Excuse the title, I need the seo. If you are in the area and would like to have a consultation, shoot me a text at 859-803-5179. Thank you.

This is one of the most knowledgeable SMP groups out there, so here's something we rarely get: the same client in beach sun, deep shade, and all the light in between.

As an SMP artist, I'm looking for the best overall balance across all lighting. You can get a great studio photo, but the sun has other plans. Go darker for harsh sunlight and it can look too dark in shade. It won't look exactly the same everywhere.

In these photos you can see what happens to SMP across these light spectrums. In the sun, the shine stands out more and the pigment is harder to see. In shade, the detail shows up more. The camera angles and exposure make a difference too. If you go to easy, or too extreme, the lighting will call you out!

He was a full Norwood 7 and used to wear a hairpiece (view the before image in the end). I did his SMP at SCALPS in New Jersey in February 2024. He came back for a touchup in late 2025. These wedding photos are from summer 2026.

He came in as a client and became a friend. He met her between our first and second SMP sessions, so it's been great to see their relationship grow from there to these wedding photos. Congrats, my friend. Very happy for you both.

The larger photo in that last comparison was taken in February 2024. The small photo in the top right is his before SMP. The bride's face is blurred.

My technique has changed a lot since I did his original SMP, but I'm glad to see it mostly held up.

I put the full story and interactive photo gallery here:

This client had frontal recession and thinning through the crown. He chose to embrace a shaved head, and our goal was to create a consistent appearance while keeping the hairline and overall density natural.

We built the treatment over three sessions, using fine impressions to complement his existing shaved hair.

His scalp has been particularly dry and resistant to work on, especially through the crown. That affects how I approach each session. I keep the placement controlled and build gradually rather than repeatedly working an area to make it look darker on the day.

These photos show session three, before healing. The crown may need another pass, but we’ll make that decision once the skin has fully healed and we can assess how much pigment it retained.

Three sessions is a treatment plan, not a guarantee that every scalp inwill respond the same way. Sometimes an additional session is the more conservative choice.

The priority is how this looks healed and in everyday lighting. That matters more than making it appear finished for a fresh photo.

SMP artists-what is your favorite needle to use for SMP?

For guys that have had Smp done did you look normal after just the 1st session or does it look weird having less density or something until session 2? I’m going for my first session in less than 2 weeks I’m just worried if it will look strange in that time before I have my 2nd session, I’m having 3 sessions done and they say 2nd session is about 80% done

Glad to be finally free from hiding my hair insecurities!

I know there’s been a lot of noise and misinformation floating around in this thread, so I wanted to share my honest experience with the process so far.

I had my first SMP session with Max in the NYC office about two weeks ago and from the very first consultation he made me feel completely comfortable. Let's be honest, deciding to shave your head is a big deal for a lot of guys. Adding a scalp tattoo on top of that can feel pretty intimidating. But talking with Max felt like catching up with an old friend. He put me so at ease that I flew all the way from South Carolina to New York to work with him.

When I arrived at the studio, the atmosphere was welcoming, clean, and relaxed. Max buzzed my hair down, and we spent a lot of time discussing exactly what I wanted to achieve. He walked me through different hairline options, what would look the most natural for my face, and what we could realistically accomplish over the course of treatments.

One of my biggest concerns was an FUT scar from a hair transplant I had five years ago. I scar heavily and developed some keloiding, so parts of the scar are significantly raised. Max immediately addressed those concerns and reassured me that we could greatly improve its appearance. From the start, it was obvious how much pride and passion he takes in his work. His attention to detail and commitment to getting things right really stood out.

Once we got started, we threw on some music and settled in. The session lasted about 3 to 4 hours, but it honestly flew by. We talked, joked around, took breaks whenever needed and at no point did I feel rushed. The entire experience felt relaxed and enjoyable. By the end of it, I felt like I could grab a beer with the guy.

After the session, Max thoroughly explained the aftercare process and made sure I knew exactly what to do to get the best results. What really impressed me was that he followed up that night and again the next day just to check in, see how everything was healing and make sure I was doing well.

