BaldKen2

Wow, Seriously?!? This is the kind of Bullshit that Really sucks about the Hair loss industry!! Very disappointing to see tactics like these.

Thanks Matt, and thank you also for that link. That grey one is the trimmer I figured you and Nicole were referring to. I will definitely purchase it, as well as the Wahl T-edger that Nicole mentioned. Some days I just don't have time to mess with the clippers (takes to long to catch every area even though it leaves more stubble), and a faster cleaner shave with the trimmer would be convenient. I'll make sure to keep it oiled like Y'all suggested. Thanks again for the recommendations. Nice to have people like you and Nicole on here who know a lot about SMP and how to manage it best.

Thanks Nicole! I will try the maroon Wahl T-edger, and I may try the grey colored Andis also just to compare and for days when I want to go smoother. The closer shave with less work sounds great to me! I will probably still use the clippers on the top of my scalp bc there is less hair there so it is relatively easy to get it all even in just one or two passes. but the sides and back still grow thick and it can take a while to catch it all and get it even. Very interesting about the wet shaving in relation to cell renewal process. Makes total sense in terms of exfoliation. I don't ever wet shave, and I do not like the smooth look anyway. Thanks again

Thanks Nicole, for the advice and information. I have been using the Wahl Pro Chrome Clippers for a couple of years now, and I really like them except they tend to miss some spots and I must go over the same areas several times to get an even and clean shave. I have tried a rotary shaver but that is just too close for my taste. I prefer to leave some stubble. I do cut myself sometimes with the Wahl Clippers but it is usually due to pressing too hard in an attempt to get as close a shave as possible. Based on what you said, it sounds like I won't have to press too hard to get a close shave due to the power of the trimmer and sharpness of the blades so I will just let the trimmer do the work as you said. I don't think I will have trouble with cutting myself. I found two different Andis Trimmers- One is called the Andis ANHU9 T-Liner Hair Trimmer and is black, and the other is called the Andis Professional 04603 Outliner II Personal Trimmer and is grey colored. Can you possibly tell me which one of those you and Matt are saying is the best one? And does the trimmer do about the same closeness as a dry foil or rotary shave, or does it leave a bit more stubble? There is one guy who owns an SMP clinic and has posted on his site that wet shaving and Foil or Rotary Shaving can actually remove the pigments over time by removing layers of skin. This does not seem possible due to the pigment being placed in the dermal layer and it is the outer layer of the epidermis that is removed from shaving. Do you or Matt know if there is any truth to this "Shaving removes pigment" theory?

Have you asked your doctor about Finasteride or Dutasteride?

Thanks for that info Matt, yea I will definitely let you know how it works out. I will prolly order it this week. I like the Wahl clippers, but I have to pass over the same areas several times to get good shave. I have sensitive skin also so hopefully it will do well for me too. Thanks again

Hey Matt, Does the Andis T T-Liner Shaver cut closer than the Wahl Balding Clippers, and is it a better shave? I am thinking of buying that shaver

Yea, permanent smp is not for everyone, and I think you made a good choice going for temporary just to see if it was for you or not. It definitely isn't for everyone. I had permanent smp several years ago, and it still looks great, but who knows what it will look like 3-5 years from now? It could still change color or become blurry or migrate. There is just no way to know, smp is too new, and there are so many individual factors involved. I may have to get laser treatment done at some point, there are no guarantees in this thing, just as you said, so permanent smp is Definitely a gamble for sure. So far I am pretty happy, but it is not perfect and anyone who tells you smp is perfect is probably a SHILL or Lying to themselves and you. To be honest, I still feel I need more sessions to complete the smp work, but have not had a chance to fly back to clinic. Smp is also a matter of perspective and what kind of hair loss you are going into SMP with. I had been buzzing my head for a couple of years and liked the way that looked but just wanted to fill in the gaps and make it look more full and less "flesh-colored" in some areas of my scalp. But, if you are a guy who wears a hair piece, or have thin hair and just comb it over or use a concealer, and then you go get SMP and start rocking the "bald by Choice" look, it can be a very difficult transition and less satisfying for sure, b/c you will be so used to seeing yourself with hair (Not to mention everyone around you is used to seeing you with hair) and after shaving your head, even with smp, it can be a shock to you and the people around you so you may not get pleasant feedback. I always tell guys who are thinking of having smp, that they should lose the hairpiece or shave their head first, so they and their coworkers, friends and family can get used to that look, and they can see if they even like having a shaved head (it can get cold sometimes lol) and then go for smp if shaved works for them. Plus, after having a bald head for a little while, smp will be an improvement rather than a perceived downgrade from the hairpiece, comb over, or thin hair + concealer. Shapiro Medical is definitely a legit establishment and their reputation is outstanding. They learned temp Smp under the best, Milena Lardi of Bella Medical, so you know they have good training.

