PB EDUCATION: COSMETIC TATTOOING

COSMETIC TATTOOING: HOW TO BRING SCALP MICROPIGMENTATION INTO YOUR BUSINESS

Surging in popularity, the revolutionary semi-permanent hair loss treatment must be introduced to your clients safely, discovers Kristie Lau-Adams.

SERUMS, PILLS, foams, transplantation — remedying hair loss in Australia is a saturated market. While various lifestyle and environmental factors, plus genetics, contribute to our population’s vanishing manes, research reveals that approximately 50% of Australian men show signs of balding by the time they’re 50. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings’ 2005 study also found that more than a quarter of Australian women experience hair thinning by the same age. It’s little wonder that treating diminishing locks has become a lucrative business.

A remedy gaining significant steam is Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP), commonly referred to as a hair tattoo. The semi-permanent cosmetic tattooing procedure is renowned for recreating the depth and definition of natural hair. Originally famed for enhancing brows and pouts, cosmetic tattooing only emerged in Australian clinics as a treatment for the scalp about a decade ago.

Rob McGowan, CEO of Australia’s first registered cosmetic tattooing training organisation, THink Aesthetics in Brisbane, says SMP has also been embraced due to its stimulation of individual hair follicles to enhance a natural appearance. It’s a meticulous procedure that requires specialised training. “When any new aesthetic treatment arrives, people want in on the action,” Rob explains. “But there is a great deal to learn. The cosmetic tattooing industry took a big step forward in recent years by introducing the Diploma of Cosmetic Tattooing, which provides an SMP option with detailed theory and practical training.”

ORIGINALLY FAMED FOR ENHANCING BROWS AND POUTS, COSMETIC TATTOOING ONLY EMERGED IN AUSTRALIAN CLINICS AS A TREATMENT FOR THE SCALP ABOUT A DECADE AGO.

While the government-accredited Diploma serves as welcomed progress, Rob warns business owners against succumbing to inadequate training programs. “SMP training can be fantastic or terrible,” Rob says. “Anyone can call themselves an SMP trainer because there are no regulations. Anywhere there is a few thousands of dollars to make, and no barriers for entry, you will find bad practices. It is vital to choose a trainer and training course carefully.”

Rob recommends signing up with a training organisation that facilitates the Diploma as well as non-accredited training methods such as THink Aesthetics’ initiative to work on live models. In addition to suitable training, business owners will need to invest in the proper equipment to administer SMP. “Machine costs range from a few hundred dollars to a maximum of $5,000,” Rob details. “It pays to buy the best quality needle cartridges to be able to work quickly, effectively, and safely. With a big treatment, you might get through two or three needle cartridges at up to $17 each.”

Be mindful of purchasing pigment, too, an ongoing maintenance cost that, thankfully, shouldn’t break the bank. Rob estimates that an $80 bottle of pigment “will typically do several treatments,” as technicians don’t need to use very much each time.

Business owners will also need to secure a council licence to facilitate a service that involves skin penetration. The rules around achieving a licence vary between states and territories. “In Queensland, for example, each person performing a treatment must hold an infection control qualification and the business must have a Personal Appearance Service (PAS) licence,” Rob says. “The premises or room will also typically require a sealed floor and skirting boards, wash basins in the treatment room and more.”

RECOVERY IS USUALLY QUITE RAPID, WITH POST-TREATMENT ERYTHEMA TYPICALLY LASTING HOURS RATHER THAN DAYS.

As for the treatment itself, SMP tends to be performed across two to three sessions of two to three hours of work, however minor density treatments may only require one session. “Recovery is usually quite rapid, with post-treatment erythema typically lasting hours rather than days,” Rob says.

“The client needs to keep the scalp dry for the first few days. As with any cosmetic tattoo, the pigment is darker to start with and naturally fades by about 30% as it is incorporated into the skin.”

Liz McGowan, managing director at THink Aesthetics, admits that establishing a dedicated SMP business is challenging due to the limitations it puts on potential revenue. “We usually steer people away from starting a business only doing SMP as building it to a sustainable level could take more than a year,” Liz explains. Instead, she advises business owners to add SMP to their repertoire, so they continue to bring in customers elsewhere.

Alternatively, if the idea of launching a new business that focuses on SMP, among other services, appeals, Liz says piggybacking SMP on other forms of cosmetic tattooing is smart.

“Particularly eyebrows, which are popular and have a big market,” she says. “In particular, 'guy brows' are seeing increased demand. Business owners have plenty of options in the world of cosmetic tattooing right now.”