HairingIsCaring

Yea I agree, Skalp has shown to do some great work

Oh boy....LOL....if anyone ever doubted the professionalism of those involved in the SMP industry then I suggest taking a look at Nicole's previous post... Wow, you are getting desperate and showing your true colors now, sorry your feelings got hurt... At least you are behaving in a mature manner though The counting thing is cute, but it looks as though your "reading comprehension game" isn't on point I broke it down for you, step by step what I googled, and even posted a photo of my search results....and then you tell me I googled the wrong thing and that I cannot count b/c there are 4 providers in Minneapolis...LOL, ahh the logically deficient and their brilliant reasoning skills. I did not Google "Minneapolis smp providers", I googled "Minneapolis SMP Hair Peace", so I did not miscount.... Looks like you are just angry that I proved how easy it was to find that gli was the Minneapolis provider who used "hair peace" as a slogan. So basically, your little theory of me being a Minneapolis resident (along w/ obvious implications) was ruined. But you are absolutely correct, i just checked and there are other providers in that city.....I just did not know about them b/c I do not work in the smp industry and do not live there. The only two providers I knew of were gli and smg. But I was wrong. But the question was: And my answer was: So I encourage you to, once again, follow these 3 easy steps and re-visit the first image attached. Then you should maybe watch that cute little video you posted, applying what you learn from it of course, and count how many providers (in the first image) come up from the google search ("Minneapolis SMP Hair Peace") who use the slogan "hair peace". Awesome sweetheart, Good Job! We'll work on colors and shapes next week Feels like we are going around in circles and you are giving no evidence that "Mmac" 's claims are legit so unless you are able to do so, or unless "Mmac" cares to answer these questions: ......then I see no point in furthering this discussion.

Never seen it done this way but it is an interesting idea. I don't have ht scars so do not know from personal experience, but i do know a guy who had a pretty significant linear scar and had permanent smp and it just came out looking very dark and blue-ish. It was not a great outcome... So id just be careful in my selection process and make sure you are able to view some results on scars in person before you commit. Scar tissue is much less predictable to tattoo and can be tricky. I think it is a good idea doing the temporary smp first. That way if you do not like the shaved head/smp look you don't have to live with it for too long. The downside, I feel, of mixing providers (permanent and temporary) would be financial; probably would be less expensive option to go to one provider who offers both temporary and permanent and have permanent on scar and temp on the remainder of scalp if that is what you decide to do. Would be much easier and convenient to go to one place also. HIS Hair offers both options~ Temporary and Permanent~ you could check them out...lots of locations, some better than others.

Yea it can be tough sometimes...ive felt in the past at times like "what's the point?" with working out if ive lost my hair, especially when you see guys at gym with perfect hair and who are in shape. But It is pretty easy choice for me to stay in shape and exercise bc ive always been involved in sports and just like to look and feel healthy. I find being grateful for the things I do have and not focusing on what i don't have is a pretty effective way of keeping the right perspective. Plenty of guys in wheelchairs with full perfect heads of hair they'd trade in a second for ability to walk. That's good that the scars are looking good...scars can be the toughest to conceal with ink. It sounds like you selected a really good smp provider so You should consider going back to your provider and getting your whole scalp done. You could shave your head and start off light and conservative with the smp and if it turns out you don't like it you could just grow hair back and go back to the way things were. When you grow your hair out the smp is pretty much invisible in most cases...when ive let mine grow for a few weeks you can't see the smp anymore but i just look balding. So you really could just go back to your current situation if you don't like the shaved head thing. I just find so much more freedom with shaving my head and having smp and im telling you the truth mine looks like a full head of closely shaved hair/stubble in any lighting situation, even bright sunlight....so i look "bald by choice" and it really goes with the athletic working out thing. Yea I probably won't anytime soon but something Ive always thought i might try one day