Exactly! And What people tend to forget, especially younger clients in their 20s, is that while these low straight hairlines with the angled side profiles may look sharp while they are still young, they will probably look pretty silly when they are in their 40s and 50s. I agree it is best to go conservative at first, and then just as you say, you can always add pigment later which is far easier than laser removal. It is easy to get greedy when trying to cheat hair loss, and go super extreme with the hairlines and density of Replicated Follicles, but these styles can have dire consequences down the road. Realistic trumps Extreme in my opinion. As far as the One and Done SMPs, they are certainly an appealing Idea, but just as you said, I also do not agree that this is in the best interest of the client. I feel that each individual should be assessed after the first session has had time to settle and, based on his or her retention of and response to the pigments, further treatments should be done if necessary to meet that individual's needs. The number of treatments is strictly based on each individual's ability to retain and their reaction the the pigments. Everyone's body chemistry is different. There is No one size fits all when dealing with Physiology. While it can be a hassle to fly back in forth to a clinic, this is just a necessary part of the process that must be accepted by the client. If the client is not willing to do this, I don't feel they are a candidate for SMP.

1) Where and who are the best clinics in the UK? -HIS Hair, SKALP, and Vinci Hair Clinic 2)Does it work? Does it look like hair, feel like hair? - Yes it works, if done correctly by your practitioner. It looks like real hair follicles shaved extremely closely. No, of course it does not feel like hair, SMP is tattooed dots, an illusion. 3) Does the procedure last forever? - Many factors that determine the longevity of SMP such as how you care for it (avoid sun exposure, harsh chemicals, etc., and use moisturizer regularly) the type of ink used, the depth of insertion, the level of aggression of the individual's immune system, attention to aftercare instructions, etc etc. 4) Does it hurt? -Depends on your pain threshold. I sat through a total of about 10 hours of SMP. Never really bothered me, I almost fell asleep several times. The hairline and sides were a little more sensitive but even these were not painful, just a very mild discomfort, very mild.

Photos are not good indicator b/c many smp businesses quite frequently steal competitor clinics photos and use them for their own advertising. Even the "great" HIS Hair Clinic has stolen a competitor's smp result photo and used it in one of their flash ads. The only sure fire way is to view a client's smp session with the practitioner you will have at the clinic of your choice, and then see the finished result on that client's head the following day. I was able to do this at the clinic I chose.

Again, the before photos are in bright daylight exposure, and the after photos of the finished result are in the dark, not to mention the befores are up close high def and afters are not. Very misleading advertising.

Yes, Yes, Yes, and Yes! I agree and great points all around. For everyone who has worked in sales or in any customer service capacity, you know that there are just some customers or clients that you will never please, regardless of how many hoops you jump through or how many extra miles you travel for them. Whether it is just the Client's unrealistic expectations, confrontational personality type, or flawed perception of reality (I.E. his or her smp results) there will always be some people who will complain about the services and results you provide for them, no matter how good both are. And I think these are great questions to ask, and guarantees to get. If the worst case scenario occurs and there is migration or color change, how will the clinic address these issues and is their work guaranteed? Another important question to ask is- Will the clinic finish your SMP process to completion? - The trend in SMP industry seems to be a "One and Done" Approach, which for all who understand the way the body works, specifically Immune cell response in relation to tattoo "trauma", you know that there is no such thing as a "One Size Fits All" when speaking about SMP. Always make sure that your satisfaction is guaranteed.

