Microneedling for Hair Thinning

Microneedling the scalp is a different job from microneedling the face. The skin is thicker, the hair gets in the way, and results take longer to show. This guide covers what's different.

Is it right for you?

Scalp microneedling is most often used for gradual thinning, such as a widening parting or receding hairline. It isn't suitable for every kind of hair loss. See your GP or a dermatologist first if your hair loss:

  • is sudden, or happens in patches
  • comes with itching, pain, redness, scaling or sores on the scalp
  • started after an illness, a new medication or a big life event

These can have underlying causes that need proper diagnosis.

What you'll need

  • A 24-pin, 36-pin or 42-pin cartridge (see our cartridge guide)
  • A fine-toothed comb and hair clips
  • Alcohol wipes and a hyaluronic acid serum

Technique

  1. Start clean. Wash and dry your hair and scalp. Skip styling products.
  2. Disinfect. Wipe the areas you'll treat with an alcohol wipe and let them dry.
  3. Set the depth. Start at 0.6mm. Only increase towards 1.0mm in later sessions if your scalp has tolerated it well.
  4. Section your hair. Create a parting with the comb and clip the hair away.
  5. Treat along the parting. Apply a little serum, hold the pen at 90 degrees, and glide slowly along the parting a few times. Don't press.
  6. Move on. Make a new parting about 1 to 2cm away and repeat until you've covered the thinning area.
  7. Finish. Dispose of the cartridge safely and clean the pen.

Hair can catch in the pen if you work across it rather than along a parting. If it tugs, stop and re-section.

Aftercare

  • Wait 24 hours before washing your hair, then use a gentle shampoo.
  • Avoid hair dye, bleach and chemical treatments for at least a week.
  • Avoid sweating heavily, swimming and direct sun on the scalp for 48 hours.
  • If you use a medicated hair-loss product, ask your pharmacist or GP how long to wait before applying it after a session.

How often

Every 2 weeks at 0.6mm is a sensible start. Allow longer between sessions if you increase the depth. See how often to microneedle.

Setting expectations

Hair grows slowly, in cycles. Give it at least 3 to 6 months of consistent sessions before judging results. Taking photos in the same light every month makes progress easier to see. Results vary from person to person, and microneedling may help improve the look of thinning hair rather than reverse hair loss.

Published studies on scalp microneedling were mostly carried out in clinics, often alongside medicated treatments. See our clinical studies page for details.