Before and After: Rebuilding a Hairline and Crown

The photos show his original hair loss, the result straight after the first session, how it looked once healed, and the improvement immediately after the second session.

He Knew Everything About SMP. He Just Wanted Someone to Do It Properly!

Some clients come to me having only recently discovered scalp micropigmentation. Naturally, they have lots of questions about how it works, whether it hurts, how long it lasts and whether it really looks like shaved hair.

This gentleman was quite the opposite.

By the time he contacted me, he’d already done his homework. He understood the SMP process, knew what results were realistic and didn’t need me to explain every little detail.

We had a straightforward chat on WhatsApp, discussed his hair loss and the cost, and that was pretty much it.

He didn’t feel the need for an in-person consultation before booking.

One thing he particularly appreciated was the lack of pressure.

He’d requested a quote from another provider and found their follow-up sales approach rather annoying.

I can understand that. Nobody wants to feel like they’re buying a second-hand car when they’re simply asking how much a hair tattoo costs!

My approach is quite simple. Send me a few clear photos, tell me what you’re hoping to achieve, and I’ll give you my opinion and a price.

If you’re happy, brilliant. If you need time to think about it, that’s perfectly fine too.

You can message me directly on WhatsApp if you’d like a quote for your own hair loss.

The Secret to a Natural-Looking Hairline? Knowing When Not to Make It Too Perfect

When he arrived for his first session, we discussed the hairline design.

His main request was very clear: nothing too sharp or aggressive.

He was in his early 40s and wanted a natural shaved-head appearance, not the sort of perfectly straight hairline that might look a little out of place on someone his age.

And I completely agreed.

With scalp micropigmentation, the smallest details can make a big difference.

A hairline that’s too low, too dark or too sharply defined can attract attention for the wrong reasons.

For this treatment, I wanted a softer front edge that would frame his face without looking artificial.

The other challenge was blending the pigmentation through the top and crown, where his natural hair had become quite thin.

I needed to create enough coverage to reduce the contrast between the bald areas and the hair he still had around the sides and back.

It’s not about putting as many dots as possible onto someone’s scalp. It’s about making the dots look like they belong there.

First SMP Session: An Unexpectedly Impressive Start

The first session took almost four hours.

I worked on rebuilding his receded hairline and adding the first layer of pigmentation through the thinning areas and crown.

His skin responded particularly well to the treatment, and we achieved good initial coverage.

When he sat up and checked the mirror afterwards, I could see how pleased he was.

There was still some redness, particularly around the freshly treated hairline, but he didn’t seem bothered by it at all.

He was far more interested in seeing that he finally had a visible hairline again!

Of course, freshly applied SMP always looks darker than it will once healed, so I explained that the colour would soften over the following days.

Even knowing that, he was extremely happy with the improvement.

Did He Really Need Three SMP Sessions?

After seeing how well the first session had gone, he asked whether he’d actually need all three sessions.

My answer was simple.

Let’s do the second session, allow everything to heal properly, and then decide whether anything else needs improving.

Three sessions are generally what I recommend for a complete shaved-head SMP treatment, particularly with more advanced hair loss. You can read more about how our standard 3-session shaved process works.

But I don’t believe in adding more pigmentation just for the sake of it.

If the client is happy with the density, colour and overall appearance after two sessions, there’s no reason to push for a third.

Second Session: Getting the Crown and Sides to Blend Seamlessly

His second appointment lasted approximately three and a half hours.

By this stage, the first layer had settled, allowing me to see where more density was needed.

I concentrated on improving the coverage through the crown, adding further pigmentation across the top and refining the transition into his existing shaved hair.

One thing that helped considerably was his decision to keep his hair shorter.

When he originally came in, he had a slightly longer buzz cut. By the second session, he’d decided to shave it closer.

This made a noticeable difference to how naturally the SMP blended.

Remember, scalp micropigmentation creates the appearance of tiny shaved hair follicles. It doesn’t add any actual hair or texture.

If the natural hair around the sides is left too long, it can create a visible difference between the real hair and the pigmented areas.

Keeping everything closely shaved helps the illusion work much better.

And looking at the crown and side-profile photos, you can see how the pigmentation creates a more even appearance across the scalp.

The second session gave him the coverage and overall look he wanted, so we decided to leave it there.

No third session necessary.

He was very comfortable throughout both appointments.

