Scalp micropigmentation was originally designed with baldness in mind. Much of the information you hear from self-proclaimed experts praises this method’s results on men with little or no hair. This is why it is so commonly associated with the characteristic short buzz cut look.
What if you are dealing with hair loss but still have a good amount of long hair intact? Is SMP a viable method of hair restoration for you?
Yes, scalp micropigmentation can be useful for men with long hair but it comes with conditions. It works for some hair loss situations and not others. Read on to find out when long-haired gentlemen are good candidates for SMP treatment and why.
Hairline reconstruction
In some instances, men have long, thick hair throughout the scalp with the exception of thinning along the hairline. SMP is useful for this kind of hair loss as tattooing works to bring the hairline forward by creating the illusion of stubble along the affected area.
This, however, works best in cases of minimal receding. When only a small section of the scalp would otherwise be visible. If receding progresses, SMP gradually loses the natural look as the hairline slips further towards the crown.
Technicians who perform such treatments advise men to keep a close eye on hair loss progression. If it continues you will probably need to explore alternative methods of hair restoration.
Density enhancement
Aside from male pattern baldness, another common form of hair loss is diffuse thinning. Unlike age-related hair loss which is characterized by a receding hairline, this form affects the entire scalp. A little hair falls off from all areas eventually causing an overall thin and low-density appearance.
If yours is a case of diffuse thinning, you can keep your hair long and benefit from scalp micropigmentation. The technician simply fills in the thinning parts, therefore, eliminating the contrast between the hair and visible bare scalp. It creates an illusion of depth thus making hair appear fuller and denser.
Alopecia areata
A vast majority of men dealing with hair loss can blame it on male pattern baldness but it could also be caused by alopecia areata. This is an autoimmune disease that attacks hair follicles leaving small, round hairless patches on the scalp.
The good news about alopecia areata is that it is treatable. When properly treated, men recover and hair grows back in a year or so.
Men suffering from this form of hair loss can maintain long hair and a natural look through scalp micropigmentation as pigmentation on bald spots effectively conceals visible scalp skin. Long strands are then brushed over them to create a dense, natural appearance. An even more natural look is achieved when stubble from regrowth starts to appear and gradually grows into long strands.
This tattooing process does not affect hair follicles so hair regrowth resumes unhampered.
Conclusion
Scalp micropigmentation is commonly advertised as a solution for balding but it can also be useful for men with long hair. It can be used to recreate a receding hairline in the early stages of male pattern baldness but becomes less effective as hair loss progresses.
Pigmenting has also proved effective to deal with diffuse thinning by making hair appear denser throughout the entire scalp. As is the case with hairline reconstruction, SMP for thinning works best with minimal hair loss. If thinning progresses rapidly other methods of restoration must be explored.
References
1. https://hairmighty.com/scalp-micropigmentation-guide/
2. https://creativescalps.com/long-hair/
