Who it suits
Men who shave their heads and want a hairline back. Men and women with thinning hair who want less scalp showing. People with scars from surgery or an old strip transplant. It works with every type of hair loss, including alopecia, because it doesn't depend on follicles.
How it's done
A practitioner uses a fine needle to place pigment dots in the upper layer of the skin, matched to your hair colour. Each session takes two to four hours, with a week or more between sessions so the dots settle. The scalp is red for a day or two.
How long it lasts
Three to six years before it needs a top-up, sooner with a lot of sun. It fades; it doesn't vanish. Laser removal is possible but costs more and takes several sessions, so choose the hairline carefully.
Micropigmentation or a transplant?
| Micropigmentation | Hair transplant | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | The look of stubble or density | Real growing hair |
| Cost in Ireland | €500 to €2,500 | €1,500 to €10,000 |
| Needs donor hair | No | Yes |
| Time to result | Two to four sessions over a few weeks | About 12 months |
| Upkeep | A top-up every few years | Usually a medicine to protect the rest |
Some people have both: a transplant for the front and pigment to add the look of density behind it.
Risks and what to ask
The risks are those of any tattoo: infection, allergy to the pigment, dots that spread or turn blue-grey if placed too deep. Ask to see healed results at one year, not fresh photos. Ask what pigment is used and what a top-up costs.
Prices in Ireland run €500 to €2,500, depending on the area.
Questions people ask
Does scalp micropigmentation look real?
Done well, on a shaved head, it reads as stubble at normal distance. It has no texture, so it works with very short hair or under existing hair.
Does it hurt?
Less than a normal tattoo for most people. The temples and hairline are the most tender.
Can I have it after a transplant?
Yes. It is often used to hide donor scars or add the look of density. Wait until the scalp has fully healed.
Can women have scalp micropigmentation?
Yes. It is used under longer hair to make a wide parting or thin crown less visible.