge to rub your head is to avoid vigorous activity. According to Scalp Micro Portugal, This will help reduce sweat and help you curb the desire to wash your head. After a few days, you can slowly begin to wash with water and start a moisturizing routine.
- Facial cleanser is the way to go. These are incredibly gentle- perfect for such a sensitive area of the body. You might be tempted to use shampoo or soap, but remember that these are much stronger and can dry your scalp out and cause irritation. Plus, many facial cleansers have some sort of moisturizer in them- you’ll be killing two birds with one stone!
- Sunscreen is your best friend. Harsh sunlight and UV rays can cause the fresh ink to fade. A moisturizing sunblock applied to the scalp is necessary to keep your new hairdo looking great. Hats can also be a great tool to have at your disposal, but be careful: if your head is still healing, a hat can trap in sweat and lead to itchiness.
- Exfoliate. Dead skin cells can accumulate after any sort of tattoo or micropigmentation, and they cause your skin to look dull and lifeless. A gentle chemical exfoliant can help get rid of dead skin cells without being overly abrasive. Be sure to moisturize after to keep the fresh skin healthy!
- Be careful when shaving your head. After about a week and a half, you can resume shaving your head to keep it looking uniform. Go slow and steady, rushing the first shave will lead to nicks and scrapes. Avoid any areas that seem sensitive or scabbed over, as you don’t want to prolong the healing process.
- Avoid tanning beds for the first month. This goes hand-in-hand with avoiding the sun, any harsh rays can cause irritation and fading. After a while, you may be able to use a spray tan, but always to a test patch to ensure it won’t cause a poor reaction with your scalp. After a month, tanning beds should be alright, just make sure you don’t have any upcoming micropigmentation appointments- you want your skin as strong as possible for the treatment.
As with any sort of transformation, what comes after the process is just as important as the process itself. If you’re still not quite sure just what to do after your first session, click here for more information. Treat your scalp with love and care and the results are sure to be incredible!
Read MoreDoes Scalp Micropigmentation Hurt?
Often before anyone chooses to undergo any type of cosmetic procedure, the question most commonly on their mind is “Will it hurt?” Pain is a big issue for many people, and many people have such low pain tolerances that they may choose to skip out on a cosmetic procedure if they know it can be the source of a considerable amount of pain.
In response to the issue of hair loss, many people have chosen to go through a scalp micropigmentation procedure, as opposed to more traditional treatments such as hair transplant surgery or specialized pills or medications.
Scalp micropigmentation, for those unfamiliar with it, is a process by which pigments are applied to the scalp to fill in the hairline. According to Jackson SMP, For those who have completely lost their hair, scalp micropigmentation can be applied so that it creates the allusion that one has recently shaved their head.
Now for the question you came here for — does it hurt?
It is important to keep in mind that everyone has a different pain tolerance. Not one person experiences the pain the same way as another person.
That being said, many people who have gone through the scalp micropigmentation process describe the treatment’s pain level as being very mild. If pain every becomes an issue for you during your treatment, you can ask your technician to take short, periodic breaks during your procedure.
Additionally, you can ask your doctor to prescribe a prescription pain reliever to help you ease the pain. However, those who do elect to take this type of medication before their procedure should arrange for someone to drive their home following the treatment as painkillers can massively impair one’s driving abilities. You can read more about scalp micropigmentation on Hairline Ink’s website.
Read MoreBald Icons
Going bald isn’t easy. For many, hair loss is a huge source of insecurity and can lead to a big drop in self-confidence. The most important thing to know is that if you’re going bald — you’re not alone. Check out this list of famous bald icons I’ve compiled!
Cory Booker
Cory Booker is a current Senator from New Jersey. Booker is currently seeking the Democratic nomination for president. He was the first African American Senator from New Jersey. In addition to politics, Booker is a practicing vegan and is currently dating actress Rosario Dawson.
Stanley Tucci
Stanley Tucci is one of Hollywood’s most renowned actors. He is a three time Emmy winner and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in The Lovely Bones. Outside of acting, Tucci is involved with humanitarian causes, starring in a video for the United Nations’ refugee agency.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is simply the Greatest of All Time. If you’re living under a rock and somehow do not know who Michael Jordan, he is considered the most talented basketball player in the league’s history. Jordan was known for leading the Chicago Bulls to two three peats, winning three national titles in a row twice.
Pitbull
Mr. Worldwide, also known as Pitbull, is another bald legend. Hailing from Miami, Florida, Pitbull brings Puerto Rican flair to each one of his tracks. He is known for his hits “Timber,” “Give me Everything,” and “We are One (Ola Ola),” which was the official song of the 2014 Fifa World Cup. Now, if hearing about these fellow bald icons doesn’t make you feel any better about balding, you have options. Medicine and ointments can reverse hair loss, and creative solutions like Scalp Artist International scalp micropigmentation can fill in hairlines with pigment to give the appearance of a fuller man.
