Hair Tattoo Guide

Hair loss is an incredibly common problem for both men and women. For example, 30% of men deal with hair loss before the age of 30, and one in four women aged 25-35 experience similar symptoms.

While there are many different potential causes of hair loss, including medical conditions and stress, many of those dealing with this deal with reduced confidence and self-esteem issues. As a result, many cosmetic procedures have been created to help combat this, including hair tattoos.

What Is A Hair Tattoo?

Hair tattoos are not “tattoos” in the traditional sense – for example, signing up for a hair tattoo does not mean you’re going to walk away with a fun design on your scalp. Instead, they are designed to mask the signs of hair loss by creating the illusion of fuller hair or closely shaven hair.

This is achieved through the use of a rotary tattoo machine and micro needles, the pigment is added to the scalp and designed to look similar to natural hair follicles.

Many patients prefer this form of aesthetic treatment over hair transplants, as they are minimally invasive and require less recovery time. This means that you can notice the results (and benefits) right away.

What concerns/issues can hair tattoos address?

Suitable for both men and women, a hair tattoo can address a range of complaints/issues, such as:

  • Hair loss – This includes hair loss caused by medical conditions  and auto immune conditions such as alopecia areata and alopecia universalis.
  • Thinning hair – Hair tattoos can be used to create the illusion of thicker, fuller hair for those dealing with thinning hair. In instances of baldness, hair tattoos can create the illusion of a closely shaved head.
  • Scarring – Hair tattoos can also be used to cover up scarring around the scalp area, such as those obtained during hair transplant surgeries.

Many studies have found that client satisfaction is incredibly high among those getting hair tattooing services.

What is the process of getting a hair tattoo like?

Your hair tattoo journey will begin with a consultation with your practitioner, who will talk you through the process. They will also ask questions about your hair loss and any medical conditions you may have in order to ensure this is the best option for you moving forward.

During the procedure, they will use a specialist machine and micro needles to apply fine, pigmented impressions to your scalp. Their pigmentation, depth and placement emulate the look/appearance of natural hair follicles. No matter how big or small the hair tattoo is that you need, we will still require multiple sessions to complete the treatment and get the desired look.

A typical hair tattoo session will last between two to four hours, depending on your goals and overall look. However, your practitioner will be able to discuss this in more detail with you during your consultation. You’ll also be given plenty of time to ask any burning questions or put your mind at ease.

Unlike other cosmetic procedures, the recovery time for a hair tattoo is relatively swift, and you’ll be able to see the results right away. During your recovery, you may experience mild discomfort, swelling and redness, though this will quickly subside.

Does getting a hair tattoo hurt?

Many of those who have received tattoos in the past will describe the pain associated with the procedure as minimal. For example, it is not considered to be as painful as a traditional tattoo. This is because it is a minimally invasive procedure carried out by experts who know exactly what they are doing.

What are the benefits of getting a hair tattoo?

There are many benefits associated with getting a hair tattoo. For example:

  • Hair tattoos can drastically improve the clients overall confidence and self-esteem levels.
  • Hair tattoos effectively combat signs of hair loss, thinning hair and scarring, among other issues that you may be dealing with.
  • Hair tattoos, unlike other interventive methods, do not stand in the way of natural hair growth.

What do hair tattoos look like?

The process of hair tattooing has been refined over time in order to ensure it closely resembles the natural appearance of hair follicles. Furthermore, your practitioner will work closely with you to ensure the pigment selected closely matches your natural hair follicle and skin tone for a more realistic final look.

You can see some excellent before and after photos here, which show how the clients hair tattoos look once the procedure is complete.

How long do hair tattoos last?

Typically hair tattoos will last between 2 and 5 years on average, before slight fading starts to happen. There are certain steps you can take to extend its lifespan. For example, minimal sun exposure or protecting your scalp from UV stops the pigmentation from fading too quickly.

Many of those who receive hair tattoos will have follow-up appointments years after their procedure in order to maintain the best results. As touch-up sessions are only required to build up on the pre-existing work, they take less time and are typically less expensive as a result.

How much do hair tattoos cost?

The price of hair tattoos can vary, depending on the amount of hair loss you have. However, at Scalp Nation, we pride ourselves on giving our customers access to exemplary services for a fair and reasonable price. You can find out more about our prices here.

Get in touch today to find out more!

At Scalp Nation, we have years of experience in hair tattooing and always endeavour to support our clients in whatever way possible.

If you’d like to find out more about hair tattoos, please do not hesitate to get in touch today. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have about the procedure, aftercare and costs – or to get you started on your journey towards confidence!

Ludwig Scale Of Hair Loss Guide

Female pattern hair loss is more common than you’re led to believe. It’s estimated that 40% of women will be affected by it before they reach 50. The frequency then increases as you get older, leading many women to seek treatment early on. 

