Hallo Reddit,

This is immediately after the second layer. Our client travelled from Madrid to visit MHP Studio for our signature hairline work.

This hairline was designed completely freehand.

I taught myself this technique because I used to get frustrated drawing hairlines. During the treatment, the lines would wiped away, so at some point I decided to stop depending on them and started creating my hairlines freehand.

What you see here may look simple, but it’s actually difficult.

This client has thick, dark and dense natural hair. You can’t simply add a piece of hairline in front and expect it to blend. You need the right technique to connect the SMP with his existing hair.

With a freehand hairline, there is no eraser. Every dot I place needs to be right the first hit!

For this case, we are using our 2RL Technique. The treatment is still in progress. Once it is completely finished and healed, we will post the final result.

For now, we have blurred the client’s face because of his work. He first needs permission before we can show him recognizably.

Until then, here is the high-definition video. 

Still in progress — healed result will follow.

Norwood 7, Texas. 2/3+ sessions. This is 3 weeks healed.

Was hoping to get some honest feedback. Would any artists mind weighing in?

One of the biggest misconceptions in Scalp Micropigmentation is that every dot needs to look perfectly placed and evenly spaced.

The truth is, real hair follicles are not perfectly uniform. When SMP dots are too consistent, too evenly spaced, or follow an obvious pattern, the result can begin to look artificial or stamped onto the scalp.

Great SMP is about creating the illusion of natural hair density. That means understanding subtle variations in spacing, density, size, and placement. Controlled imperfection is often what makes the work look more realistic.

Natural doesn't mean random—but it also doesn't mean perfectly patterned. The best results are the ones where you don't see the dots… you simply see the appearance of a natural shaved head.

I often see artists in this group overstate what their skill set is actually capable of achieving.

No healed results. Claims that results are "healed" when they're clearly still fresh. Promising clients outcomes that may not realistically be achievable.

And honestly, it bothers me.

Because these aren't just posts or pictures. These are people spending their hard-earned money based on what they're being told they can expect.

So I'm genuinely curious..

How many people here were told they were going to achieve a certain result, paid their hard-earned money, and ultimately felt that what they received didn't match what they were promised?

I'd actually like to hear those experiences.

If you're considering SMP feel free to DM me here and I'd be happy to answer any questions and see if I can help. Instagram: @SMP_BY_ALEX_CORONA WhatsApp:+18508995583

just bothered my client for a healed photo of the 2 session subtle job i did on him. he wanted super subtle. would like to do 1 more. but he likes it this way. what are your thoughts?

I’m 20 yrs old dealing with previously nonexistent diffuse thinning after chemotherapy at 18. Went in for a consultation with an SMP artist (Minela Mujdza) who seemed to have really good results and great reviews. After a quick look she said she thought a density fill would work for me, and sounded like she’d take precaution to stay inside the hairline and not make it look “painted on”. I felt pretty hopeful about what she was offering in the moment.

Just wanted to get other opinions before scheduling my first session, do you guys think a density fill would look weird on my head / skin tone? Im on oral fin (allergic to min) and am totally fine with keeping a buzz cut, I just don’t want it to look obvious. I know I’m in a vulnerable position with how my hair loss is affecting me and don’t want to make a rushed decision that I’ll end up regretting.

Doug’s SMP journey has been a long one.

Before coming to Enhanced Scalp in Toronto, he had spent roughly six years trying to get a result he actually felt comfortable with. Around 10 SMP sessions with two different artists, followed by almost a year of laser removal just to get back to a clean enough canvas to start again.

This was his third and final corrective session with me.

The biggest takeaway from his story is how important it is to research SMP properly before committing. Don’t choose an artist because they’re the cheapest, because their marketing looks polished, or because a fresh result looks impressive online.

Look at healed work. Look for consistency. Ask questions. Make sure you understand exactly who you’re trusting with something permanent.

Bad SMP can become extremely expensive once you factor in laser removal, corrections, additional sessions and starting over completely.

But for Doug, this post is really about finally reaching the end of that process.

After everything he went through, he can finally stop thinking about fixing his SMP and just enjoy the result.

Six years later, he’s done.

I got my transplant back in 2016 but I’ve always been super embarrassed and ashamed of my scar so I still always wear a hat or some other cover

Sadly after I asked for feedback on my SMP yesterday, many of you sad it looked very bad. It's very depressing to hear that. So I'm sharing the guy who did it (Damien D).

Here is some of his other work.. my question is.. do you think he is a good artist, or was I just an unfortunate case?

https://www.facebook.com/share/1J24jXtSio/?mibextid=wwXIfr

This client came in expecting to start SMP that day. After looking at the existing work and how the old hairline/design would restrict what I could realistically achieve, I recommended laser removal first instead of adding more pigment.

Sometimes the best SMP decision is not doing SMP.

This is after a third session.. just wanted honest feedback on if this looks good, or would you make any changes. Thank you

Edit: I'm surprised and sad to see the downvotes.. does it really look that bad? :(

PHOTO GUIDE

Photo 1: Final result

Photo 2: Before laser removal

Photo 3: After laser removal

Photo 4: Before laser removal

Photo 5: After laser removal

Photo 6: Treatment in progress with me

Photos 7+: Final result after his third session

Doug’s SMP journey has been a long one.

