FAQ
What's the cost of SMP treatment?
Everyone is treated as an individual. There is no ‘one size fits all’ process that we apply. The price of your treatment will depend on the stage of your hair loss and the type of look you require. It is based on the number of sessions, time required and the complexity of the procedure.
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When you visit us for your free style consultation we will issue a quote at that time which will be valid for a set period. If we start the treatment within that period that will be the price you pay. We are always focused on your satisfaction and achieving a look that we’re all happy with.
What is the aftercare for this treatment?
After each treatment you can return to work immediately. For the 4 days after each treatment we advise that you do not exercise or excessively sweat. You can return to light exercise after a 4 day healing period. Excessive Sweating of the scalp can cause the treatment to migrate or not hold. Normal exercise can resume 10 days after treatment.
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For the following 4 days after each treatment it is important not to allow your scalp to get wet or wear hats which may rub on your new SMP treatment. After the 4 day period you can then wash your head and shave your hair. For swimming we advise to wait 30 days after the final treatment. Full aftercare instructions will be given to you after your first treatment.
What pigment do you use?
Iccon SMP Pigment has been specially formulated solely for Scalp Micropigmentation and has been used in thousands of treatments worldwide producing excellent results each and every time. As a pioneer of the SMP industry we have done our research into pigments over the years and have created the perfect formula of the highest quality.
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Our pigments are guaranteed to never change colour in the scalp throughout their lifetime as they do not consist of any colours unlike some tattoo inks and permanent make-up inks. Our pigments are 100% safe with no side effects and do not contain any harsh chemicals. Our pigments are completely organic which aids in healing time and are against animal testing.
How long will the treatment take?
The average human scalp has 100,000 hair follicles, 700-1000 per square inch. We are committed to delivering the most authentic replication possible. It usually takes a minimum of 3 sessions to achieve a great result on a bald head.
Depending on your specific needs, our advice on scheduling would be along these lines:​ First Session - Likely to last between 3-4 hours depending on your head. Second Session - Approximately 1 week later, lasting 2-4 hours gently perfecting the colour and refining the hairline. Third Session - 2 to 4 weeks later, 1-3 hours to perfect the shade and hairline for your perfect results.
How do you design my hairline?
Designing your new hairline is something we take time over during your first treatment session. We add around 45 minutes to your first treatment session for hairline design. We take your input on your preferred hairline. We begin by drawing your new hairline using a wax pencil and make any adjustments as necessary. Once you are happy with your new hairline design we start the Scalp Micropigmentation treatment.
What needles do you use?
The needles used are the finest in the SMP industry and has been created and crafted specially for Scalp Micro-pigmentation by ourselves.
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Our needles have been designed with absolute precision to match the size of a hair follicle so perfectly that it would not be possible to distinguish between our pigment deposits and actual hair follicles.
What are your hygiene requirements?
Health and safety is foremost in our considerations and Alnwick Barbering & Aesthetics stringently follows the Health Protection Unit’s standards for infection control practices. Single-use needles are used by practitioners wearing medical gloves, all of which are appropriately disposed of immediately after use. All apparatus is sterilised to medical standards.
What about on-going hair loss?
The SMP treatment does not damage existing hair growth nor does it damage hair growth from hair transplant procedures. Some clients even use SMP and hair transplants together to create their required density. In fact some reports suggest that micro needling of the scalp can promote hair growth.
If you do have more hair loss in the future you can get those parts touched up with SMP.
How will I look after treatment?
You can expect instant results with an immediately visible hairline as well as some redness, which will fade after a few days. Initially pigment dots can appear darker than planned. It may take up to four weeks before the pigments soften to their natural look and finished size.
As mentioned below our treatments usually take three sessions with results improving after each. View our gallery to see examples of the results from each stage of treatment.
What if I go grey?
Hair colour is generally comprised of many different shades. Our talented practitioners are always careful to match these colours when carrying out the procedure.
The use of shades is central to our ability to deliver a realistic result. Most people retain this light and shade throughout their life, giving a ‘salt and pepper’ effect when older. The look of the SMP may also soften in time and should age with you.
How often will I need to trim my hair?
It can be down to personal tastes and your speed of re-growth. Most clients tend to adopt a freshly shaved or ‘buzzed’ look shaving every 1-2 days.
Letting your hair grow out will adjust the appearance thus we tend to advise that you take care to see what level of grooming is required.
Is SMP the same as tattooing?
No. SMP can be referred to as a medical tattoo but the treatment is performed using a completely different technique to regular tattoos. The treatment is performed by our highly skilled SMP trained practitioner using specialist pigments created for the scalp only, not tattoo ink. The needles and equipment we use are also different to those used for regular tattoos.
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We strongly advise against using regular tattoo inks or seeking treatment from anyone other than a highly trained SMP specialist as this can result in an undesired outcome which would only be removable by laser treatment.
How do I book an appointment?
We understand that once you have made the decision to go ahead with your SMP treatment, you may be eager to book your appointment dates and would want to ensure that they don’t conflict with work or other plans. We always try our best to offer you your preferred appointment dates and will always offer alternative dates if these are not available. We will always work with you to book dates and times to suit your schedule. Once you are happy with your appointment dates we ask for a non-refundable deposit to secure your dates. Appointments can be booked during your consultation and by email, telephone or on our website. If you need to change your appointment dates or time, simply let us know at your earliest convenience and up-to 48 hours before your appointment and we will be happy to rearrange this for you.
How long will SMP last?
SMP is a Permanent solution to hair loss and will last a lifetime with maintenance touch ups along the way. How often you require touch ups depends on various factors such as your immune system, how you look after your treatment and UV exposure.
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Some clients may require touch ups around every 4 to 6 years where as others may require touch ups around every three years. Some clients may never need a touch up. It really does differ from person to person. Touch ups are usually completed within 1 – 2 hours.
Will my SMP be noticeable to
others?
Our Scalp Micro-pigmentation treatment is designed to match and blend in with your existing hair seamlessly and therefore is not noticeable. Some of our clients tell us that the odd friend may give them complements such as they look well or that something looks different but they can’t quite put their finger on what has changed.
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If you was to look closely at the hair of a shaven head, the hair looks like lots of small dots. We use our micro needles to replicate these dots using our specialised technique. The SMP treatment is blended seamlessly into the existing hair resulting in a completely undetectable result. For clients with longer hair, these micro dots would be built up over your treatment sessions until the required density is reached.
What qualifications
do you have?
Our practitioners are fully qualified in Advanced Scalp Micropigmentation and have been through, and continue to undergo extensive training to Level 4 standards, the highest independent qualification available.
We are also at the forefront of any new techniques and changes in the SMP Industry.