However, before undergoing treatment, it’s important to know how severe your female pattern baldness is.

This is where the Ludwig Scale comes into play. It’s a tool used by clinicians to diagnose female pattern baldness, but what exactly is it, where did it come from and what are the main stages on the scale?

We answer all of these questions – and more – in the post below: 

What is the Ludwig Scale and who invented it?

The Ludwig Scale is a simple diagnostic tool used to classify how far gone female pattern baldness is. It was invented in 1977 by Dr Erich Ludwig and continues to be the main chart used to categorise baldness in women.

There are three stages on this scale, giving it far fewer stages than the popular Hamilton-Norwood scale for male pattern baldness. 

Exploring the Ludwig Scale

We’ll now look through all three parts of the Ludwig Scale, explaining what they are and what hair loss may look like. You can use this to help self-diagnose yourself and figure out what classification you’re in. 

What is the Ludwig Scale 1?

The first stage on the Ludwig Scale represents minimal hair loss and thinning on the top of the head at the part line.

Many women with female pattern baldness don’t recognise hair loss at this stage because it is hard to see.

It’s a good idea to take photos of the top of your head to see the difference around the part line. If more scalp appears over time, it could be a sign of hair thinning. 

What is the Ludwig Scale 2?

Stage 2 takes things to more extremes. You still experience hair loss at the top of your head and around the parting line, but it’s more severe. The thinning area has expanded and looks like it’s widening on your head. More scalp is visible from the top and you may also notice the hairs look and feel thinner. 

This is more noticeable than stage 1 as you can feel a difference in your hair. As well as feeling thinner, the top of your head also feels lighter.

It can give the sensation and look like there’s less hair on your head than normal – it may lose the typical bounce you’re used to experiencing. 

What is the Ludwig Scale 3?

The Ludwig Scale 3 is classified as the most serious type of female pattern baldness.

This is where the bald area has spread across your head and there’s a large bald patch that’s easily seen. It’s no longer possible to cover the bald patch by sweeping your hair over and there’s a significant decrease in hair follicles on the top of your head. 

As you can see, there are far fewer stages to the Ludwig Scale than there are for the Norwood one in men.

This is because men’s hair loss is slightly more dramatic and begins with a receding hairline. As the Ludwig Scale shows, many women don’t suffer from a receding hairline yet can still have dramatic hair loss on their crown. 

What causes female pattern baldness?

There are many reasons you may experience female pattern baldness. Some of the most common include: 

  • Age – As you get older, your hair starts naturally thinning and stops regrowing. This is why women over 50 are more at risk of developing female pattern baldness than those younger. 
  • Genetics – Genetics always play a role in hair loss. If your family has a history of female pattern baldness, there’s a high likelihood you will also experience it. 
  • Hormones – Certain hormones will impact hair loss, with DHT being the main one. It’s a derivative of testosterone that’s been shown to inhibit hair growth when levels are elevated. If you have an abnormally high DHT level, this is likely to cause female pattern baldness. 
  • Stress – Women who are highly stressed are more at risk of losing their hair. High-stress levels can trigger hair shredding which may lead to stage 1 on the Ludwig Scale. 
  • Certain Hairstyles – Lastly, the way you wear your hair could cause female pattern baldness. The main issue is when a hairstyle pulls your hair too tightly. If it does this, it can damage the follicles, causing them to fall out and not regrow. Avoid wearing hairstyles like this for extended periods and be sure to give your hair a rest. 

How can you treat female pattern baldness with scalp micropigmentation?

One of the best treatment options for female pattern baldness is scalp micropigmentation. Tiny pigments are implanted into your scalp, giving the appearance of hair follicles. It helps to reduce thinning and gives your hair a fuller look. 

This is a completely non-invasive treatment that doesn’t require transplants or anything too extreme. The goal is to use these tiny pigments to offer the perfect optical illusion. They look identical to the tiny shaven hair follicles around the top part of your head, near the part line. The result is incredibly realistic and requires no upkeep when compared to other hair loss treatment methods. 

Scalp micropigmentation is also far more affordable than a traditional hair transplant – which is more invasive, requires a greater degree of recovery and doesn’t always work. You can regain confidence and wear your hair how you like! 

We recommend enquiring about scalp micropigmentation for women when you’re either on stage 1 or 2 of the Ludwig Scale.

At these points, it is much easier to disguise the bald area and provide a natural appearance. The earlier you undergo the treatment, the more cost-effective and impressive it will be. 

So, remember the Ludwig Scale and check your hair to see if you’re on it. If you notice the telltale signs of female pattern baldness, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.

We offer free consultations to help you find the best solution to hair loss.

Can Hair Loss Be Caused By Stress

For years, it’s been assumed that stress can cause hair loss. When people go through extreme bouts of stress, their hair is liable to fall out.

But, is this scientifically proven or just a myth? More to the point, is your hair loss caused by stress or something else?