It can be really tough to learn online about smp. You basically have to sift through all of the BS advertising, get past the undercover postings done by clinic owners and consultants or as I like to call them, "Attack of the Shills", and read through dozens of bogus testimonials/SMP journeys. Then out of all of that you may find a handful of unbiased people willing to share their knowledge and experience with smp without a sales pitch for a particular provider. The only way I know to find the best smp business for oneself is to visit these places in person. If there is one within driving distance of your home I would certainly recommend taking advantage of that. Unfortunately for most, a flight is required, and that can be a hassle for most who just want to check out smp for themselves. Is SMP really a Hair Loss "Solution?" The short and simple answer is NO. The only Hair loss solution is having real growing hair again. I have seen a couple of good transplants, but the good results are few and far between. For me, SMP is a good Hair Loss ALTERNATIVE, and the alternative to smp is looking completely bald. It gives the appearance of "bald by choice", but I certainly wouldnt classify SMP as a Solution to Hair Loss. It has improved the way I look, but I do not know many people who actually look better with a shaved head than they did with a full head of hair, and that is just popular opinion. SMP businesses charge several thousand dollars a head, and there is a huge market when you consider how many men with hair loss there are out there. Lots of money to be made in smp industry, so definitely something to consider when you meet a Screen name telling you to go to Clinic "X"

It can be really tough to learn online about smp. You basically have to sift through all of the BS advertising, get past the undercover postings done by clinic owners and consultants or as I like to call them, "Attack of the Shills", and read through dozens of bogus testimonials/SMP journeys. Then out of all of that you may find a handful of unbiased people willing to share their knowledge and experience with smp without a sales pitch for a particular provider. The only way I know to find the best smp business for oneself is to visit these places in person. If there is one within driving distance of your home I would certainly recommend taking advantage of that. Unfortunately for most, a flight is required, and that can be a hassle for most who just want to check out smp for themselves. Is SMP really a Hair Loss "Solution?" The short and simple answer is NO. The only Hair loss solution is having real growing hair again. I have seen a couple of good transplants, but the good results are few and far between. For me, SMP is a good Hair Loss ALTERNATIVE, and the alternative to smp is looking completely bald. It gives the appearance of "bald by choice", but I certainly wouldnt classify SMP as a Solution to Hair Loss. It has improved the way I look, but I do not know many people who actually look better with a shaved head than they did with a full head of hair, and that is just popular opinion. SMP businesses charge several thousand dollars a head, and there is a huge market when you consider how many men with hair loss there are out there. Lots of money to be made in smp industry, so definitely something to consider when you meet a Screen name telling you to go to Clinic "X"

Yea I like Lubriderm and Curel moisturizer. I am about to order some more Headblade Matte Lotion also. HB matte reduces shine and moisturizes and is only about $7 for a 5 oz bottle. I have heard some great things about Peter Thomas Roth Matte Gel but have yet to try it. It runs 30-45 bucks for a 1 oz tube but guys on the HIS forum swear by the stuff and say it lasts them about 2 months for 1 oz tube b/c very little is required each day. I use the clippers b/c I still have some coverage on my scalp and like the look better than foil shave for myself but I know that most guys prefer a foil shave or wet shave. I have been told by a woman I know who owns a micropigmentation clinic that foil shaving and wet shaving actually removes the pigments from the scalp over time by removing layers of skin. Have you heard of this? I use the dial liquid soap, and sometimes I do use a shampoo, I think it is Suave. I know shampoo is primarily for hair, but I find that the Suave does the best job of cleansing my scalp. Sometimes I use a facial cleanser but it tends to dry my scalp out a bit too much.

Have you looked into Shapiro Medical Group in Minneapolis? I believe they learned their temp technique under Milena Lardi

As far as smp businesses who produce small dot sizes, there are many many clinics out there, and they are springing up everywhere all the time, but only a handful are proven over the span of 5+ years to produce good small dots. But the proven places, just from my experience, observation, and research would be: 1) Artistry Concepts- Florida 2) Good Look Ink- Minnesota 3) New Hair Institute w/ Dr. Pak- Los Angeles, CA 4) Skalp Clinic- UK 5) Vinci Hair Clinic- UK 6) HIS Hair Clinic- UK And again, as far as these SMP places being the best, this is only my opinion. Best to find a place that you are comfortable with based on your own experience with them. As far as the SMP clinic I went to and my practitioner, I choose not to say. I am just a guy who had SMP, I do not make a living in the SMP industry, so I find it best to only comment on general aspects of SMP and leave the promoting and advertising of specific SMP clinics to the Shills.

Congrats, sounds like you are happy with your results. I use Lubriderm, no fragrance, daily moisture lotion. I shave with Wahl Clippers, no guard. I wash my head with either Dial soap, or face wash.

