Eyebrow microblading has been a popular beauty trend for a while now. But some people are microblading their hairline and scalp, too. TikTokker Hannah Jarrah (@han.jarr) is sharing her experience, and she posted a video to explain the reasons she's doing it.
This-Woman-Microbladed-Her-Hairline-on-TikTok-GettyImages-483783625 , 40% of Americans who experience hair loss are women. So for anybody who's feeling that their scalp is looking a little sparse, it might be an appealing option.
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"Microblading is a semi-permanent way to mimic individual strokes of hair strands with strategically placed tattooed ink," Rhonda Q. Klein, MD, dermatologist at Modern Dermatology of Connecticut in Westport, tells Health. While it's more commonly used as a technique on the eyebrows, Dr. Klein says that microblading can also be effective at creating the illusion of hair density in areas that are thinned out along the hairline so the scalp doesn't peek through so noticeably.
"If you've permanently lost hair along your hairline, your only options for restoration are hair transplant surgery or cosmetic approaches like microblading the area under the natural hair to disguise the scalp and create the illusion of hair fullness," she says.
Like any aesthetic procedure, there are some risks to microblading your hairline. Dr. Klein explains that the scalp is covered in blood vessels, so it's an area that's prone to bleeding and is at an increased risk of infection. Plus, the skin on the scalp contains a lot of sebaceous (oil-producing) glands. "Between the sebum and the scalp's frequent exposure to sun and water, your ink is likely to fade more quickly and take on an unnatural hue," Dr. Klein says.
Yes, that's right—microblading doesn't last forever. This type of tattooing is semi-permanent, and the results depend on the individual's skin. In Jarrah's case, she says in her TikTok that her microblading is supposed to last three years.
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Jarrah seems pretty happy with her newly inked hairline after only one session (she's having four in total), and she promises to keep her followers on TikTok updated. As with microblading on the eyebrows, the end result is highly dependent upon the skill and savvy of your technician, Dr. Klein says. However, she doesn't generally recommend the procedure for widespread treatment on the scalp and suggests saving it for eyebrows and potentially for only small areas on the hairline.
"If you have thinning hair, see your board-certified dermatologist to determine if it is scarring or non-scarring hair loss, rule out accompanying medical conditions, and understand your options for restoration," she says.
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