If you're researching scalp micropigmentation in Vancouver or Langley, you'll come across several artists. What you might not realize is that many of them trained with the same person - Billy DeCola, founder of Studio Kiku.
Billy was one of the first practitioners to hold SMP training sessions in Burnaby back in 2012. Hundreds of students have come through his doors since then. His style, technique, and approach aren't like most SMP artists you'll find online, and that comes down to his background.
Where Billy's technique comes from
Billy spent 15+ years in the tattoo industry before moving into scalp micropigmentation. He worked on Miami Ink and appeared on TLC's "NY Ink" from 2010 to 2012. That foundation in tattooing mechanics - hand control, needle depth, understanding how pigment sits in skin - carries over directly into how he applies SMP.
He also has extensive training in bloodborne pathogens and infection control, which shapes how Studio Kiku operates and how his training program was developed. Every client gets single-use needles, disposable cartridges, and a sterile setup you'd expect in a medical setting.
The result is an SMP style that looks natural under scrutiny. No blocky hairlines, no dots that bleed together, no pigment that turns blue over time. "Most people don't know good SMP until they see it in person," Billy often says. "The goal is that no one notices you had work done - they just think you shaved your head."
The online course that trained the industry
Billy's SMP training course on Thinkific - available at https://billydecola.thinkific.com/courses/smp-training - is the number one selling online scalp micropigmentation training course in the world. Students from six continents have gone through it. That means if you walk into an SMP clinic anywhere in North America, there's a good chance the artist learned the fundamentals from Billy's curriculum.
The course covers depth control, follicle placement, pigment selection, and how to adapt technique for different skin tones and hair types. It also includes modules on client consultation and setting realistic expectations - the part of the process that determines whether a client leaves happy or disappointed.
We mention this not to pat ourselves on the back, but because it's relevant context. If you're choosing between SMP artists in Vancouver, you're often choosing between practitioners who learned the same foundational technique. The question becomes who applies it best, who's kept up their skill, and who has the experience to back it up.
What Studio Kiku offers that most SMP clinics don't
Studio Kiku isn't just an SMP application clinic. We also offer SMP removal and lightening using the Candela PicoWay laser.
If you've outgrown old SMP work - maybe your natural hair thinned more and the contrast looks off, or the original dots aged poorly and turned cool-toned - we can lighten or remove it without damaging your skin or existing hair follicles. The PicoWay uses picosecond pulses that shatter pigment into particles small enough for your body to clear, while leaving the surrounding tissue intact.
That's not something most SMP artists can offer. Most will apply new work, but if your old work needs correction first, you're stuck finding a separate laser clinic and hoping they understand SMP pigment. We handle both under one roof.
The honest part
Billy's technique is excellent for creating natural density and crisp hairlines. But SMP doesn't grow hair back. If you're hoping for regrowth or expecting the dots to blend with long hair, that's not what this does. SMP works best when you keep your hair buzzed short - think a #1 guard or shorter.
If you're early in the hair loss process and still considering medication or transplants, talk to a doctor about those options first. SMP is a cosmetic solution that replicates the look of a full head of shaved hair. It's not a medical treatment, and it won't stop further thinning.
We'll tell you this in the consultation. If we don't think you're a good candidate - or if we think you should wait - we'll say so.
Billy's availability right now
Here's the practical part: Billy has immediate availability for SMP sessions in both Vancouver and Langley. No long wait list. Most clinics book out weeks or months - we don't.
SMP sessions are booked as a series. Most cases need two to three sessions spaced 10 to 14 days apart. The first session establishes the hairline and base layer; the second builds density; the third fine-tunes any areas that need it. Billy will map that out in your consultation.
The process works the same whether you're male or female. We treat thinning crowns, receding hairlines, full scalp coverage for total hair loss, and scar camouflage from old transplants or injuries.
If you're considering scalp micropigmentation and want to work directly with the person who trained much of the industry, book a free consultation at Studio Kiku. Billy will assess your case in person, walk you through what's realistic, and give you a timeline and price upfront.