So you’ve made the decision to schedule a consultation for scalp micropigmentation: what next? A common concern clients express when considering the procedure is whether the final result will look natural. The good news is, you have a considerable amount of control in that regard. There are a few things for you to assess prior to your appointment, to help your artist appropriately evaluate your goals.
First, we must understand the cause of hair loss: receding hairline or alopecia. Receding hairline, commonly referred to as “male pattern baldness”, is the thinning of hair around both the temples and the crown of the head- creating the appearance of a horseshoe hair pattern.The amount of thinness varies on the individual, and can be caused by aging, stress, diet, hormones, and various health issues. Similarly, alopecia- or “spot baldness”, is random balding throughout the body. The sizing of the baldness is about the size of a coin, and typically not permament. Knowing which catergory you fall into will help determine the density and placement of SMP follicle points needed. Next, there are two factors that dictate which look is most optimal: the depth and the shaping.
Depth is the spacing between the hairline and the glabella- the distinguising facial feature above the nose and between the eyebrows. A low hairline (from browline to hairline) spans between 2-3.2 inches (depending on gender). A medium hairline (most common) ranges anywhere from 3.5-4.5 inches. A high hairline is anything exceeding 4.5 inches.
The shaping is the placement of the front hairline, or centerpoint. Whereas some people prefer to have the centerpoint dip down slightly-creating two arches between the temples, others want the more popular “straight-edge”. A straight-edge approach attempts to mimic the look of a recent trip to the barber.
Overall, an important point to remember is that natural is best. If you had a widow’s peak prior to the hairloss, a similar hairline most likely compliments your particular face shape. However, your SMP artist should also provide valuable insight as to what will look right for you, based off look at your facial profile. For more information pertaining to this topic, please visit our DermiMatch tutorial video “How To Draw Hairliness”.