What it is
Pigment is deposited as thousands of individual impressions, each sized and angled to imitate a hair follicle emerging from the scalp. Viewed as a whole they read as stubble. It is a cosmetic result, not a biological one: no hair is added and no follicle is changed.
It is used two ways. As a full shaved look, it gives the appearance of a closely shaved head with an even hairline. Used at density, it reduces the contrast between scalp and remaining hair so that thinning areas read as denser — which is the more common application for women.
Who it suits
| Situation | Generally suitable | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Diffuse thinning | Yes, at density | Reduces scalp-to-hair contrast |
| Receding hairline | Yes | Rebuilds an even, age-appropriate edge |
| Full shaved look | Yes | The most predictable result |
| FUT scar camouflage | Often | Breaks up the line; texture may limit it |
| Alopecia areata | Sometimes | Depends on stability and regrowth pattern |
| Active scalp inflammation | Not until settled | Treat the condition first |
Suitability is a clinical judgement made in person. Active scalp inflammation, unstable loss and keloid scarring all change the answer.
Sessions and healing
Treatment is built over two to three sessions spaced seven to fourteen days apart. The gap is deliberate: pigment settles and lightens as it heals, so density is judged against the healed result rather than the fresh one. Each session generally runs two to four hours.
The scalp is typically pink for a day or two. Most protocols avoid swimming, saunas and heavy sweating for around four days after each session, which matters if you are planning travel around treatment.
Longevity and fading
Pigment softens over years rather than staying fixed. Sun exposure is the main driver. Most people have a refresh at some point, and planning for that from the start is more honest than treating it as permanent.
What affects cost
No price list here, because the number depends on the work. What moves it: the area being treated, how many sessions the result needs, whether scar tissue is involved, and whether the aim is a full shaved look or added density.
Common questions
Does it hurt?
Most people describe it as uncomfortable rather than painful, and it varies across the scalp. It is tolerable enough that sessions of several hours are standard.
Will it look like a tattoo?
Done well, no — the impressions are far smaller than tattoo work and sit at a shallower depth. Done badly it can, which is why the practitioner matters more than the technology.
What happens as I go grey?
Pigment does not grey. As surrounding hair lightens the contrast shifts, which is usually managed at a refresh.
Can it be removed?
It can be lightened or removed with laser, though that takes multiple sessions. It is not a decision to make casually.
Can I still shave normally?
Yes. It sits below the surface, so shaving over it is unaffected.
What if I keep losing hair afterwards?
Loss continues underneath, so a plan that looks right today may need adjusting. This is worth discussing before starting rather than after.
What an assessment establishes
- 1.Which process is causing the loss
Pattern loss, telogen effluvium, traction and scarring alopecia look similar in a mirror and behave nothing alike. The examination separates them, because the answer decides which routes are worth discussing at all.
- 2.Whether it is stable or still moving
Loss that is still progressing changes what any treatment can hold. It is the difference between planning around a fixed area and planning around one that will keep widening, and it is judged from history and examination rather than a single photograph.
- 3.Which routes are available to you, and which are not
Donor supply, scalp condition, skin type and how the loss is behaving each rule options in or out. You leave knowing what is on the table and what is not, without a price attached to the conversation.