The SMP Process at Crone Ink Indianapolis, Step by Step
Getting scalp micropigmentation shouldn't feel mysterious. Here's exactly what happens from your first message to your final session — and the years after.
A clear process creates natural results - and confidence at every step.
Step 1: Free Consultation & Digital Mockup
Every SMP project at Crone Ink starts the same way: a no-cost consultation. You can do it in person at the Indianapolis studio or send photos and we'll do it remotely.
You tell me what you want — a cleaner hairline, fuller density, correction of old work, scar camouflage, or a full transformation. I'll give you honest feedback on what's realistic, what's not, and what it'll cost. No deposit, no pressure.
From there, I build a digital mockup so you can see your future look before we start. We dial in hairline shape, density, fade strength, and overall style until we're on the exact same page.
Step 2: Hairline Design
Your new hairline is drawn live, in real time, using facial symmetry measurements. We adjust it together with you in the mirror until it feels right — natural, age-appropriate, and matched to your face.
This is usually the moment clients get excited. You can finally see it.
Step 3: First Session (Foundation Layer)
Your new hairline is drawn live, in real time, using facial symmetry measurements. We adjust it together with you in the mirror until it feels right — natural, age-appropriate, and matched to your face.
This is usually the moment clients get excited. You can finally see it.
Step 4: Second Session (Density Build-Out)
Roughly 10 to 14 days after the first session, we go back in. This is where it comes alive.
We add density, texture, and detail. We tighten the fade into the sides and back. We layer tones so the look reads natural in every light. For most clients, this is the session where the transformation hits.
Step 5: Optional Third Session
Some clients are done after two. Others come back for a third — usually for extra density in specific areas, micro refinements, or reinforcement where the pigment healed lighter.
If you need it, we do it. If you don't, we don't push it.
Step 6: Aftercare & Long-Term Maintenance
Recovery is short. Most clients need zero downtime — you walk out, you go back to your life. You'll get simple aftercare instructions, product recommendations, and a clear timeline of what to expect during healing.
SMP typically lasts 3 to 5 years before it benefits from a refresh. When the time comes, I'll let you know. Refresh sessions are short and cost a fraction of the original investment.
-
Pricing depends on the size of the area, the number of sessions, and the complexity of the work. Full scalp restoration typically falls in a $2,500–$4,500 range across all sessions. Hairline-only or scar camouflage projects are less. You'll get exact pricing in your free consultation — no surprises.
-
Three to five years before most clients want a refresh. Pigment fades gradually over time, the way real hair does. Most clients come back for a short maintenance session every few years to keep the look sharp.
-
Yes — when it's done by someone who knows what they're doing. The whole point of modern SMP is that it should be undetectable, even at conversational distance. If you've seen bad SMP photos online (blotchy dots, blue tint, wrong shape), those are almost always cheap work or outdated technique.
-
Most clients describe it as mildly uncomfortable, not painful. The scalp has fewer pain receptors than people expect. We can use numbing cream for sensitive areas if needed.
-
Different pigments, different needles, different depth, different technique. SMP pigments are designed to fade naturally to grey over time — not turn green or blue like body tattoos. The needle deposits pigment at a shallower depth so the dot stays small and crisp.
-
Yes — both FUT strip scars and FUE dot scarring. Scar camouflage is one of the most common requests at the Indianapolis studio. We can usually make scars effectively invisible when the scalp is buzzed or shaved.
-
Often, yes. SMP correction is a significant part of the practice. Bring photos to the consultation and I'll tell you honestly what's possible — sometimes we can fully correct, sometimes we can dramatically improve, occasionally the original work needs laser removal first. You'll know after the consult.
-
8555 River Road, Suite 17, Indianapolis, IN 46240. North side of Indianapolis — quick drive from Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville, and Westfield. Clients also travel in from Bloomington, Lafayette, Muncie, Fort Wayne, and across the Midwest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready for Your Hairline Transformation?
See why people across the Midwest travel to Scalpform by Crone Ink for natural, undetectable results.