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Make Sure You Know the Facts

     Like the explosion in the original hair transplant industry, there are now many providers offering scalp micropigmentation. This page provides important information to clarify any confusion about what is actually being claimed or offered.  Procedures such as micro hair tattooing, SMP, scalp micro-pigmentation, hair simulation tattoo, paramedical micropigmentation, or even cosmetic transdermal are all names being used.  These are misleading terms for generic applications that merely utilize the current equipment and standard of applying semi-permanent cosmetics to the scalp.     None of these generic methods come close to the technologically advanced and engineered ACHM2®.  You may see the final outcome of some of these providers' work that we have corrected with the ACHM2®. 

    Many of these providers are claiming extensive experience, state-of-the-art "computerized" equipment, "special" needles, specifically formulated" pigments, "trained" specialists/practitioners and the benefit of temporary-only applications.  These are terms intended to lead the customer into believing they are being offered something unique.  More serious areas are  deceiving  the potential customer with image altering.

     We will cover each of these items here, expounding on each and what you really need to know based on actual facts and experience.

Photo Courtesy Nouveau Contour
      Hair replication is an art form and cannot be duplicated naturally by "computerized" equipment alone.  
      
   Only the human hand holding the machine is able to feel inconsistencies in the scalp in order to make manual depth adjustments.
"Computerized" Equipment
     This is an elaborate term used to describe simple mandatory equipment for tattooing.  Any and all permanent cosmetic or tattoo equipment is "computerized." This equipment is merely a "power supply," which provides adjustable current to the actual hand-held machine that holds the needle.  Some are more expensive than others, some look more impressive, but all accomplish the same thing.  Even the ACHM2®  utilizes a power supply.

     This "computerized" power supply is not responsible for "automatically and systematically providing consistent results" for hair replication/simulation, but merely allows any operator to control the power to the machine via a foot pedal  (like a sewing machine).  These cosmetic makeup "computers" and related equipment are designed for ease of operation for novices wanting to get into the permanent makeup field.  Operators do not need the knowledge or extensive tattooing experience in order to actually know how to "tune" or operate a machine.

   Ironically, this permanent makeup "computerized equipment" is proprietary and can only accommodate the needles that are supplied by the manufacturers.  These needles are nothing "special," just readily-available permanent makeup needles.  The only thing "special" about them is that they are more costly.  They are no smaller in size for hair replication/simulation.


Standard 3 "round" needles are used by all other providers.
"Special" Needles
      We have covered "special needles" somewhat above.  This term is being used falsely and loosely. 

     What other providers and permanent cosmeticians are referring to as "special needles" are shown to the left.  These are the smallest commercially manufactured needles available.  These needles are commonly known as "3 Round" needles, available from any commercial  tattoo or permanent cosmetic supply houses.   You may compare a microscope closeup of these "special" needles as compared to the much smaller size of the ACHM2® needles in the ACHM2 DIFFERENCE.

   As you can see, these are standard triple cluster needles and are only "special" as they are the smallest available for permanent makeup "computerized equipment" and are proprietary for these types of cosmetic machines.    These "3 round" needles are also a standard size needle for any tattoo machine. 
    
     If these needles were in fact anything else "special" such as our patent-pending ACHM2®   needles, they would have taken the necessary steps to file a patent as Artistry Concepts has done.        
      

LEGAL/LICENSING
LINKED IN
MARK WESTON
 
GALE HARTVIGSEN

No pigments of any type are FDA approved.
Commercially-available tattoo "inks"
and cosmetic pigments should never be used on the scalp. 
Commercial brown pigments also contain blue additives as can clearly be seen above. This thumbnail shows the actual purple/blue added color to a popular commercial BLACK tattoo pigment.
"Specifically Blended" Pigments
     Like "computerized equipment" and "special needles" above, this is the third area in which providers are attempting to mislead you, and a very serious one.  There are no specifically blended pigments that are either manufactured or available specifically for hair replication/simulation.   In addition, "special" pigments do not and cannot guarantee or determine the size, shape and density of the "follicles" (only needles can do this and the skill of the artist).    The only pigments that have been "specifically blended" for the scalp are our ACHM2®  SMART Pigments™. 
Cosmetic Pigments  Are  Temporary Only and Contain Off-Color Additives
     Beware of the statement "FDA Approved,"  cosmetic pigments are not FDA approved.  Cosmetic pigments are intentionally manufactured to fade within a few years, and they will change color to greens and blues during their fading process.