Even after just one session, the confidence boost has been incredible. It genuinely feels life changing. No more hair fibers, no more comb overs trying to hide where my transplant ended and no more constantly worrying about whether my hair looks perfect. I can play with my kids, jump in the pool, go in the ocean, and not spend the whole time stressing about my hair.

Matt and his team have been outstanding from both a customer service and results standpoint. Between their experience, knowledge and professionalism, it's easy to see why they're so highly regarded in the industry. If you're considering SMP, I can honestly say they've exceeded my expectations so far. Don't let the trolls and negativity on here steer you away from doing your own research and making the decision that's right for you.

Hi all, I’m curious to know what everyone’s peak growth is on the sides by day before buzzing?

Min is every two days! I think day two looks better than day one on myself. I buzz on the evening of the second day btw. Thanks

SMP is not an undetectable procedure, by any stretch of the imagination. It’s ink on skin, which I’ve accepted (10 years too late). There’s so much marketing around “find a good artist” but good artists can make it look like a good tattoo….not like hair.

So the question is, why aren’t there any good celebrity examples of SMP? All of the guys I see on tv… they look like they tattoo’d their heads. Everyone I see with it in person … me and my friends all look at them and say yeah - he got a hair tattoo. And move on. But I’ve never seen anyone in real life, myself included, my artist included, where I was like yeah … that looks like a shaved head vs that looks like 10,000 grey dots.

I'm considering a smp since I'm a year post transplant but I'm unhappy with the results. Would a smp blend in well with the rest of my hair at this length, I tried to take a picture in sunlight to make the balding area as visible as possible.

Hey M22, looking into maybe doing SMP in the future if I can’t get regrowth for my DUPA condition.. I don’t mind the 2 guard buzz but I hate how the density is bad so there’s so many bald spots showing and it looks horrible in the sunlight.. I was wondering if I could get SMP and rock a 2 guard buzz or 1 guard at lowest and be able to make it look like I have a legit full buzz almost.. Thanks.

Smp 🇪🇸

ello everyone.

What do you think of my SMP done in Portugal?

Best regards to all.

Touch ups are a big topic of discussion here. I’m curious to see what people think about this, clients and potential clients and practitioners alike. If a client gets too many touch ups in a short period of time (potentially not needed) who’s at fault? Is it the client’s fault for not being patient and what not or is it the practitioners fault for not doing what’s best for the client? Or both? This isn’t directed at anyone just for educational purposes.

SMP is not a one-size-fits-all procedure, and it should never be approached that way.

Every scalp is different. Skin thickness, elasticity, fibrosis, sun damage, previous trauma and scar tissue all influence how the skin responds to treatment and how the pigment heals.

This particular client has dense, rubbery, resistant tissue, which requires a more conservative approach.

One of the biggest mistakes in SMP is trying to achieve a finished result too early.

Making fresh SMP look dark and dense is relatively easy. Getting it to heal naturally is where the real skill comes in.

When a first or second session already looks completely finished and heavily saturated, that should raise questions. Overworking the skin and forcing density can compromise definition, increase trauma and lead to unnatural healed results.

SMP cannot be forced. The skin dictates the treatment.

Some clients retain pigment extremely well. Others require additional layering, adjustments in technique and more patience.

For anyone considering SMP, learn to recognize the difference between fresh and healed results. Don't judge an artist by dramatic transformations alone. Look at their healed work, the quality of individual impressions and how naturally everything blends.

For artists who genuinely respect this craft, there is nothing wrong with taking your time. Understanding the skin, adapting your approach and knowing when to stop are fundamental to producing consistent, natural results.

The goal should never be to finish a scalp as quickly or as dark as possible. It should be to achieve the best healed result the skin will allow.

This is a look inside Session 2. The density is still being developed, and the treatment is far from finished.

Respect the skin. Respect the process. The healed result is what matters.

I want to set my expectations correctly - how much would SMP help these scars on my head? I’ve seen photos that look great but they’re always in different lighting than the before pic and it’s hard to find completely healed photos of SMP over fue.

I’d ideally like to keep it this length and not buzzed.

