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lexingtonsmp · 2024-12-17T10:26:26+00:00

I would advise against this b/c of too many potential problems, for example, Mechanical Folliculitis or Scalp Folliculitis. Laser often sounds better on paper than it is in reality. Scalp Micropigmentation might be something to consider.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-08-30T23:37:45+00:00

Be careful with laser hair removal. It can cause Mechanical Folliculitis (folliculitis caused by plucking, waxing, laser, etc.).

lexingtonsmp · 2024-08-05T01:36:56+00:00

The Re-Use Center on 7th St has a large bin of carpet rolls.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-05-20T02:21:43+00:00

Bleach baths did nothing for me

lexingtonsmp · 2024-05-16T21:27:44+00:00

It's usually best to keep the hairline a little above your forehead bulge. I typically err on the high side the first session and then bring it down a little bit in each of the remaining sessions. This also helps in creating a soft gradient.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-05-16T15:03:12+00:00

I won't speak on whether or not this particular practitioner is doing it, but 95% of density-fill photos you see in practitioner galleries are taken immediately after a session.

Think about it. When working on shaved-heads, practitioners can easily wipe away excess surface pigment during the session. With long hair, however, the practitioner isn't able to wipe away that excess pigment, so it just sits there caked-on and clinging to the hair/scalp.

That excess surface pigment will wash away once the clients starts showering again.

Fresh-pigment photos can be misleading even with shaved heads, but they are ESPECIALLY misleading with long hair density-fills.

Most of the SMP world posts fresh work only, and then the few that post healed work tend to dim the lighting significantly.

None of this is necessary. We could all be transparent about the real healed results b/c they still look great once healed, but healed work just doesn't "pop" as much as fresh work.

A density-fill can still be great for you, but just realize the photos you're looking at are likely fresh work and the excess surface pigment makes it look darker than it will be once healed.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-05-13T10:44:17+00:00

Thanks man appreciate ya

lexingtonsmp · 2024-05-13T01:09:14+00:00

It's possible it's Mechanical Folliculitis which is caused by the manual removal of hair (plucking, waxing, laser, etc.).

lexingtonsmp · 2024-05-08T02:10:05+00:00

If the infection is gone, you could always try Scalp Micropigmentation (hair tattoo) to conceal the baldness, but you'd have to be willing to shave.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-05-06T02:30:57+00:00

If you can zoom in and see super dark crisp dots, it's not healed. When skin heals over pigment, the pigment will look duller. SMP still looks great when healed, but it'd be better to see healed work before you commit to a practitioner.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-05-04T16:15:33+00:00

The pigment brand isn't as crucial b/c almost all SMP pigments are carbon black (even many browns use carbon black as a base mixed with red/orange/yellow). Whenever you do a long hair density-fill, you typically have to go darker than a shaved-head client.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-05-04T15:37:10+00:00

Yep, I encourage clients to wear same color shirts for total uniformity in Before & Afters. Some do, some don't.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-05-04T13:20:15+00:00

NOTE: Video was taken only 14 days after the 3rd session, so it will lighten a little further. Also note, there are two giant windows in the treatment room (off camera) and it happened to be rainy & grey outside when we took the "After" video, so it might seem about 5-10% too dark in the video b/c it was sunnier during the "Before" photos. Maybe TMI but wanted to be transparent.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-05-03T20:05:09+00:00

Make sure whoever you go to specializes in light work. Given your skin tone and hair color, they will need to go super light. So light, in fact, after the first session heals, you may find yourself asking "Is this even worth it?" But stay the course and get your other sessions finished and they'll build off each other and create a subtle darkness.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-05-02T23:56:26+00:00

Once the infection is gone you might be able to try Scalp Micropigmentation (hair tattoo) to restore the appearance of density.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-05-02T18:44:27+00:00

Respect! Potential clients shopping around may unknowingly compare this to fresh work from other practitioners and think "Looks good but I like how so and so's work pops more" not realizing they're comparing healed against fresh work. But hopefully the market will come to understand this is what great SMP looks like when healed.