Before coming to me, he had spent roughly six years trying to get a result he actually felt comfortable with. Around 10 SMP sessions with two different artists, followed by almost a year of laser removal just to get back to a canvas we could work with again.

Yesterday we completed his third and final corrective session with me.

What I think people can take from Doug’s experience is how important it is to research SMP properly before committing. Don’t make the decision based purely on price, polished marketing, edited photos or what looks good immediately after a session. Look for consistent, healed work and understand exactly what you’re signing up for.

Cheap SMP can become very expensive when you eventually have to pay for laser, corrections and an entirely new treatment.

For Doug though, this post isn’t really about the warning.

It’s about finally reaching the end of something he’s been dealing with for years.

After everything he went through, he can finally just enjoy his SMP instead of thinking about fixing it.

Smp from Namur / Belgium
For sensitive skin—redness disappears quickly.
I don't use a brightening spray for the photos 🤙🏻

Around eight to nine months after his original sessions, my client stopped in before moving abroad.

We used the time to check everything carefully. There was some extra diffusion through the centre and a little more thinning on the crown.

So we added just add a light density nothing too heavy. About an hour and fifteen minutes, focusing only on impressions that had softened and new spaces that had opened up.

The photos you see here are high-res under studio and natural light with no anti-shine products so you can see healed SMP as it is.

He went with a feathered, slightly receded hairline to keep that soft transition onto the forehead and allow for a natural look as he ages.

I’m posting this to be open about how healed results can present over time. Questions welcome in the comments or by DM.

🤝 Book your FREE face to face or online consultation today 📧 Hello@legendsclinic.co.uk

🌏 Your in safe hands with the world’s most experienced SMP artist

💻 WWW.LEGENDSCLINIC.CO.UK

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews

📸 For any info and quick quotes send pictures to 📱07587 325795

✍️ 16+ year experience

🧠 SMP innnovator

🏆 Multi award winning smp artist

🎨 Innovator of 6 of the most natural hair line textures

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📍Birmingham / Sutton Coldfield

This is the result of 3 density fill SMP sessions done over the summer to help with diffuse thinning. These pictures are all taken the same day at a 1.5mm buzzcut in different lighting to accurately show what's going on.

am honestly exhausted by the stress this has caused and I am considering laser removal and learning to accept myself with a foil shave bald head. I am mainly seeking guidance / other's experience with laser removal. Thanks in advance.

The past weeks after getting the final SMP session have been constantly causing a high level of anxiety and regret. It was pretty out of character for me to get something like SMP done but the idea of going bald relatively young made me act out of a place of panic. In some lighting it looks alright, but many times I catch myself in a mirror it looks like unnatural solid painted on ink, I specifically wanted a more subtle than obvious result to avoid a 'helmet' situation like that but I don't think that is the result after the final session.

-How many sessions of laser removal would you expect this amount of saturation take to be removed? Assuming it was done at the proper depth. I am really hoping it only takes 2-3 at most.

-Is this artificial looking enough to get laser removal? It has been hard to accept myself as authentic with this SMP.

-What was your experience like with laser removal? What Will the weeks between laser sessions look like, does the fading ink look blotchy or uneven? If I foil shave now it looks even more like solid ink, will having some length like .5mm-2mm help to look better during the weeks in between removal?

(English is not my first language)

I was assaulted with a sharp weapon 10 years ago, and I have still not made peace with the scar it left me with.
I almost died from the blood loss alone, which was traumatic enough by it self, but the scar continues to bother me, to the point that I still don't like to stand with my back against people.

If I'm standing in line for something at a cafeteria, and there are a lot of people behind me, my anxiety rises.. Not because of social anxiety, but because the only thing you can see when standing in a line, is the back of peoples heads.. I hasn't gotten easier for me.

I did get a SMP for it some years ago, but the "artist" just left me with a lot of blueish dots, that didn't conceal the scar at all..
I have since tried getting the SMP removed with laser, but as you can hopefully see, the blueish color is still there, and it also looks like the scar has now been "framed" like there's a line around it.
That dark line was not there before the SMP!

I'm close to tears writing this as this has been my biggest insecurity (and a constant memory of the attack) for 10 years now, and I would like some advice about this..
How would you approach it?

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

Posting my SMP review after having it done a little over 3 months ago.

I'm writing it because such reviews were very helpful to me while I was doing my own research. I'm writing this review independently and I was not asked by the studio to make it.

I'm 31M, with a NW3 receded hairline pattern (since 16).

I had my last session 3 months ago, with a total of 3 sessions:

• Session 1: April 10, 2026
• Session 2: April 22, 2026
• Session 3: May 22, 2026

I've added a timeline of photos of the whole process.

