Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark A. Weston.
Mark was born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1961. At a young age, his aesthetic sense and love for art prevailed over all else in his life. He was receiving monetary compensation for his custom pin striping work by the age of 13. Later adding to his resume murals, airbrushing, sign painting & lettering, carved wood, glass and stone.
Providing custom pin striping for Queen Elizabeth’s Rolls Royce in the mid 1980’s, artwork for cast members of M.A.S.H. and other celebrities, his skills became highly sought after. His custom etched glass work also appeared on the National Geographic Channel as it adorns the entryway to the Peterbuilt Truck Factory in Denton, Texas.
While in the Navy in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, he learned cosmetic and fine art tattooing from Asian tattoo master Pinkey Lee in Hong Kong. He apprenticed under Mr. Lee where he was taught the art of custom needle making, the science of organic pigments and tattoo machine building. For decades, he had perfected this art and he has owned and operated several fine art tattoo studios before founding Artistry Concepts, LLC in 2006. His wide range of experience commencing in 1996 in the medical tattooing field included areola repigmentation for breast cancer survivors, vitiligo repigmentation and scar camouflage.
Later adding micropigmentation (permanent cosmetics) and then scalp pigmentation. He was one of the first in the United States to tattoo the universal diabetic symbol on the wrist of a diabetic client.
He performed his first hair micropigmentation in the United States in 1989 when a friend approached him with the request of tattooing hair stubble on his balding head. He then proceeded to accommodate his friend. With the conventional tattoo equipment available at that time, the hair “stubble” look was created and he had several more opportunities since that time to “create” the stubble look. He first commenced the formal pioneering work in this field in 2007 while owning and operating his third fine art tattoo studio, Artistry Concepts.
In early 2009, someone emailed a generic and unmarked photo of a tattoo shaded scalp to him. He then decided to step-up his research and explore this more in detail because of the numerous inquiries he was receiving and what he thought was an unacceptable and realistic look.
He then commenced with his first formal scalp pigmentation that became quickly publicized. At that time, he used the same commercial needles that were used in the generic shaded scalp photo. But as a long-time artist, he had routinely used a pointillism process in painting and tattooing. He therefore opted for this pointillism application process instead of shading the entire scalp. However, he still felt the need for substantial improvement
Then ceasing performing any additional scalp micro-pigmentation procedures, he saw this was clearly an undeveloped process. Based on his own experience above as well as the unnatural look of the man in the generic scalp tattoo photo, this became the beginning of the new generation of scalp micro-pigmentation research and engineering.
He then became the first in the United States to offer scalp micropigmentation as a full-time business in early 2009. He is now a world-renowned expert in the scalp micropigmentation field, researching and developing a specialized medical tattoo method, equipment, supplies and pigments to replicate hair follicles. He developed and holds the world’s only patent in scalp micropigmentation for his micro needles and application method.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not at all. After I developed my follicular hair replication needle and specific application method and filed it for patenting, I was constantly attacked by copycat companies being accused of claiming patent-pending strictly as a marketing tool and that I did not in fact have a patent-pending (even though the application could be found on the USPTO website). One such UK competitor stated:
“Anyone, including Billy Bob in his shed in central Alabama, can grind down a needle and then call it patent pending. About 400,000 patents are submitted to the US Patent Office every year, but only about 11,500 individual patents are approved. And therefore, labeling something as patent-pending is misleading.”
The ridiculing went on for six years until my patent was finally granted in July of 2015. Then there was silence from all the disbelievers.
I have had “clients” come for my services and attempt to walkout with my pigments in their pockets, I have had phony clients sent to me from other companies to obtain information.
This is a good link in my website to further show what has been done to me:
https://www.markwestonhair.com/who-started-scalp-micropigmentation-in-usa/
The above is only the tip of the iceberg. I am presently writing an autobiography to cover my almost 10 years in this business.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about M. Weston Non-Surgical Hair Restoration – what should we know?
I offer scalp micropigmentation, which is a medical tattooing procedure that recreates the natural look of your lost hair, one individual follicle at a time by pigmenting into the scalp a visual illusion of a full head of hair. A non-surgical approach to hair loss, this amazing hair restoration process resembles individual follicles when properly and expertly applied.
While there are generic forms of this method offered by hundreds of companies that require multi-sessions, none can be completed in one appointment with the natural results of The Weston System℠. Only the Weston System℠ is so unique and superior, that it’s patented. No other hair restoration company so carefully and proudly reflects the needs and uniqueness of every client.
I am most proud of being the first to offer this concept in the USA and proud of my engineering and research into a United States patent.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I have to give credit to my life partner, Gale Hartvigsen. She has supported me and has handled all the business and administrative aspects of the business since the onset.
Pricing:
- Every case is unique and individually priced. Average prices are from $3200 to $5000.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5350 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Box A-6
Suite 204-206
Longboat Key, FL 34228 - Website: www.markwestonhair.com
- Phone: (941) 217-5103
- Email: info@markwestonhair.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/M-Weston-Non-Surgical-Hair-Restoration-1345837098823122/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/markwestonhair
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOnRMoWSHiLI81-l3jj2eIg
Image Credit:
Mark Weston
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