Our founder Sam Garcia, known across the industry as The SMP G, joined The Scalp Solutions Podcast for episode 90. It is a conversation between working SMP artists about the craft, the business, and what it takes to build a career in scalp micropigmentation. You can watch the full episode right here.
About the episode
The Scalp Solutions Podcast is hosted by the team at Scalp Solutions in New York, and episode 90 puts Sam in the guest chair. As the show describes him, Sam is “a renowned barber and cosmetologist, specializing in scalp micro-pigmentation (SMP) in the Fort Worth region” who has “catered to thousands of clients, many of whom grapple with hair loss challenges.”
It is a rare long-form look at how an SMP career actually gets built. Not the highlight reel, but the real path: the barbering roots, the move into scalp micropigmentation, and the teaching career that followed.
So how do you become an SMP artist?
If the episode has you thinking about the career itself, here is the honest picture, based on what we see training students at our academy.
1. You don't need to start as a tattoo artist
Our students come from everywhere. Barbers who want to offer hair loss solutions, tattoo artists adding a specialty, estheticians, cosmetologists, nurses, and career changers with no needle experience at all. What matters is steady hands, an eye for detail, and the patience to build a natural hairline dot by dot.
2. Real training is hands-on, not just videos
Online courses can teach theory, but SMP is a physical skill. A proper course puts a machine in your hand and a live model in your chair. Our SMP Academy courses run over multiple hands-on days and include a full kit, an SMP machine, live model work, and certification. We also cover the parts most courses skip, like color theory and the marketing you need to actually get clients.
3. Your teacher matters more than your certificate
A certificate proves you attended. Your results prove you learned. Train with an artist whose portfolio you would stake your reputation on, and who still does client work. Sam has trained over 1,000 students and still takes the chair every week. You can read more about him on our story page or in the press.
4. Know what you're getting into financially
SMP is one of the stronger earning paths in the beauty industry, but it is a business, not a lottery ticket. We broke down the numbers in our guide to SMP training in Texas.
Train with Sam: upcoming classes
- July 26 to 28, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX: 3-Day SMP Course
- August 16 to 19, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX: 4-Day SMP and Tattoo Course with @jptattoos
- August 29, San Antonio, TX: SMP Look and Learn with Faded Culture Academy
- September 14 to 17, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX: SMP and Master Cutting Class with Los Cut It
- October 10 to 12, San Antonio, TX: 3-Day SMP Class plus Marketing
- November 29 to December 2, Chicago, IL: SMP and Master Cutting Class with Los Cut It
We keep seats limited so every class stays hands-on. See the full schedule on the academy page, or text or call 817-350-4414 to reserve your spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become an SMP artist?
Foundational hands-on training takes days, not years. Our core academy course runs 3 to 4 hands-on days. Real proficiency builds over your first months of practice after certification.
Do I need to be a tattoo artist before learning SMP?
No. Students come from barbering, cosmetology, permanent makeup, nursing, and from outside the industry entirely. There are no prerequisites and no prior needle experience is required.
Do I need a license to perform SMP in Texas?
SMP is regulated as body art in Texas, so you will generally need to work from a properly registered facility. We cover the current requirements during training.
How much can an SMP artist earn?
Earnings vary widely by location, skill level, and marketing. SMP is among the higher earning specialties in the beauty industry, which is exactly why we teach ads and marketing alongside technique.
What is included in the SMP course?
A full kit with an SMP machine, inks, needles and supplies, live model work, and certification. You also get color theory, hairline design, and the marketing training most courses leave out.
Prefer to listen on the go? Find episode 90 on YouTube or Apple Podcasts.
