If you’ve been searching for “temporary SMP”, you’ve probably come across plenty of clinics using the term as if it’s a separate treatment. It isn’t. Temporary SMP doesn’t actually exist, and that’s an important thing to know before booking any kind of scalp micropigmentation session.
I’m Michael Dawes, co-founder of Foli Sim. We run clinics in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, and one of the most common misconceptions I come across is the idea that some forms of SMP are designed to fade away on their own. They aren’t. All tattoo-based treatments, including SMP, are permanent in nature. The term “temporary SMP” is a marketing phrase, and we don’t use it at our clinics because it isn’t an accurate description of what scalp micropigmentation involves. To put it plainly, it borders on dishonest, and that isn’t how we approach things at Foli Sim.
“Temporary SMP” is a marketing term, not a separate treatment
When people search for temporary SMP, they’re often looking for a low-commitment way to test out the look. The idea sounds appealing: try the result, see how it ages, and have it disappear if it doesn’t suit. The problem is that scalp micropigmentation doesn’t work that way.
SMP is a tattoo-based treatment. Specialised pigment is deposited into the upper layer of the skin using equipment designed specifically for scalp work. Like any tattoo, the pigment is intended to stay there. You can lighten or remove the result with laser treatments if you ever change your mind, but there’s no version of SMP that simply fades to nothing on a set timeline. Anyone telling you otherwise is using marketing language rather than describing the actual treatment.
All SMP is permanent in nature, including density work
This is the part that often surprises people. Whether you have a fully shaved scalp treatment or density SMP designed to blend with existing hair, the pigment, the technique, and the longevity are the same. Density SMP isn’t a watered-down version of scalp micropigmentation. It’s the same craft, applied to a different look.
The pigment used at Foli Sim is formulated specifically for scalp tissue. It’s deposited at a consistent depth by trained SMP practitioners, and it’s designed to hold its colour and shape long-term. That’s true whether the final result is meant to look like a closely shaved head or like thicker, fuller hair worn at a longer length.
What people actually mean when they search “temporary SMP”
In most cases, when men contact us asking about temporary SMP, what they really want is density SMP. They’re not losing all of their hair. They’ve noticed thinning at the crown or along the parting, and they want a way to make their existing hair look fuller without shaving down.
Density SMP is exactly that. Pigment is placed between existing follicles to reduce the contrast between hair and scalp. Thinning patches become less obvious, the scalp shows through less, and the overall appearance is denser and fuller. For men with fine, fair, or greying hair, the difference can be significant. For men who already have reasonable coverage, density SMP closes the visual gap between what they have now and what they used to have.
Density SMP has the same lasting power as SMP for shaved heads
This is a point worth stressing because it often gets misrepresented online. Density SMP isn’t designed to fade faster than other types of scalp micropigmentation. It uses the same pigment, the same technique, and the same training. The longevity is the same.
Like any tattoo-based work, pigment in skin softens gradually over the years as your skin naturally turns over. That’s true for shaved-head treatments and density treatments alike. It isn’t a flaw and it isn’t temporary fading. It’s how skin behaves over the long term. Many clients choose a top-up session every few years to refresh the result, but that’s a maintenance choice, not a built-in expiry.
The final word on temporary SMP
The short version: temporary SMP isn’t a real treatment. It’s a marketing label that has spread across the industry, and it gives a misleading impression of what scalp micropigmentation actually is. All SMP is permanent in nature, including density work, and at Foli Sim we’d rather be upfront about that than use language that doesn’t reflect what we do.
If you’re considering scalp micropigmentation, whether to thicken existing hair or to recreate the look of a closely shaved head, the best place to start is a consultation. We’ll talk through your goals, look at the level of coverage you’d need, and explain exactly what to expect across your three sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does temporary SMP actually exist?
No. Temporary SMP doesn’t exist as a separate treatment. It’s a marketing term used by some clinics to describe scalp micropigmentation that softens over time, but all SMP is a tattoo-based treatment and is permanent in nature. At Foli Sim we don’t use the term because it isn’t accurate and is misleading to clients. Density SMP, which is often what people mean when they search for temporary SMP, has the same lasting power as a full shaved-head treatment.
How long does SMP last before you need a top-up?
SMP is permanent in nature, but like any tattoo work, pigment softens gradually over the years as your skin naturally turns over. Many clients choose to have a top-up session every few years to refresh the look, while others leave their results as they are. There’s no fixed expiry date. The longevity is the same for density SMP and shaved-head SMP, and you have full control over whether to refresh the result or let it soften naturally over time.
If SMP is permanent, can I have it removed if I change my mind?
Yes. Although SMP is permanent in nature and isn’t designed to fade away on its own, it can be lightened or removed with laser treatments if you ever change your mind. That said, removal is rarely needed when the original work is well planned. At Foli Sim, we spend time in consultation discussing hairline design, tone and density before any pigment is placed, so clients have a clear picture of the result before their first session begins.
Is density SMP less permanent than SMP for a shaved head?
No. Density SMP has the same lasting power as SMP for shaved heads. The pigment, the technique and the training are identical. The only difference is placement. Density SMP is applied between existing follicles to make thinning hair look fuller, while shaved-head SMP recreates the appearance of closely cropped hair. Both styles soften gradually over the years and respond similarly to top-ups if you want to refresh the look later on.
Why doesn’t Foli Sim use the term “temporary SMP”?
Because it isn’t an accurate description of the treatment. All SMP is permanent in nature, and calling something temporary when it isn’t borders on misleading. We’d rather give clients a clear picture of what scalp micropigmentation actually involves than use language designed to make the treatment sound less of a commitment than it really is. Density SMP, which is what people are often looking for when they search this term, has the same lasting power as any other form of SMP.