HIS Hair dots actually do shrink to a very small size, and I have seen some amazing results from HIS, some of the best. The issues with HIS Hair are result longevity and Quality Control. There is no doubt that HIS results have a much shorter "lifespan" than their competitor permanent SMP clinics. If you look at HIS' own forum you can see that very clearly. Also, with so many clinics in so many different locations with so many different practitioners, it is hard to tell what quality of results you will receive if you get a treatment from someone other than their best practitioners like Paul Clarke or Simon Lane. It is definitely in HIS Hair's own best interest to have so many locations, but I would argue that this is not in the client's best interest b/c a brand is only as good as the practitioner who produces your result. As far as smp businesses who produce small dot sizes, there are many many clinics out there, and they are springing up everywhere all the time, but only a handful are proven over the span of 5+ years to produce good small dots. But the proven places, just from my experience, observation, and research would be: 1) Artistry Concepts- Florida 2) Good Look Ink- Minnesota 3) New Hair Institute w/ Dr. Pak- Los Angeles, CA 4) Skalp Clinic- UK 5) Vinci Hair Clinic- UK 6) HIS Hair Clinic- UK And again, as far as these SMP places being the best, this is only my opinion. Best to find a place that you are comfortable with based on your own experience with them. As far as the SMP clinic I went to and my practitioner, I choose not to say. I am just a guy who had SMP, I do not make a living in the SMP industry, so I find it best to only comment on general aspects of SMP and leave the promoting and advertising of specific SMP clinics to the Shills.

To be perfectly honest with you, the size of your natural hair follicle is not a factor in relation to the size of dots (replicated follicles) that are tattooed. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either a person who has no clue about scalp micropigmentation, or is a clinic attempting to sell you on the lie that they actually use different dot sizes specific to each client's natural hair follicle size, and that is just ridiculous. The fact of the matter is, for men with significant hair loss (which if you are considering smp you no doubt have significant hair loss/thinning) allowing your natural hair to grow beyond the height of a zero guard clipper shave will only serve to minimize the effect of your smp. The idea is to have the dots serve as the primary color or base that is seen on the scalp. If you let your natural hair grow too much, the uneven look between dots and hair will be apparent. Your natural hair stubble, shaved very closely, will only serve the purpose of providing a 3d effect causing the viewer of your head to see some texture, making the smp illusion that much better. But again, the core of the color on your scalp will not be from your hairs, but from the smp replicated follicles. Of course, 2 of the best results I have seen to date were the owner and consultant of the clinic I did smp with, and neither of those men had much hair at all, less hair than I do if im not mistaken, so don't put too much stock in the importance of having lots of stubble. The importance lies in the skill your practitioner possesses and the quality of work your clinic is capable of. Regardless of natural follicle size, you want your SMP dots to be as tiny as possible, period.

Best of luck to you on your second session Thunder, I hope all goes well. Keep us posted if possible

Yea, I was not directing these suggestions toward you, as you have obviously already committed to smp and paid your money, and are far past the point of asking preliminary questions such as these. These were suggestions for others who are seeking a provider. You can definitely find out specifics on the pigments used, by law the clinic must provide you your chart.

Yes definitely, you have every right to express your opinion of his SMP results, especially since he did ask members for feedback on his photos. Some people do get defensive, while others are able to handle the constructive criticism. Honestly, I did not notice that Thunder's dots looked too large, but I really didn't examine very closely. It does seem to have a brown tint to it, so would be interested to know what shade of pigment was used. I agree that it would be nice to see more smp results on this forum. I am just not willing to post my photos for the world to see, and I do not disclose which Clinic I used for the simple fact that I am not here to advertise for my provider, and honestly they do not need me to do so. I am beginning to believe that Headstrong may have a direct affiliation with HIS Hair. I have noticed some of the known HIS shills promoting them on another forum. As far as the dots shrinking, I have seen photo progressions of HIS Hair's SMP dots shrinking on client's heads 2-4 weeks post smp.

Things to ask your SMP practitioner before you pay them: 1)Ask about your professional's background and training 2)Ask how long they have been doing micropigmentation 3)Ask if they have passed any examinations for Board Certification 4)Ask if they use disposable needles. This is so important to your safety and welfare. 5)Ask if they were trained by an instructor who is Board Certified 6)Ask what pigments they use? Iron Oxides and titanium dioxide are the least likely to cause problems. Some synthetic organic pigments are okay but make sure there has never been an allergic reaction. If a technician states they use “vegetable-based” pigments or dyes that is a red flag