Yea you are absolutely right man, the dishonesty and scammers encompass the industry as a whole; any company who offers a "hair loss solution" of any kind. And being a guy who has been tricked and ripped off and taken advantage of by several different "hair loss solution" businesses- topical formulas for hair regrowth, different medications and pills, and a smp company that didnt work etc, those experiences really fuel me to try and warn other guys of the same pitfalls and tricks/scams and deceit these people use to get our money. My motives are often questioned by providers and forum moderators but all many of them care about is making money and could care less about the truth. If information on a forum serves them and benefits them they could care less if it is false info and really don't care who the info hurts, and when you question a provider who "sponsors" the forum you will be attacked viciously and personally by people who claim to be here to help....lol no professionalism whatsoever, the gloves will come off quick if you say anything that gets in the way of their agenda/$$$. It's sad quite honestly, but this is the industry we speak of. I'm sorry to hear about your bad experiences with HT surgeries. I know that has got to be extremely discouraging especially since you don't get the hair you hoped for and instead get a worse situation with the scarring. But it is not the end of the world and it sounds as though you are getting some good results from your current provider. I came close to doing HT's and FUE a few times but never could quite pull the trigger. Perhaps i will in the future if i am able to find the right doctor. Yes it is really difficult b/c this in not a regulated profession- smp is cosmetic tattooing and literally ANYONE can open up a business and practice this with no training or certifications. It does sound like you found a good one though. Are you happy with your results now that you have gotten the top up and taken care of the initial fading? (fading happens in almost all cases so that is normal) Do you plan on any additional sessions or are you sorted for now? Oh yes, I wasn't not referring to you personally, for all i know you are a personal trainer or body builder. I said that b/c I recently viewed HT results photos of a guy who runs a Hair Loss forum. I was somewhat tickled when I saw his photos b/c here is a guy who has dedicated much of his life to solving his hair loss problems (i mean, he runs a hair loss forum) and he was a chubby, dorky, nerdy guy who looked like he'd been picked on all of his life. Also his hair looked pretty thin at almost every angle he presented so I'm left wondering how many guys like him have dedicated so much time and effort to restoring their hair, thinking it would fix all their problems, and neglected every other aspect of themselves. They could have used some of that same energy and focus to correct their more important issues. Diet, exercise, social and personal growth~ these are all areas that seem to be forgotten when a person gets zeroed in on one negative aspect of themselves like hair loss. And the end result of these out of whack priorities was that chubby dork I was looking at in the photos, who really only managed to gain thin hair that did not look great. I know this sounds a bit mean, but I'm just trying to express that this is a danger of putting too much stock in something as superficial as hair and not attempting to fix the things that we can control.

Looks great man! Congrats! Looks extremely realistic in the close up high def photos

Also it helps to get in shape to pull off shaved head look. If you notice many guys on tv or movies that look good w/ shaved head are military guys or athletic types. I've known a couple of overweight, unhealthy non-athletic type guys who got hair transplants and/or smp. They were kind of let down afterwards b/c they still were fat and out of shape and lacked confidence. If someone desires a life change, and they believe they can gain this through only hair transplants or smp or hair systems they are in for a huge let down. Looking healthy starts with living healthy. I always laugh when I see out of shape guys' before and after HT photos or smp photos. A dorky fat guy with hair is still a dorky fat guy. Just sayin

I agree 100% Sorry to hear about that...I've been there with my own experience and it is very frustrating. Yea it is hard to say why exactly, many factors involved but rapid fading does happen in quite a few cases. Understandable so That is why I am always skeptical when providers make blanket statements claiming "X" amount of treatments is sufficient for all clients...it's not a "one size fits all" kind of deal

I'm just a guy who struggled with hair loss and I shaved my head for years and only wanted to make my shaved head look "even". I wasn't looking to restore my hair but just wanted to make the shaved head look, which I was cool with, look better. I came across SMP in 2010 and began learning all about it. Through my process of educating myself on Micorpigmentation I came across a lot of dishonesty and deceptive practices. At first I was shocked that "legitimate" businesses could behave in such an unprofessional manner and blatantly lie to clients and just rip them off, but then as I researched more I began to see that these unethical practices were quite common in the Micropigmentation industry. I just try to share the knowledge ive gained through experience with people and help save them some time and trouble. That's great, im glad it all worked out for you.Didn't mean to imply that small operations or solo projects are inferior in Every Single Case....There are many really good technicians who have left larger providers like HIS Hair, Vinic, GLI etc. and gone off on their own to start solo-venture businesses and have small operations, and most of these are very good and will produce good results. My point was that if they have only been in business for 2 years or less, and still are one-man operations doing smp out of a small one room suite (and maybe moved locations a couple of times and changed names etc.) this is a pretty obvious indication that they are not growing and may not be experiencing the level of success that would allow them to have a larger operation which of course would concern me as a potential client b/c they may not be around in say 3-5 years from now when I need a touch-up. And if this is the case and you will have to find a new provider and deal with many unknowns~pricing, quality etc. Of course there are exceptions.....some providers just want to keep it small to cut out overhead and ultimately make a better profit. And if a one-man provider has been in business for 5 years or more and has a great reputation, then that is obviously the case:) I know of quite a few good ones in that area. I'm hesitant to call anyone "the best." Lots of good skilled providers in the Northeast region for sure.

Hi Mmac6804: 1) Who was your technician at GLI? 2) When you decided to go to SMG for your repair were you aware that their Micropigmentation Specialist was a former technician for the very same provider who messed up your treatment? 3) Did you file a complaint against GLI with the Better Business Bureau? 4) How was your New Year?

