Your SMP turned the wrong colour. Here’s what laser can do about it

You looked in the mirror and realised your SMP has shifted colour in a way nobody warned you about. Maybe it’s gone blue. Maybe it’s sitting green. Maybe it just doesn’t look right anymore and you want it gone. This article explains what causes SMP discolouration, how laser removal works across different pigment colours, and what a realistic correction journey looks like.

Why SMP changes colour over time

Good SMP should only ever use carbon-based pigments, specifically carbon CI 77266 or SMP-specific colour pigments designed to remain stable in the scalp. When a practitioner uses the wrong pigment, whether that’s a standard tattoo ink, a cosmetic pigment with a warm undertone, or something with iron oxides mixed in, discolouration becomes almost inevitable.

The scalp breaks pigment down differently to the rest of the skin. As those particles fragment under UV exposure, the body’s immune response, and the natural ageing of the skin, poorly chosen pigments reveal their true undertones. Black becomes blue. Warm-based pigments drift green or grey. What looked sharp at six weeks can look very different at six years.

It’s not always about bad practice, though. Techniques improve, tastes change, and pigment migration happens even with quality work. Increasingly, clients come to me wanting to laser off older SMP simply because they want a cleaner slate before a fresh procedure with updated technique. That’s a completely valid reason, and it’s becoming more common.

How lasers target different pigment colours

Laser removal works by delivering concentrated light energy into the skin at a wavelength that the target pigment absorbs. The pigment heats up, fragments, and the body clears the particles over the following weeks. Different pigment colours absorb different wavelengths, which is exactly why one laser doesn’t suit every SMP removal case.

The Nd:YAG laser, operating at 1064nm, is the most widely used for carbon-black SMP removal. It’s well-suited to darker pigments and generally carries a lower risk of hypopigmentation across a range of skin tones. For blue or green SMP, the picture gets more nuanced. Blue tones often respond well to the 1064nm wavelength, but some green or warm-shifted pigments absorb more efficiently at shorter wavelengths, such as 532nm, sometimes delivered through a KTP or Q-switched Nd:YAG in its frequency-doubled mode.

This is why a thorough consultation matters before any treatment begins. A practitioner who understands both SMP pigment chemistry and laser physics can assess what’s actually sitting in your scalp and choose the right tool for it. Guessing at wavelength, or using one laser for every case regardless of colour, risks ineffective treatment or unnecessary skin trauma.

What laser removal of SMP actually involves

SMP removal is not a single session and done. Depending on how much pigment is present, how deep it was placed, and what colour shift has occurred, most clients need somewhere between three and eight sessions, spaced six to eight weeks apart to allow the skin to heal and the body to clear fragmented pigment between treatments.

Each session is relatively quick, often fifteen to thirty minutes for a full scalp, though the timeline varies with coverage. The sensation is sharp and precise, similar to a rubber band snap across the scalp. I don’t use numbing cream as standard, but if you’d prefer to apply your own beforehand, that’s absolutely fine and something we can talk through at consultation.

Aftercare is straightforward: keep the area clean, avoid sun exposure, and don’t pick at any scabbing. Redness and mild swelling in the hours after treatment are normal. The skin needs time between sessions, and rushing the process doesn’t produce better results; it just adds stress to tissue that needs to recover.

For clients who want partial removal, perhaps a hairline adjustment or simply lightening down before a corrective SMP procedure, fewer sessions are typically needed. The goal in those cases isn’t complete clearance but controlled fading to a point where fresh work can be laid cleanly on top.

Why getting this wrong can cause real damage

Lasers are not forgiving in untrained hands. Too high a fluence, the wrong wavelength, or inadequate skin assessment can cause hypopigmentation, blistering, scarring, or paradoxical darkening, where certain pigments oxidise under laser energy rather than fragment. The risks are real, and they are avoidable with the right practitioner.

Most reputable SMP artists either hold a laser removal qualification themselves or maintain a trusted referral relationship with a specialist who does. My own Level 5 Laser Tattoo Removal qualification specialises specifically in SMP removal, so I understand the full picture from original placement through to correction. That context genuinely changes how you approach removal: knowing why the pigment discoloured, how deep it was likely placed, and what the skin has been through informs every treatment decision.

If you’re researching laser correction for discoloured SMP, or for SMP that simply isn’t what you wanted anymore, the most important thing you can do is choose someone qualified to assess your specific situation. A few sessions done well will always outperform cheap treatment that has to be undone later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can blue or green SMP really be fully removed with laser treatment?

Yes, in most cases. Blue and green SMP discolouration responds well to targeted laser wavelengths, particularly the Nd:YAG at 1064nm for blue tones and frequency-doubled settings for green pigments. Full clearance typically requires multiple sessions spaced six to eight weeks apart, though partial fading for corrective work may need fewer.

How many laser sessions will I need to remove discoloured SMP?

Most clients require between three and eight sessions, depending on pigment density, how deep it was placed, and the degree of colour shift. Sessions are spaced six to eight weeks apart to allow healing and pigment clearance. If the goal is lightening for a fresh SMP procedure rather than full removal, fewer sessions are usually sufficient.

Is laser removal of SMP safe for all skin tones?

The Nd:YAG laser at 1064nm is generally considered the safest option across a range of skin tones because it carries a lower risk of hypopigmentation than shorter wavelengths. A thorough consultation and proper skin assessment before treatment are essential. An experienced practitioner will adjust settings based on your skin tone and the specific pigment being targeted.

Does it hurt to have SMP removed with laser?

Most people describe the sensation as a sharp, precise snap, similar to a rubber band against the skin. It’s quick and very localised. Numbing cream isn’t used as standard, but you’re welcome to apply your own beforehand if you’d prefer. Sessions are typically short, so discomfort is brief and manageable for most clients.

What causes SMP to turn blue or green in the first place?

Discolouration usually comes down to the wrong pigment being used at the original procedure. SMP should only use carbon CI 77266 or SMP-specific pigments. Standard tattoo inks or cosmetic pigments with warm or iron oxide undertones break down differently in the scalp, revealing blue or green tones over time as the skin ages and fragments the particles.