Scalp micropigmentation consent form: hairline, density and aftercare
Scalp micropigmentation clients are often a different crowd from your brow and lip regulars, and the conversation is different too. They want density, a hairline, or a scar softened, and many are quietly hoping for more than a tattoo can give. An SMP consent form has to be very clear about what the service is not.
This exact form is built into SlickChart: send it to your client's phone to sign before the visit, and the aftercare below goes home with them.
Say what SMP does, and what it does not
My form describes it as a cosmetic tattoo of tiny dots that mimic short hair or soften scars, placed with a sterile, single-use needle. The very next sentence is the most important one on the page:
It doesn't grow hair.
The same box sets the commitment: 2 to 3 sessions about 10 to 14 days apart, 2 to 5 hours each. Dots look darker at first and soften as they heal. Results usually last 3 to 6 years before a refresh, and sun, scalp oil, exfoliating and harsh products speed fading. Removal is slow and may be incomplete.
Design for the client they will become
SMP is designed on the scalp, before any pigment goes in. My form draws the hairline and lets you agree on the goal: a soft, natural hairline, a defined hairline, density only, the crown, or scar camouflage. The client approves the hairline and shade, and there is space for design notes.
Two acknowledgements look further ahead than most PMU forms do. One says they have seen the hairline in the mirror and in photos, and a design that suits them now should suit them as they age. The other says SMP does not regrow hair, and natural hair loss may continue and change how it looks. Signing those up front makes later changes in their natural hair a known part of the plan.
Risks specific to a scalp
The risk list reads differently from a face service:
- dots spreading or blurring (blowout)
- uneven density or shade between sessions
- a hairline that looks less natural as hair loss changes
- allergy to pigment or numbing
- a blue or gray cast if pigment sits too deep
- fading or color change, especially with sun
- redness, tenderness or flaking for several days
- infection, and rarely granuloma or scarring
The client acknowledges three of these by name on a separate line: blowout, a blue cast and uneven density.
Screening the scalp
The checklist covers the scalp first: a psoriasis, eczema or acne flare on the scalp, a hair transplant or scalp surgery in the past year, and a sunburn, cold sore or open wound on the scalp. It also asks about pregnancy or breastfeeding, keloids, Accutane in the past 6 months, blood thinners or a bleeding disorder, diabetes, autoimmune conditions or slow healing, chemo or radiation in the past 6 months, and allergies to numbing, pigment, nickel or latex.
A free text box sits underneath. A check is where the conversation starts. If a client has a scalp condition or recent surgery, whether to proceed is a question for their physician, not something the form decides.
The aftercare acknowledgement
Unusually, the form puts the core aftercare in a signed line: no washing for 3 to 5 days, and no sweat, swimming or sun for 2 to 4 weeks. For a client who goes to the gym daily, that sentence is the real commitment, and it is better discovered at consent than on day two.
Aftercare, stage by stage
My SMP guide opens with reassurance: dots look darker and sharper at first, then soften. Then:
- Day 0: blot with clean gauze for the first 2 to 3 hours and sleep on a clean pillowcase. No washing, touching, tight or dirty hats, or sweating.
- Days 1 to 3: keep the scalp dry. A loose, clean cotton hat is fine if needed.
- Days 4 to 7: light flaking. After day 3 to 5, rinse with lukewarm water and a gentle, fragrance-free shampoo. No shaving or clippers until flaking is done.
- Weeks 2 to 4: the next session at 10 to 14 days builds density. No heavy sweating, gym, sauna, swimming or sun on the scalp.
- Long term: SPF 30 or higher, or a hat, outdoors, and no exfoliating scalp products, retinoids, acids or tanning beds.
The quick rules sum it up: stay dry, keep cool, hold the razor, cover up. The call-me list and a 911 line for trouble breathing or facial swelling close it out.
Questions to decide for your own practice
- How will you document the agreed hairline so every session matches? (See what to record in a client chart.)
- Will you book all sessions at the first visit, or one at a time? (Rebooking for a solo practice may help.)
- PMU and tattoo licensing, health department and bloodborne pathogen rules vary by state and county, so check with your state and local health department and board. This post is not legal or medical advice.
Use this form with your clients
SlickChart has this exact SMP consent and aftercare built in for subscribers. The form goes to the client's phone to sign before the visit, or they sign on your device in the room, and any contraindication they check is flagged for you. The aftercare lands in the client's own app, styled with your logo, and it all works alongside the Square account you already have. If that would save you paperwork, try SlickChart.
Prefer paper? The printable scalp micropigmentation set, with the consent form, protocol and aftercare, is in my Etsy shop, ready to print or edit in free Canva.