Read MoreSaving Time in the Morning
I’m not exactly what anyone would call a morning person. In fact, like many people out there, I often skimp on my morning routine for a few extra minutes of shut-eye. While I do the basics like brushing my hair and teeth, some other parts of the routine often get left behind. Because of my natural propensity to sleep as much as possible, here are a few tips I recommend to shave minutes off your morning routine!
Shower at night
This can make a huge difference if you hit the snooze button one too many times. Instead of taking a rushed shower, or even just splashing water on your face, you can wake up already clean and ready for the day.
Consider permanent makeup
Permanent makeup, or PMU, is a great way to save time on the beauty part of your routine. DC Micro can attest to the amount of time saved in the morning if you wake up with your eyebrows done and eyeliner applied. It can be a bit of an investment, but it’s a small price to pay for a streamlined routine. Plus, you don’t have to worry about running out of makeup when you’ve only finished one eye!
Make your lunch the night before
Slapping together a peanut butter and jelly sandwich doesn’t take much time at all, but it’s easily forgotten in the early morning rush. If you prep lunch the night before, you just have to take it out of the fridge and you’re on your way. You’re also more likely to create a well-balanced meal when you have more time.
Make cold brew coffee What’s better than waking up to coffee that’s already ready to go? If you’re more of a hot coffee person, you can always microwave a cup and it’ll still be faster than a traditional pot of coffee.
Read MoreEverything You Ever Wanted to Know About Permanent Makeup
Unless you’re living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of permanent makeup — mainly referred to as “tattoo” makeup. Many have turned to permanent makeup application to shave time off their daily morning routine.
Admittedly, I had heard the term but didn’t know much about it. This changed after I researched the trend for myself. Check out the answers to some of the most asked questions about permanent cosmetics below.
What is micropigmentation?
Permanent makeup application relies on a technique called micropigmentation, which is essentially a form of tattooing. With the permanent makeup trend, micropigmentation has been used to resemble makeup in the form of eyebrows, lipcolor, and eyelid color. Companies like Permanent Makeup and Aesthetics by Kim Duffy have even used micropigmentation to fill in hair lines and reverse the effects of hair loss.
Exactly how permanent is permanent makeup?
This depends on the person, the amount of pigment applied, and where it is applied. Permanent makeup can last several years but may fade over time. Usually, permanent makeup last a couple of months. To reduce fading, it’s best to stay away from the sun as much as possible. You can get touch ups periodically to maintain the color and vibrance of your permanent makeup.
Does the application of permanent makeup hurt?
Again, this largely depends on the person and their personal pain tolerance. The cosmetician applying the permanent makeup will apply anesthetics before the procedure — make sure to ask which they’re using for your application. (Source: https://www.pamneighbors.com/pmu/) Many people assume that permanent eyeliner is the most painful of the permanent makeup procedures, but many report permanent lip application bringing them the most pain. Only you can decide if permanent makeup is the best option for you. Even if you’re still on the fence, reach out to your local permanent makeup technician to ask questions and learn about their specific process.
Read MoreAll About Alopecia
There are a variety of reasons why individuals may begin to lose their hair, one of them being alopecia. I’ve heard the term alopecia several times before, but I really didn’t know much about it. I decided to research on my own to learn more about it — check out what I found below!
What is Alopecia?
From the website Scalp Micro UK, “Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that affects the skin”. Those living with alopecia experience hair loss on the scalp, as well as the face and other parts of the body.
According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, 6.8 million people are living with alopecia in the United States alone. Worldwide, 147 million people currently live with alopecia.
What Causes Alopecia?
Because alopecia is a polygenic disease, both parents must contribute certain genes to the child for the child to develop alopecia. Many believe that stress is a cause of alopecia, but research by medical experts have found that to largely be a myth. Only in extreme cases can stress cause alopecia, but medical experts agree that the causes are genetic.
Treatments for Alopecia
It is important to note that as of right now, there are no cures for alopecia. There are however some treatments that can help hair grow back. These treatments are mostly recommended for those who still have about 50 percent of their hair left. Treatments include pills and topical treatments. However, there is no guarantee these treatments are permanent solutions.
Many companies, such as Team Micro, offer scalp micropigmentation services — similar to tattooing — to those living with alopecia. Scalp micropigmentation adds pigment to the scalp that give the illusion that the hair was recently shaved and is beginning to grow back.
I hope this post helped you learn more about alopecia and the different options available to treat it!
Team Micro
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Bingley, BD16 1PY
United Kingdom