Great! Glad they got you sorted bud

B/c a one-man operation in a small single room suite has significantly slimmer chances of lasting as a business and more likely to go under, hence you will be searching for a new provider when they do. It is a sign that he or she is not well-established as a business, and just starting out or has not yet achieved much success in their business; the financial success that would give he or she the freedom to grow and hire other necessary departments. It is also a reflection of very little experience. Also, when problems arise, like fading, small poorly established operations are less likely to get back to you in a timely manner to address these issues b/c they do not have the necessary departments set-up (like customer service, office administrator etc.) that normally address these customer service issues and scheduling things that are necessary. Forgive me, but didn't you personally have this very same issue with your provider? When the owner is the technician and responsible for all other departments it can create issues for the client. "Supposedly" huh? Meaning One-man operation providers who work in little suites stated on forums that they are the best practitioners in the U.S.? That sound about right? No I would not

I would also recommend Dr. Jae Pak at New Hair Institiute for scalp micropigmentation any day of the week. NHI has been doing the treatment longer than most providers and they are a medical facility. They are more expensive but probably worth the extra money. I disagree with this statement, distance is absolutely a factor. I feel that it is a huge advantage to have your provider pretty close to where you live. If you experience fading for any reason: sunburn, cut or injury to your scalp, or just general fading....It is very nice to be able to drive to the provider's office and get a touch up. Instead of having to take off of work, book a flight and hotel room which costs hundreds of dollars, and just go through a big hassle. In my current situation my provider is in my city so I have easy access to them if I ever need a touch up and it is really nice. So basically, distance should play a big factor in your decision.

You're absolutely correct, it can be difficult deciding on a provider. You can't trust some of the hair loss forums and can trust none of the smp marketing sites (like the one bhilt plugged) b/c positive reviews and endorsements are paid for by the providers, and negative reviews are occasionally the result of blackballing a provider who refused to pay a site for their "service" of writing a positive review~http://www.cosmetictattoo.org/article/scalp-micropigmentation-more-than-just-ugly-scars.html Also some providers pose as actual clients on forums and write their own fake negative reviews and post fake pictures of bad results in attempts to discredit and slander their competition. And of course on the flip side of that, many providers pose as clients on forums and promote their own clinics to try and get their name out there. You can't put much stock in the results photos and videos you see online either. Those images and videos are all photographed and recorded immediately following the clients' smp treatments, but the results will fade significantly in the 3-5 weeks following the treatment (even the providers themselves will tell you that). So those videos and photos are not an accurate depiction of what a finished smp result will look like, only what it looks like before it fades significantly. Some clinics have employees who have had the treatment that you can look at in person, but many of them get frequent touchups when they experience fading (which they will lie about and claim they've had only one or two treatments ever) so you really won't know how frequently or significantly their smp has faded or how many treatments they actually needed to achieve the result you are looking at. Even worse, I have seen some owners and consultants who had their treatment with a completely different provider and claim it to be the work of their current clinic or employer. Lots of deceit. You can find a good clinic that will do right by you, there are some great ones out there. You just have to be willing to do a little research and use your common sense. Try and find a provider who has been in business for at least 5-8 years who you know is more likely here to stay. Find a place with a solid reputation who has something to lose....they are less likely to screw up your treatment and more likely to make sure you are satisfied with your results and overall experience b/c they cannot afford to have an unsatisfied customer out there posting that poor experience online and diminish their reputation. Medical Clinics who also do HT's are ideal, but usually more expensive. Try to avoid places that claim to have dozens of locations worldwide-Most of these "locations" are not even the provider's clinics.....just tattoo artists' shops or permanent makeup artists' offices who are contracted by the provider and make a percentage of the money they collect for the treatment and pay the rest to the "provider". Other red flags to look for: (from http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/185392-scalp-micropigmentation-questions.html) 1) If the provider has only one or two employees and a one room little office or suite I would be wary 2) If the only promotional or advertising material they have available is from posting their own testimonials on hair loss forums, or on a cheap little self-made website, I would be wary ~Look for a company who has invested money in professional promotional videos, news and media tv ads, and who has done some legitimate marketing of their company, this is always a good sign of success. 3)If they focus extra heavily on why you shouldn't go with the competition (scare tactics) and constantly bash their competitors, but talk very little about about why you should choose them and their strengths and what they can provide, that's also a red flag. Happy New Year!

Shapiro med's temporary smp specialist Nicole Large actually worked for the very same clinic~GLI~ that she is making false claims against on this thread. She began her employment with GLI ONE MONTH AFTER "mmac6804" supposedly received such a horrific smp treatment from them.....convenient timeline for this fable, no?:rolleyes: Below is her LinkedIn profile which she has removed her photo from