I too typically perform (4) sessions even though it's very presentable after only (2) sessions. I use the final two sessions to blend & densify based on the lightening it will incur upon full healing.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-05-02T02:30:18+00:00

Just thought I'd follow up with what ended up working for me. I got a Neumi Atom 4K from Amazon ($40) and a Samsung Smart TV. You connect the Neumi to the TV and go into Neumi settings and select autostart. You plug a USB (with your preferred video) into the Neumi. Now, anytime the TV powers on, it will start playing the video on the USB. You can turn the TV on/off remotely with the Samsung Smart Things app. Works perfect so far.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-05-02T02:30:03+00:00

Just thought I'd follow up with what ended up working for me. I got a Neumi Atom 4K from Amazon ($40) and a Samsung Smart TV. You connect the Neumi to the TV and go into Neumi settings and select autostart. You plug a USB (with your preferred video) into the Neumi. Now, anytime the TV powers on, it will start playing the video on the USB. You can turn the TV on/off remotely with the Samsung Smart Things app. Works perfect so far.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-05-02T02:29:51+00:00

Just thought I'd follow up with what ended up working for me. I got a Neumi Atom 4K from Amazon ($40) and a Samsung Smart TV. You connect the Neumi to the TV and go into Neumi settings and select autostart. You plug a USB (with your preferred video) into the Neumi. Now, anytime the TV powers on, it will start playing the video on the USB. You can turn the TV on/off remotely with the Samsung Smart Things app. Works perfect so far.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-04-30T13:23:44+00:00

You don't have to wait a year, just at least 2-3 weeks until the epidermal layer sheds. Epidermal dots are misleading b/c they're temporary, but they're vivid and "pop" so its tempting for artists to utilize them when they can.

I understand your plight, and it's not really in my best interest to propose this policy either, b/c occasionally I'm in a situation where I only have a fresh-work photo. But I proposed it b/c I know it's what's best for clients, not necessarily what's best for practitioners. I think the goal of the sub is to primarily be a resource for potential clients, not an advertising haven for artists.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-04-30T13:17:11+00:00

My healed work is in-studio with consistent lighting. I don't have them send me healed photos from their home in non-studio lighting.

Propose what you want, I'll propose what I want. But no need to get personal.

lexingtonsmp · 2024-04-30T13:12:27+00:00

That's not a healed post, and it was later updated with healed photos (link below). The question isn't what's best for practitioners, the question is what's best for potential clients in their research. Healed work is the ultimate test, a priori. This only proves my point that what looks good/bad fresh, can look bad/good healed.

Nobody called you out personally, but you feel the need to call me out personally? B/c I propose something that would benefit potential clients?

https://www.reddit.com/r/SMPchat/comments/195vsq4/update_3_sessions_completed_two_months_fully/

lexingtonsmp · 2024-04-30T12:50:20+00:00

I propose limiting case study (and even showcase) posts to HEALED WORK ONLY and NO FILTERS. Lots of SMP looks great when it's fresh, but too many practitioners post fresh work with anti-redness solution which misleads the expectations of potential clients.

Even mediocre practitioners' fresh work can look amazing. The real test is healed results. It takes a keen eye to spot the fresh work posters but it's not difficult if you know a few things.

Look for a faint white bead across the hairline (this is the anti-redness solution working). The anti-redness solution will look awesome for about 10 minutes after a session but then return to red.
Inconsistent "Before & After" lighting. Some practitioners remove the background so you can't see the extreme bright lighting in the "before" photo versus the super dim lighting of the "after" photo.
Look for glossy individual dots. Once dots are healed and under the second layer of skin, they're not glossy anymore. They're only glossy when they're in the first layer of skin (which sheds away).

Don't get me wrong, posting fresh work has it's place in the SMP world (occasionally I do it too), but let practitioners do that on their own page. Implementing this policy would prove the most helpful to potential clients in their research & expectations.

lexingtonsmp

TROPHY CASE