SMP is a form of cosmetic tattooing developed from ‘permanent makeup’
As far back as 1902 well known tattoo artist Sutherland MacDonald starting using ‘permanent makeup’ at his parlour, boasting of an ‘all year-round delicate pink complexion’ on the cheeks. This look was extremely popular, and the idea took off. Fast forward a few decades and the craze from London skipped over the ocean to the USA in the 1920s and throughout the 1930s tattooists began developing and refining implementing pigment for cosmetic reasons.
Did you know…
In the 1930’s when it started to become more popular, one of the major developers of the permanent pigment technique, tattooist George Burchett discussed in his memoirs how there were many beauty salons tattooing women without their knowledge. Offering a…“complexion treatment” …
Micropigmentation of the scalp was developed and received the tick of approval as a hair loss solution
In the early 1990’s at the Hair Transplant Clinic of Sacramento, Dr. Alvaro C. Tranquina developed ‘dermal micropigmentation’ technique and for 7 years Dr. Tranquina conducted trials with 62 patients that had scalp scarring from hair transplants, using his new dermal micropigmentation technique to camouflage the scars for a better ‘look’.
The results were unanimous!
All his patients were ecstatic with their new look and much preferred this technique over the time consuming and expensive use of makeup, powders, or wigs they had used previously to hide their scarring.
The results of the patients were published in the medical journal for the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and concluded that:
“The results proved that Micropigmentation of the Scalp is a safe and effective technique in camouflaging scalp scars” (Tranquina, 2001).
All in all, the study answered a lot of questions regarding micropigmentation of the scalp and paved the way for the SMP we know and love today!
2002 The beginning of the Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) we know today!
In 2002 one of the original SMP clinics in the industry began operating as the world’s first clinic specialising in SMP. This clinic introduced the world to SMP and contributed greatly to refining the ‘hair-tattoo’ methods, producing many of today’s top SMP artists who have further developed the technique of SMP, moving away from it being a cosmetic tattoo to its own specialty industry.
Leaders in the industry like Foli Sim™ have used their expertise and artistic flair to help artists provide clients with their perfect hair line design and pigment placement, to look natural and seamless.
Foli Sim™ have also made a sharp turn away from the iron oxide-based pigments (the ones with the blue/green/red undertone like those still used in various cosmetic tattooing i.e., eyebrows) and moved to very natural-looking carbon-based pigments that can blend into majority or hair colours and skin tone.
It is important to be aware that these perfected techniques and improvements that excellent clinics like Foli Sim™ use are not adopted in every clinic around Australia and globally; and in poorly trained hands can be a large contributor to “bad SMP”.
When you select your clinic and artist you choose your results, whether good or bad
In this case it is incredibly important to do the research into a clinic’s history: where artists have trained, what methods they use, artist experience and the reputation of the clinic.
Frequently asked questions
When did the ideas behind SMP first appear?
I explain that the ideas behind SMP can be traced to 1902, when tattoo artist Sutherland MacDonald used permanent makeup at his parlour. The approach became popular, moved from London to the USA in the 1920s, and tattooists continued developing pigment techniques for cosmetic purposes during the 1930s.
How did scalp micropigmentation develop from cosmetic tattooing?
I describe SMP as developing from earlier cosmetic tattooing and permanent pigment techniques. In the early 1990s, Dr Alvaro C. Tranquina developed dermal micropigmentation at a hair transplant clinic, then conducted trials using it to camouflage scalp scarring and improve the appearance of patients who had previously used makeup, powders or wigs.
What was the early medical use of scalp micropigmentation?
I explain that an early medical use of scalp micropigmentation was camouflaging scalp scars from hair transplants. Dr Tranquina conducted trials with 62 patients over seven years, and the results were published in a medical journal. The study concluded that scalp micropigmentation was safe and effective for camouflaging scalp scars.
When did the first specialist SMP clinics begin operating?
I note that one of the original specialist SMP clinics began operating in 2002 as the world’s first clinic specialising in SMP. It helped introduce SMP to the world and contributed to refining hair-tattoo methods, while training artists who further developed SMP as its own specialty industry.
How have modern SMP pigments changed?
I explain that modern SMP has moved away from iron oxide-based pigments, which can have blue, green or red undertones and are still used in some cosmetic tattooing. Foli Sim uses carbon-based pigments designed to look natural and blend into the majority of hair colours and skin tone.
Why is choosing the right SMP clinic important?
I believe choosing the right clinic and artist is important because techniques and improvements are not adopted everywhere, and poorly trained practitioners can contribute to bad SMP. I recommend researching the clinic’s history, artist training, methods, experience and reputation, because the clinic and artist you select influence your results.