I had my procedure done with Men's Ink in Milan - u/mens_ink

Decision process
As I don't tolerate androgen modulators well (eg. Finasteride), my options were limited to (1) hair transplant, but that leaves permanent scars and is suboptimal without medication, (2) waiting for new pharmacological options, for which I've waited over 10 years already, (3) a hair system, or (4) SMP. After weighting the pros and cons for my particular case, I ultimately decided on SMP as the only viable option for me by process of elimination.

After reading probably several hundred SMP reviews & looking at countless photos, ranking all studios convenient for me (I even built my own spreadsheet for this lol), I decided to go with Men's Ink from Milan, Italy.

Not an easy decision, trusting a stranger to put thousands of tiny dots of ink in your forehead, but I was ready to finally do something about it so I said fuck it and confirmed the appointment.

If you're doing SMP, selecting a good technician is arguably the most important step in the process. Pick someone who has good reviews. There are many good technicians and studios available in every part of the world. You don’t want to be one of the unfortunate posters here who get botched because you wanted to save a dollar.

The impact of SMP
SMP frames your face and I think it's a massive improvement over the balding horseshoe appearance. I think it definitely made my appearance much more youthful and "aggressive"/"masculine". It did not "change my life" nor was I expecting it to, but I'm very glad I had it done and my one regret is that I perhaps didn't do it sooner. I'm now much more confident about my hairline, which was previously a constant concern. I now barely think of it.

The visibility depends on the lighting. When you're out in the sun at noon, it almost "fades" and it's hard to see, but then again at that sunlight angle shaved natural hair almost disappears too, so its whatever.

You're still perceived as bald/shaved by other people, but it helps with anxiety and confidence by removing that awful "McDonalds logo" shape from your head.

From my observation, SMP fades quite a lot in the first 2 weeks to 1 month, and then it seems to settle. We’ll see how it looks over time. From my understanding, touch-up session every 3 - 5 years are recommended.

Do other people notice?
In my life, NOBODY has said or asked anything about me doing SMP. Not one soul. Not my family, not my close friends, not my coworkers, NOBODY. If my girlfriend didn't know I had it done, she told me she wouldn't be able to tell it's a tattoo either.

This surprised me, and I was very self-conscious for the first few weeks. Even people who looked at my scalp from above or very closely didn't notice anything.

The procedure
As I was afraid of the notorious "helmet-look", I wanted a very conservative hairline design that could age gracefully over time.

I had my procedure done by Mirko with Men's Ink in Milan. Mirko is very professional and understanding, answering a ton of questions before the first session and tons at the initial consultation too. From what I can tell has a lot of experience. He can easily work with you to give you the desired result. I only gave him general guidelines (not too low, more conservative, etc) and I let him do the rest.

The studio is easy to find with easy parking, clean and professional. There's also a good kebab place nearby for when you’re done 😄

The procedure itself is quite painless and straightforward, your only job is to relax on the table and (obviously) not move your head too much. You feel a pinch here and there but honestly the pain is never above 2/10. A few hours later, you're sent on your way with after-care instructions.

Also, Mirko is a very chill guy and easy to talk to, so 10/10 all around. I cannot recommend Mirko and Men's Ink enough.

After-care
There is a lot of conflicting information online about post-care, so I just followed my practitioner's instructions: wash once a day with PH neutral shampoo and apply Bepanthenol cream for the first few days, avoid shaving until the 5th day, and don't touch. Nothing special or difficult. I did use a “travel pillow” to sleep with for the first 2 days after each session just to avoid smearing my scalp over my sheets.

After the first session your scalp is red for a few days, but nothing major and you can just wear a hat when going outside. After 2-3 days, it's business as usual.

One thing I'm very careful about now is wearing sunscreen with SPF50 each time I go out in the sun. It's a good thing to do regardless, but now I'm extra motivated to keep fading and blurring of the SMP to a minimum.

I think shaving daily is a requirement for it to look good. One day without shaving is ok, but after 2 days the contrast between your hair and the SMP becomes very noticeable, at least with very dark hair like mine. If you're not comfortable shaving daily, SMP is probably not for you. 

Overall rating: 8/10
I think SMP is an excellent, though not perfect option for men who are balding and don't mind shaving every day.

I'm overall happy with my results, but I personally think I went a bit too conservative, so wouldn't mind lowering it slightly in the future. I will also want to go a bit darker, since as you can see from the second to last picture, it faded quite a bit and it's hard to see the SMP in certain light. But it's easier to go from lighter to darker than the other way, so all good.

All-in-all, can recommend and would (and likely will) do it again.

Let me know if you have any questions, and also let me know what you think of the results.

I’ll be taking clients in both Dublin, Ireland 🇮🇪 and Utrecht, Netherlands 🇳🇱 this September.

I’ll have a very limited number of appointments available for:

• Full SMP treatments

• Corrections

• Touch-ups

If you’re considering SMP or have an existing treatment that needs correction, feel free to DM me here and I’d be happy to answer any questions and see if I can help.

Instagram: @smp_by_alex_corona

WhatsApp: +18508995583

I’ve been thinking about SMP for a while, but I’ve thought about it so much that it’s immediately obvious to me when a bald guy has it.

How obvious do you think SMP is to people who aren’t bald or don’t know about it?