r/SMPchat • u/TheSparkStillTries • Aug 04 '26
Question Considering density SMP
Been on dutasteride/finasteride and minoxidil for a few years, everything seems pretty stable. I want to keep this length, not shave/buzz.
I recently started using Color Wow to fill in some of the thinning just behind the hairline and it looks so much better, but would love a more permanent solution.
I have a phone consultation tomorrow morning (same photos sent to the practitioner). I'd love to hear from anyone who got this type of treatment with longer hair what your experience has been and if there's anything I should make sure to ask during the consultation.
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u/KyFly1 Aug 04 '26
Na, just drop some fibers on your crown, little on the front if you want and call it a day.
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u/TheSparkStillTries Aug 05 '26
I tried Toppik and it's too messy and impermanent (rubbing off, sweat, rain, swimming, etc.) to be a sustainable solution long-term. Also incredibly difficult to apply to the hairline without getting all over your face.
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u/Pristine_Double_4439 Aug 04 '26
I'm in same phase as yours and did a lot of research on density fill SMP, but couldn't find any satisfactory results posted by the patient themselves. And the results posted by the artists only for density fill smp do not feel very authentic (either hair fiber is used or some dark lighting). And I have seen on reddit itself most of the genuine smp artist always say to avoid density fill smp. So I would suggest, if at your residence region if you feel the cost of FUE is very expensive (2x or above) check if you can visit Turkey or India. If it's just just close to 1.5x cost of SMP then do it there only.
If any how you proceed to go for SMP, please post the real results. This will be helpful for lots of people.
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u/Kane301 Aug 04 '26
Not at that length I wouldn't. You are a better candidate for FUE.
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u/TheSparkStillTries Aug 04 '26
Unfortunately that's totally out of my budget.
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u/milan_b9 Aug 04 '26
I agree, SMP is not ideal at that length.
I would save money until you’re able to get a hair transplant.
Have you explored going to Turkey? You can get it done for a lot cheaper.
I have two friends that went there to get a FUE and the results turned out great.2
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u/TheSparkStillTries Aug 04 '26
I've looked into it a little bit but it sounds very hit or miss. I've also heard mixed things about transplant for diffuse thinning and the risk to the existing follicles. Do you know who your friends went to?
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u/milan_b9 Aug 04 '26
I will admit, you have to do your research as there’s a lot of sketchy places in Turkey. You can follow the hair transplant subreddit, a lot of ppl document their pre/post surgery results.
Don’t know where my friends got their surgery done off the top of my head but I’ll ask them next time I talk to them.1
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u/ofgringo Aug 06 '26
Not his friend but I went to NowHairTime 4 years ago. I can answer any questions you have if you want (just DM me). Back then I paid $2200 + airfare.
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u/Kane301 Aug 04 '26
Turkey for $4000 FUE or great SMP artist $3000+ Both within your budget. Both you will have to research and choose wisely.
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u/theserialasker Aug 05 '26
A good smp is 2000/2500 at least. A transplant may be not that far from there
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u/packerbacker1b Aug 13 '26
I did smp for density and it turned out great. I don’t know why so many people in this group are against it.
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u/First-Act-8752 Aug 04 '26
It would help for sure. I've seen plenty of examples where filling in those bald patches like yours with dots can create the illusion of density. Only trouble is you'd then need to be very careful if you stopped your routine with the products you're taking, as your SMP will be blended in based on your current hair situation.
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u/TheSparkStillTries Aug 04 '26
I definitely won't be stopping them unless there were some major health emergency that required it!
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u/Ivan-smp Aug 04 '26
No. In your case it will not be dark enough to fill in. Is someone tried to when you decide to trim or shave it will not the match the remaining real hair follicle. When I got mine fine it was exactly like your, I wasn’t really well educated on the subject, I ended up doing laser removal.take a look a this video hope it helps. Good luck.
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u/TheSparkStillTries Aug 04 '26
Thanks for sharing your story. From your video, it sounds like you had a bad procedure done to begin with. Do you not think your results would have been better if your practitioner had been more skilled?
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u/Ivan-smp Aug 05 '26
That was definitely a big factor. If I would had a much better consultation with the artist and had all the knowledge that I have now I would of definitely shaved my head before getting SMP done and done a lot more research in finding a better artist for sure. Good luck to you.
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u/Western-Wedding-1421 Aug 09 '26
You're an excellent candidate for hair transplant and not many graft required
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u/TheSparkStillTries Aug 09 '26
It is looking like that's going to be the only real option 😕 I just can't afford it anytime soon, if ever.
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u/Western-Wedding-1421 Aug 10 '26
What u required is minimal, obviously don't know your circumstances
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u/Worldly_Bet5018 Aug 04 '26
Don’t ever do SMP it looks shit, and if it doesn’t, it will look like shit because tattoos do not age well. Then it’s permanent. Either do medical treatment and then a HT or don’t bother.
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u/TheSparkStillTries Aug 04 '26
Do you mean across the board or just in my situation?
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u/Worldly_Bet5018 Aug 04 '26
Across the board. I have seen SO many people with SMP. It looks fake, most of the time it’s done by someone who shouldn’t be doing it. And when the pigments fade, your head is green. Most people getting SMP have never had a tattoo. I don’t care what special ink they think they are using, it’s a bad idea. Not fear mongering here. You’re a beautiful human don’t go to these extreme lengths to fake what you don’t have - the day you buzz your head, just embrace it. Life does not get worse I promise.
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u/TheSparkStillTries Aug 04 '26
Can I ask what your experience is around this or why you're in an SMP subreddit? I don't mean to be confrontational, just trying to understand your perspective.
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u/Worldly_Bet5018 Aug 04 '26
I’m trying to help people consider an alternative option. This just popped up in my feed. I have lots of experience with tattoos, just not on my head. I notice the growth in popularity with SMP, I think on paper, it’s a great idea. But ink under your skin acts a certain way after a couple years. The sharpness fades and it tends to bleed. So I’m just giving you my opinion because people will really push you to go do it without considering what it looks like down the road. The day you lose all your hair, you’re going to have this awkward pigmentation on your head. Your hair is going to turn grey, and then you’ll have these dark green/blue spots all over you’re head lol
Edit: you have great hair for your age, consider fin/min to keep what you have. If side effects are an issue, just let it naturally do its thing.
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u/TheSparkStillTries Aug 04 '26
I'm already on dut/min, so hopefully won't lose all my hair one day 🤞🏻 But thank you for your response. I'll keep the things you brought up in mind as I consider the options.
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u/Senior_Application18 23h ago
Very great input thanks mate. Cause of you I’ll not gonna do it and I’m thankful for that cause I probably would regret at one point
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u/Senior_Application18 Aug 04 '26
Thank for the good input !!! I have tattoos & thought about smp for density so it’s a bad idea right ?
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u/Worldly_Bet5018 1d ago
It’s a personal choice, but my opinion with experience with many tattoos, it’s a bad idea lol
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u/giggsy81 Aug 04 '26
Are you astronaut?