Full Micro Interview With BarberEVO
1. Can you talk us through your journey in the industry so far? What inspired you to specialize in SMP, and how did you develop your advanced skill set in this area?
The journey has been quite personal for me. I started losing hair in my early 20's and it really effected my confidence as a young man. Especially so because at that time, I was a dj/producer and performed in front of thousands of people weekly. I tried the hair transplant, which only left me with a massive scar across the back of my head, but not much hair. I discovered Scalp Micropigmentation in 2015, and immediately following my final session, I became fascinated with learning more about this amazing art-form. As an artist and through my own personal experience, I realized the power of SMP and how it can help change people's lives for the better, giving them the power to live confident, fulfilling, happy lives. After seeking one of the few experienced SMP artists in the world, taking the time to learn and apprentice under him, and putting in hundreds of hours mastering this art, I launched my vision: FULL Micropigmentation, a cutting edge, forward thinking, & continually evolving Scalp Micropigmentation Company that provides the most modern solution available today for hair loss. Established in 2016, Full Micro was the first company to offer SMP in Las Vegas. Turning a passion, a life-long mission, and a love for helping others into a rewarding and successful business, I had found my calling.
2. What are some of the most challenging aspects of SMP, and how do you overcome these challenges to achieve natural-looking results?
When I first started, there were tons of challenges. As a new artist, you always question yourself and think "am I really good enough to be doing something so delicate & detailed on someones head?" You are so focused on all the intricate details making sure the ink, machine, spacing, depth, needles, etc is all correct. But over time as I learned through experience, I became more confident as an artist and more open to trying new things, things I hadn't been taught anywhere. I think that's how you grow, with any art-form, it was the same with music for me. Once I was confident in my ability as an artist, I realized I still had many other challenges as a business owner: expansion, overhead, employees, marketing, & everything else that comes with being a business owner trying to provide the best possible product for your clients, while simultaneously growing the business. I learned some hard lessons here. Having the right team is crucial for success in any business. But something I never compromised was quality. I never wanted to grow at the expense of providing the best possible quality I could provide to my clients.
3. How do you tailor your SMP technique to different hair types, skin tones, and individual client needs?
This is something that I believe takes years of experience. I've been doing this since 2016, have done thousands of sessions, and I'm still learning something new with each and every client. What I've learned is that every client is unique. From the skin type, to the hair color, to the follicle size, skin depth, density pattern, skin conditions, expectations, & so much more. So really focusing in on their needs & their particular situation, is crucial. When I train new artists, I can't emphasize enough how important it is to start very conservative on all fronts during the 1st session: the hairline, the ink color, the needle size, the spacing, the depth, etc. This leaves room to adjust almost anything including the hairline, and allows for a great 2nd session of layering, density, texture, and realism. It also allows you to figure out their skin, to see if you need to use a different needle, a darker ink, or more depth into the skin. This is how we achieve the most natural results possible: by doing/evaluating/adjusting through each step of the process, along with the client's feedback.
4. Can you walk us through your consultation process with clients who are considering SMP? How do you set realistic expectations?
Consultations are the best time to learn about the clients needs, by just listening. I ask questions first to gauge how deep their understanding is about SMP, what they expect from the treatment, and what their fears are because almost every client has a fear of this not looking real or natural. So we have to empathize with that, as I was in their exact shoes with the same exact worries, when I was a client. Once they answer my questions, and I learn about them thoroughly, I can answer their questions accordingly. I can show them some clients who were similar to them in some ways, and really show the value of SMP and how life changing it has been for myself and for every client of mine. While doing this, I'm always very honest, making sure they have realistic expectations: this is not hair & we do not replicate hair. We create follicle replications that look like a nice 5'o'clock shadow, just like if somebody with hair shaved their head. You want to under-promise, and over-deliver, not the other way around.
5. How do you ensure that your SMP results age well, and what aftercare advice do you provide to clients?
So having been in the business for this long, I've learned the importance of pre-care, post-care, and long-term care. I give clients detailed instructions for all three, and make sure to speak with them about it throughout the process as well. I give them some amazing all-natural products, and explain the importance of this process, internally & externally. The better their skin health, the nicer the canvas, the better the results will be. If they follow all these instructions, and come to each session with nice healthy skin, then the long term results should be beautiful. On my end, I want to make sure I'm using the right spacing, the right needles, the right ink mixture, the right modifying pigment, and the right depth for each & every client. When I do my job with this kind of attention to detail & the client takes care of their skin with the same kind of attention to detail, that's when magic happens.
6. What advice would you give to barbers looking to incorporate SMP into their services?
I've trained so many barbers from around the world! This is such a perfect tool for them to add to their skill-set. Barbers see clients heads everyday, know their clients well, and know exactly who needs this. They have a constant flow of clients coming through their doors who trust them and who could use SMP. But they lack the knowledge & experience to really provide the most natural results. My advice would be to find an experienced & respected SMP artist you can relate to, who can teach you the right away. A 3-day live/online training is a great place to start, but to really master this, I would recommend signing up for a 6-month or 1-year apprenticeship. And try to practice on melons, people, models, hair density, thinning, balding, scars, etc as much as possible during that time period. You just need to get experience with different skin types, hairlines, scars, and so much more. So if you set aside time to do all these things, practice regularly using the right technique & tools, you will eventually figure it out and gain the confidence to be able to help anyone who needs SMP!