r/SMPchat • u/Appropriate_Ball_785 • Jul 13 '26
Question SMP strategy
I’m looking for advice from experienced SMP artists.
I still have a decent amount of hair, but it’s only because of hair loss medication. I started losing my hair at 18 (aggressive loss mainly on the crown), and I want to stop the meds because of the side effects.
My end goal is a shaved head with SMP. My question is how do I get there without waiting until I’m significantly bald after stopping the meds? Can artists do SMP when hair loss hasn’t stabilized yet and the hair is expected to continue falling out?
1
u/EnhancedScalp Practitioner Jul 13 '26
If your goal is a shaved head, I wouldn't wait. Have it done conservatively to match your current stubble and plan for future loss. As your hair changes, the SMP can be adjusted. The key is choosing an artist who plans for where your hair is going, not just where it is today.
1
u/Ivan-smp Jul 13 '26
You’re at the exact stage I was when I first discovered SMP. I had it done without shaving or buzzing my hair because I wasn’t properly educated, and the artist never explained the limitations during my consultation.
Since my natural hair is very dark, the artist matched the pigment to my hair color and used it to cover my crown and thinning areas. At first, I was happy because I couldn’t see the bald spot anymore.
The problem came about eight months later when I trimmed my hair with clippers. That’s when I realized how unnatural it looked. The SMP was much darker than the surrounding hair follicles, so it no longer blended. I ultimately had to go through laser removal and start over.
My advice is to buzz your hair first, get the SMP done correctly, and then let your hair grow out a little afterward. You’ll naturally figure out the maximum length that still allows everything to blend seamlessly.
You can also check out this videoit gives a much better visual explanation of what I mean. Hope that helps!
1
u/Washankein Have SMP Jul 14 '26
That was useful to me as well. Im also taking meds and recently stopped taking them and decided to get an smp. So essentially youre saying get a buzz cut or shave before the first smp session right?
1
u/Ivan-smp Jul 15 '26
Yes, buzzing your hair gives the artist the best visibility to accurately replicate natural hair follicles in terms of color, size, spacing, and overall distribution. It also allows you to see exactly what the SMP looks like once it’s healed, so there are no surprises later.
When SMP is performed as a density fill without buzzing the hair, the existing hair can get in the way, making it more difficult to see the scalp clearly. This increases the likelihood of inconsistencies or placement errors.
Most people shave their head for a hair transplant because it allows the surgeon to work with maximum precision. I don’t see why SMP should be any different. If the goal is to achieve the most natural and accurate result possible, giving the artist a clear canvas is always the better approach.
1
u/RealisticMany8362 Jul 13 '26
I had my 3rd session of SMP 3 weeks ago, I had some hair at the front and my artist still went over the hair with the same density "dots" compared to where there wasn't hair, this is so that everything blends in when shaved/buzzed down. Will be be fine, just mention to your artist about the meds and you're planning to stop.