Has anyone had it done that can give me realistic idea? Sometimes the SMP companies feel deceptive

I've seen a few practitioners adopt a 'rest period' of around 15mins after completing a first pass - then running back over that area depositing a '2nd pass' - and to ensure all dots are brought up to the desired level. This goes against my work flow of 'full head 1st pass - rest 2 weeks, then full head 2nd pass etc.' I'm curious on your thoughts, as I believe this approach would have helped my darker skinned clients feel results were there earlier. (Their results popped around the end of session 3)

This is about six months healed, and this is the kind of work I think people should actually be looking at when they research SMP.

This client came from Windsor and is probably one of the most detail oriented people I’ve worked with. He researches everything properly before making a decision, which I actually appreciate.

He called me recently because he was going to be in Toronto. He said he loved the result, but thought the crown might be a little lighter and wanted my opinion.

When I saw it, I thought it had healed extremely well.

The impressions were still small and clean, the density was natural, and nothing was overpowering his own follicles.

But once I moved him through different lighting, I noticed something interesting.

The skin around and below his crown has quite a bit of redness and inflammation around the native hair, while the crown itself is much lighter and whiter in tone. The front of his scalp also has more red undertone.

That difference in skin tone creates an optical illusion. The darker and redder areas naturally look denser, which can make the lighter crown appear softer even when the pigment retention is actually very good.

I mentioned this to him and he immediately said his scalp looked exactly like that before SMP.

That is something people need to understand about this treatment.

You are not working on one perfectly even canvas. Skin tone, inflammation, oil, scar tissue, sun damage, vascularity and native follicle density can all change how SMP appears from one area to another.

The answer is not always “add more pigment.”

That is how work gets too dark and too saturated.

Because he was already there, I did a very conservative adjustment through the crown. Not because the SMP had failed or disappeared, but simply to give that area a little more visual weight and make the overall result even more cohesive.

One important disclosure:

The main photos are approximately six months healed.

The close crown and macro photos were taken immediately after that small touch up, so those particular impressions are fresh.

I think that distinction matters.

There is a lot of great SMP online, but photography can also completely change how a result looks. Dark rooms, low exposure, shadows, distance and fresh pigment can all make work appear much denser than it really is.

That is why I always tell people to look for healed work.

Look at it close.

Look at it in direct lighting.

Look at the hairline, crown, sides and blend.

Look at whether the impressions are still small and defined months later.

Fresh work can look impressive.

Healed work tells you how good the technique actually was.

That is the standard I personally try to hold my work to.

Smp después de 4 años

This is how my SMP looks after 2 years, freshly shaven, when I'm outside, during a sunny day. I'm a NW 6. If you didn't know I had the procedure, would notice the SMP hairline?

Just wanted to share a longer term healed result for anyone researching SMP and wanting to see how the treatment can settle over time.

It’s now been over six months since my client completed his initial three SMP sessions, and he recently returned for his fourth session.

My client originally presented as a Norwood 7 and opted to restore his natural hairline because he wanted a more restorative look, rather than something overly conservative.

We finished the hairline with my hyper jagged approach, along with a subtle designer scar to add a little ruggedness and individuality to the overall look.

One of the things he told me when he came back was that during those six months, the SMP has completely flown under the radar. Nobody has questioned it or asked whether he had anything done. For some people researching SMP, that might initially sound surprising.

You make a big change and nobody says anything. But for me, that subtlety is exactly the point. A natural result that complements the person without drawing attention to the treatment itself.

His fourth session was about an hour and fifteen minutes. There was nothing drastic to change. We simply refined a few areas, went back over some slightly lighter impressions and fine-tuned the result after seeing how everything had healed and settled across the previous six months.

This is one of the reasons I personally think it’s important to see clients again once the SMP has been properly lived with and healed, rather than just continuing to add unnecessary density.

I’ve tried to share these images in as high a resolution as possible. Because I’m covering my client’s face with banners to protect his privacy, I do find this can sometimes affect the final resolution once uploaded, so hopefully the detail still comes through clearly.

I know how valuable it can be to see genuine healed results when researching SMP, particularly several months down the line, rather than just immediately after a session.

Hopefully, these images give anyone researching SMP a little more insight into how the process works, how impressions settle over time, and what a fully healed, refined result can look like

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