The first few days: keep it dry
Right after a session, the pigment needs time to settle. The single most important rule early on is to keep the scalp dry and leave it alone while it heals.
- ✓No washing, soaking, or sweating the treated area for the first few days
- ✓No swimming, saunas, steam rooms, or hot, sweaty workouts
- ✓Don't pick, scratch, or shave over the area — let any tiny scabs flake off on their own
- ✓Avoid direct sun on the scalp
Days 4–7: gentle washing begins
After the initial dry period, you can gently reintroduce washing with a mild, fragrance-free cleanser and lukewarm water. Pat — don't rub. As the surface heals you may notice the dots look slightly lighter; that's normal and part of why we build density over multiple sessions.
Week 2 onward: moisturize and protect
- ✓Keep the scalp lightly moisturized once it's fully healed to keep it looking matte and natural
- ✓Always wear SPF or a hat in strong sun — UV is the number-one cause of premature fading
- ✓Resume normal workouts, swimming, and styling once your artist clears you
What's normal during healing
If anything looks unusual or you're not sure about something, message us — we'd rather you ask than guess.
- ✓Slight redness or a sunburn-like feeling for a day or two
- ✓Dots looking darker at first, then softening as the skin heals
- ✓Tiny flakes or light scabbing — leave them be
- ✓The final tone settling in over the days after each session
Protecting your investment long-term
Once healed, SMP is low-maintenance. The two habits that keep it looking sharpest for years are simple: protect it from the sun and keep it lightly moisturized. Do that and most people go years before a touch-up is worth considering.