SMP after cancer treatment: when it's right, and when to wait

If your hair hasn't come back the way it was after cancer treatment, scalp micropigmentation can give you the look of a full, close-cut head of hair again. The most important part is timing.

Will my hair grow back?

For most people, yes. Cancer Research UK says hair usually grows back within 3 to 6 months of finishing chemotherapy, although after some chemotherapy drugs it can take longer. It often comes back softer, curlier or a different colour at first.

Permanent hair loss after chemotherapy is rare. Radiotherapy only affects hair in the area being treated, and permanent loss is more likely after high doses. Hormone therapy usually causes thinning rather than complete hair loss.

Why SMP waits until after treatment

• Your skin needs to recover. Treatment can leave the scalp sensitive and slower to heal, and SMP is a cosmetic tattoo, so healing matters.
• Your hair may come back. It makes sense to see what grows back before designing anything around it.
• Your medical team knows you best. We ask for a short note from your oncologist, specialist nurse or GP confirming you're well enough for SMP.

At Blackline, we wait until at least six months after your last chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and until any regrowth has settled.

What SMP can help with

• Hair that hasn't grown back after chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• Hair that has come back thinner, where density treatment adds the look of thickness under longer hair
• Thinning from long-term treatment, such as hormone therapy
• Scars on the scalp from surgery or radiotherapy, once they've fully healed

Skin that has had radiotherapy can heal differently, so we may start with a small test area.

What it can't do

SMP doesn't grow hair or affect how your body recovers. It's a cosmetic treatment that creates the look of hair follicles. If your hair is still changing, it's better to wait.

Our support rate

If you've lost hair through cancer treatment, SMP at Blackline is 70% off. It's the same treatment and the same care, at a fraction of the price. Read about hair loss support, or message us privately whenever you're ready to talk, even if you're still having treatment.

Sources: Cancer Research UK, hair loss and thinning · Cancer Research UK, hair loss and radiotherapy