     As early as 2004, the FDA has issued alerts regarding cosmetic pigments and scarring.  Cosmetic pigments should never be used on the scalp!  You may read more about the compilation of case studies and long-term effects of temporary cosmetics pigments in RESEARCH.
Tattoo Pigments Also Contain Off-Color Additives
     While tattoo pigments are permanent when properly applied, commercially-available tattoo pigments ("inks") also contain color additives.  As Weston has extensive experience in many fields of art for the past 35 years, he is familiar with pigments, inks and all types of paint.  To make black paints "blacker," it is a common practice for manufacturers to add up to ten or more colors to include indigo blue, red, green and magenta to name only a few.  This is also the case for automotive paints and oil paints. 

     The practice has long been extended to tattoo pigments.  This is why some outlines of tattoos appear to be gray/blue.  In mixing black with other colors to dark browns or grays, this blue is carried over into these other colors.  Then when these "special" pigments are applied to the scalp (the scalp having different characteristics than other skin on the body), they aggressively turn blue, green or even red.  If a man has blue undertones to his skin, this is even a greater recipe for disaster. (See above left photos).

This is why the ACHM2®  SMART Pigments™ are the only pigments that have been "specifically blended" from a powder base for the scalp.  They have been made to entirely omit these off-color additives while still delivering strong natural hair replication colors for longevity. 
 



"Trained" Specialists, Technicians or Practitioners

     The fourth area is that of "trained/certified" specialists, technicians and/or practitioners.   A permanent cosmetician can become “trained” as easy as an on-line course or by DVD, with virtually no hands on experience.  They pay their fee, take the on-line course, then successfully download an official-looking document.  Others may attend a training course lasting anywhere from 3 to 14 days.    One known provider mass "trains" their practitioners in a two hour course. 

     However, ask who "trains" them.  Don't be shy to request to see full resumes of their technicians or specialists if not posted on their website.   Most permanent cosmetic/tattoo artists bounce from place to place throughout their lives.  Working on the scalp is entirely different than working on the face (semi-permanent cosmetics) or tattooing any place else on the body. Look closely at any certificates, many of them are simply just membership certificates.

Artistry Concepts®  has now performed over 500 ACHM2®  procedures.



 
Temporary Hair Tattoo Methods
     The eyebrow to the left (thumbnail) had been done four times over the course of eight years with the common temporary cosmetic methods and "special" needles.  You can see the raised, white keloid-type scarring that has occurred in the "bulb" of this eyebrow .  The scalp is even more sensitive to repeated temporary hair tattooing methods.

       The final area that one must be aware of  are temporary methods.  Repeated application of these cosmetic methods result in the scalp becoming so scarred that it will no longer accept any type of pigment, as well as hair growth being inhibited.  Should you need these temporary pigments lasered off, the laser process is compounded by the off-colors, as well as destroying any healthy remaining hair follicles.  You may read more in RESEARCH about our compilation of case studies on these methods.  Artistry Concepts' ACHM2® is a one time, permanent application alleviating discoloration and scarring.
The photos below were taken at Artistry Concepts under the same lighting conditions with the same magnification:

This scalp had four previous temporary hair replications/simulations.  This normally healthy scalp was excessively scarred and discolored to the point it barely accepted any new pigment.  Notice the shine, smoothness  and lack of the presence of pores caused by repetitive temporary methods. This photo is of a known provider's work who informed the customer their pigments have been tested and DO NOT change color.  This was also done with their "special" needles. Other providers' special needles only accentuate this negative scarring effect because of their large size. This is a normal, healthy scalp that has had no previous micropigmentation work from temporary hair replication/simulation methods.  Artistry Concepts' ACHM2® is a one time, permanent application alleviating discoloration and scarring from repeated applications..



 
The Summary

     This temporary tattoo "procedure" to the left was performed by a "trained specialist" using "computerized" equipment, "special" pigments and "special" needles.

        This is only a sampling of what we see on a regular basis.


Altered Images & Photo Tricks

    
     The thing that gives away an altered image is an inconsistency somewhere within the photo.   Look for inconsistencies in highlights, shadows, focus, depth of view, and resolution, as these can all give away a manipulated picture.

     Another indication are images that pixelate upon enlargement, which really means that they are trying to hide an altered image.  Photos that appear very clear in some areas with "pixelated" areas within the same photo is a blatant indication that the photo has been clearly altered.      Also look for the "before" photos to be clear and high quality, but the "after" photos are blurry and unclear. Use caution when considering any provider's method, and be sure to request close-up photos.  

      Beware of providers that do not provide thumbnail photos for close inspection.  Some providers rely heavily on videos, but videos do not allow you to closely inspect a still image under a macro camera enlargement.   

      Another "trick" is taking photos without any hair replication work actually being done.  The "before" photos are taken with a flash, then retaking the "after" photos without a flash.  The flash photos will make a man that has hair appear to be thinning/balding from the flash reflection.  The photos taken without the flash will show that the man actually has hair. 




6919 Spinnaker Boulevard
Englewood, FL USA 34224
(941) 681-2157
email:  info@artistryconceptsllc.com

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