We’ll explain all you need to know about stress-related hair loss in this article. It will include the science behind it, symptoms to be aware of, treatment options and much more. 

What is Stress-Related Hair Loss?

Stress-related hair loss refers to types of hair loss that are caused by unusual levels of stress in the body. As your brain releases more cortisol (the main stress hormone) it can affect hair growth.

The most common type of stress-related hair loss is known as telogen effluvium (TE). In fact, this is one of the most common forms of hair loss full stop. Your hair goes through three stages as it grows and sheds: 

  • Growth phase (Anagen)
  • Resting phase (Catagen)
  • Shedding phase (Telogen)

Telogen effluvium is when more hairs enter the shedding phase from the growth phase. This means you have more hair prematurely shedding than growing. The result of this is thinning of the scalp and noticeable hair loss. High levels of stress can be known to trigger this, which is why people see hair loss while stressed.

Is Stress-Related Hair Loss Permanent?

No!

Stress-related hair loss is not permanent as you’re losing your hair due to a controllable factor. No matter what type of hair loss is triggered by stress, it can usually be reversed if you counter your stress levels and undergo specific hair loss treatments. 

Why Do We Experience Stress?

Stress is a natural part of the human body and we’re supposed to deal with it. Scientifically speaking, it’s a reaction to external factors around us, such as:

  • Work
  • Exercise
  • Money problems
  • Relationship issues
  • Poor health
  • Bereavement 

When we’re approached with stressful situations, our body enters its fight or flight mode. It recognises the stressors as potential dangers, so it releases numerous hormones to either defend yourself against the conflict or get away from it as fast as you can. Your body will do this even when you’re not posed with a physical threat at all.

One of the main chemicals released during this process is cortisol – the stress hormone mentioned earlier. As you can imagine, if you’re constantly presented with stressful situations, your body will release more and more cortisol. 

That’s when stress becomes a problem. Stress is natural, but it’s not something you should be dealing with all the time. Chronically elevated cortisol levels lead to the slowing down of hair growth as more follicles enter the shedding cycle early. From there, you experience hair loss. 

Does Hair Loss From Stress Have Any Clear Symptoms?

Stress-related hair loss is usually spotted when the following symptoms are present:

  • More hair loss or shedding than normal – you may see hair on your pillow at night, in your hands when you run them through your hair or in your hairbrush. 
  • Thinning hair on your scalp – you might be able to see the scalp below and the hair on top of your head gets progressively thinner over time. 
  • Hair takes much longer to grow back – it seems like your hair remains the same length or takes far longer to grow than it ever did before.
  • An overly sensitive scalp – your scalp feels quite itchy and you may develop rashes due to stress. 

Ultimately, a lot of these symptoms are listed for other types of hair loss as well. The key thing to consider with hair loss from stress is that it happens gradually.

Look for these signs and then reflect on the rest of your life. Have you been through a tough time lately? Do you feel more stressed than usual? 

It’s a good idea to be aware of the signs of stress too, which are:

  • A general feeling of tenseness
  • Possible feelings of anxiety or depression
  • Being overwhelmed
  • Feeling physically tired all the time
  • Unable to sleep at night
  • Unable to turn your thoughts off
  • Stomach pains and digestive issues
  • Rashes or itchy skin

When you see these stress symptoms along with the hair loss ones listed earlier, there’s a very strong chance you have stress-related hair loss.

The question is, what can you do to treat it?

Are All Hair Loss Conditions Caused By Stress?

No.

The most common type of hair loss is called androgenetic alopecia – or male/female pattern baldness. This is not caused by stress as it is largely seen as a genetic issue.

You will be genetically predisposed to androgenetic alopecia and will start losing your hair from a fairly early age. Some people experience the early signs of male pattern baldness in their teens while it doesn’t appear in others until they’re in their twenties or thirties.

Keeping your stress levels low will not prevent this type of hair loss, but living a highly stressful life will make your hair fall out faster!

How To Treat Hair Loss Caused By Stress

You can treat hair loss from stress in a couple of ways. The main concern is dealing with stress – if your body keeps producing an abnormal number of stress hormones, you’ll continue seeing the problem.

Work on reducing the stressors in your life – this will obviously be very individualised depending on what’s causing your stress. General ideas include seeking therapy, exercising frequently, following a healthy diet and practising meditation.

If you can get your stress levels down, your body will eventually recover. There’ll be a reduction in the hair follicles entering the shedding phase and an increase in those going through the growth phase.

Alternatively, if you’d like an aesthetic treatment to help while your hair grows back, then consider scalp micropigmentation.

We offer it at Scalp Nation and have many clients who’ll testify that it brings back confidence and gives the illusion of a thicker head of hair while covering scalp thinning.

Feel free to message us for a scalp micropigmentation consultation – or simply get in touch if you have any questions.