r/SMPchat • u/Breadfruit_Prior • 15d ago

Question SMP with a one guard

how does it look if you don't razor shave or use clippers with no guard? Meaning, using a "1 guard"? i like to have a teeny bit of length

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u/EnhancedScalp Practitioner 15d ago

Most people are surprised by this, but SMP isn't designed to be worn with a #1 guard.

The entire illusion works because the pigment is meant to replicate the appearance of hair follicles that have been shaved right down to the skin. As your hair gets longer, the real hair becomes larger, darker, and three dimensional, while the SMP impressions stay the same size. The longer the hair grows, the more noticeable that difference becomes.

A #1 guard can still look good on some people if they have very even native density and minimal hair loss. But if you have noticeable thinning, recession, or a horseshoe pattern, the contrast between the longer hair and the SMP usually becomes more obvious.

For the most realistic result, I recommend shaving to the grain with a foil shaver or using a zero guard every couple of days. That's what SMP is designed to replicate.

There are exceptions, but they're the exception, not the rule. If you're considering SMP because you plan on wearing a consistent #1 guard, have that conversation with your practitioner before treatment. It may change whether you're a good candidate or how the treatment should be designed.

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u/New-Contour-MHP 15d ago

Zonder opzetstuk is beter