The discomfort varied depending on which part of the scalp I was working on, with the hairline being a little more sensitive.

He rated it somewhere between 3 and 5 out of 10.

We didn’t need any numbing cream or pain relief, although I do have an appropriate anaesthetic cream available if necessary.

He was also able to return to work the following day.

Naturally, there was some temporary redness after the treatment, but this didn’t prevent him from getting on with his normal routine.

And here’s something I found quite interesting.

Despite having a completely new hairline, he didn’t attract much unwanted attention at work.

He did tell a few friends and family members about the treatment, though, and they were all very impressed with the results.

That’s exactly the sort of reaction I like to hear. A noticeable improvement without the hair tattoo itself looking obvious.

What Would This Receding Hairline and Crown SMP Cost in 2026?

One of the things this client appreciated was knowing the price before committing to anything.

For an equivalent treatment at my Birmingham studio, the current 2026 pricing would be:

These are equivalent 2026 prices, rather than a claim about what he paid in July 2021.

The exact price depends on how much work is needed, so someone with only a slightly receded hairline might pay less, while someone with more extensive baldness could require additional treatment.

You can see my full scalp micropigmentation price guide for more examples.

I also don’t require everyone to book an in-person consultation before getting a quote.

In many cases, a few clear photos and a quick WhatsApp conversation are enough to give you a realistic estimate.

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A Few Questions About This Result

Will SMP look natural on fair skin?

Yes, scalp micropigmentation can work very well on fair and medium skin tones.

The important part is choosing the right pigment shade, impression size and density to suit the person’s natural hair colour and skin.

For this client, I wanted the new hairline and crown to blend with his existing shaved hair rather than looking like a dark patch of tattooed skin.

The photos were taken immediately after treatment, so the fresh pigmentation appears darker than the eventual healed result.

Can SMP fix a receding hairline and bald crown at the same time?

Yes. That’s exactly what we worked on here.

His hairline had receded considerably, while the crown had very little natural coverage left.

By treating both areas and blending the pigmentation through the remaining hair, I was able to create a more consistent shaved-head appearance.

If you’re considering this treatment, you can also read my complete guide to scalp micropigmentation for shaved heads.

Do I have to shave my head completely for SMP?

Not necessarily, but for someone with advanced hair loss who wants the shaved-head effect, keeping the natural hair very short usually gives the most convincing result.

This client is a good example.

His SMP blended more naturally once he switched from a slightly longer buzz cut to a closer shave.

If you’d prefer to keep your hair longer, I also offer scalp micropigmentation for thinning hair, although it’s not suitable for every hair loss pattern.

Will everyone notice I’ve had a hair tattoo?

Not necessarily.

This gentleman went back to work the following day and didn’t attract much attention.

His friends and family were impressed when he told them about the treatment, but that doesn’t mean everyone who saw him immediately recognised it as SMP.

A well-designed, age-appropriate hairline and good blending can help the result look like a natural shaved hairstyle.

Of course, no cosmetic treatment is completely undetectable in every situation.

From Harborne to ScalpMates Birmingham

This gentleman travelled from Harborne to my studio in Birmingham.

He already knew what scalp micropigmentation involved, didn’t need a formal consultation and appreciated being able to arrange everything through a simple conversation.

For me, this is how the process should be.

You shouldn’t have to sit through a sales presentation just to find out whether a hair tattoo is suitable for you.

Whether you’ve been researching SMP for months or you’ve only just discovered it, I’m happy to answer your questions and explain what sort of result we could realistically achieve.

Thinking About Getting Your Hairline Back?

If you’ve got a receding hairline, a thinning crown or very little hair left on top, scalp micropigmentation might be worth considering.

Have a look through my other real client results to see different hairline styles, skin tones and stages of hair loss.

And if you’re unsure whether SMP would work for you, feel free to send me a few clear photos of your head on WhatsApp. I’ll happily give you my opinion and an estimated price.

No pressure to book. No chasing you afterwards.

And definitely no suspiciously perfect hairlines unless that’s actually what you’re after!

Laur / Laurentiu Bradea
ScalpMates Birmingham

About these results: This client’s treatment took place in July 2021. The photos show genuine SMP treatment stages, including the healed first session and the result immediately after the second session. Fresh pigmentation and temporary redness can make the result look darker than it will once fully healed. The £600 price shown reflects an equivalent treatment at 2026 rates, and individual results may vary.