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Essential guide for safe, DIY ink
Interested in entering the tattoo world or creating your own unique body art? You know it's a significant commitment, but with proper safety precautions, you can start easily. Learn how to prepare your tools, apply high-quality ink (with a machine or stick-and-poke needles), and properly clean and care for it afterward.
Warning: Tattooing at home increases the risk of blood-borne infections. Sterile conditions, new needles, and proper care are crucial. It's advised to get tattoos at licensed parlors.
Based on an interview with our tattoo artist, Michelle Myles, co-owner of Daredevil Tattoo. Read the full interview here.
Key Points to Consider
- To tattoo at home, you'll need a tattoo machine or stick-and-poke needles, along with tattoo ink, nitrile gloves, stencil paper, and tattoo ointment.
- A tattoo machine creates thicker, more consistent lines but is costly. Stick-and-poke tattoos are beginner-friendly and budget-friendly.
- Practice tattooing on silicone practice patches or artificial skin before attempting self-tattoos or tattooing others.
Procedure
Preparing Your Skin & Tools
Choose between using a tattoo gun or opting for stick-and-poke. If you're aiming for professionalism, start with a tattoo machine, commonly known as a 'tattoo gun.' These operate using electromagnetic coils connected to an armature bar that rapidly moves a group of needles up and down. The needles are dipped in tattoo ink and applied beneath the skin. Tattoo starter kits with sterile supplies are available for around $100.
- Alternatively, consider tattooing without a gun by choosing the stick-and-poke method, which involves manually depositing ink beneath the skin with a single needle. It's less intimidating and more beginner-friendly.
- Or, save some money by creating your own tattoo gun, though we recommend using proper equipment.
Select a simple design to execute. For your initial tattooing attempt, avoid intricate or large designs with multiple colors. These can be challenging to execute, potentially leading to discouragement from your results. Instead, opt for a tattoo design that's between 1–4 inches (2.5–10.2 cm) in size, preferably using black line art without shading.
- Great first tattoo ideas include handwritten-style lettering, small animal line drawings, or basic shapes like stars, hearts, or crosses.
Arrange your gloves, needles, and other accessories on a flat surface. Choose a well-lit, flat surface and use a disinfectant wipe to eliminate any residual bacteria. Then, cover the work area with thick layers of paper towels to prevent stains. Organize your supplies on the surface for easy access. Since the risk of blood-borne infection is higher with home tattoos, only use brand-new, sterilized supplies straight out of the package. To begin, you'll need:
- New tattooing needles
- Ink cups
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Cotton balls or soft padding
- Nitrile gloves
- Saniderm or plastic wrap
- Tattoo ointment (such as A&D) or Aquaphor for aftercare
Shave the area you're tattooing and then shower to cleanse it. Using clean strokes with a fresh blade, shave the tattoo area along with the surrounding 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm). Shave even if there appears to be no hair—razors provide better precision than the naked eye. Afterward, shower and cleanse the area with an exfoliating cleanser to remove any dirt or grime.
- Change into clean, disposable clothing that you don't mind staining.
Transfer the design onto your skin using stencil paper or by freehand drawing.
If your design is loose, draw it directly on your skin with a washable tattoo marker. Otherwise, sketch your design onto stencil paper with a marker. Then, apply stencil lotion to your skin and press the stencil ink-side down onto your skin.
- Allow the stencil to adhere to your skin for 1-2 minutes before carefully removing it to transfer the design.
Self-Tattooing
Don gloves and prepare your tattoo gun or needle. Assemble your tattoo gun following the instructions provided. Then, don rubber or nitrile gloves and insert your pre-packaged, single-use needle into the gun (or remove it from the packaging if using stick-and-poke). Begin with a #12 gauge (0.35 millimeters (0.014 in)), a commonly used gauge for sturdy lines.
- Keep a supply of gloves nearby and replace them regularly to maintain cleanliness.
Fill your ink cups with tattoo or India ink. Once your design is finalized, select the necessary colors and pour several drops of each into plastic tattoo ink cups. Use only specialized tattoo ink or carbon-based India ink. These inks are natural and gentle on the body, ensuring a safe and sterile process. Avoid using other ink types, which may contain toxins or contaminants.
- As a beginner, stick to black ink until you become comfortable with tattooing. Introducing additional colors prematurely can result in runny or discolored tattoos.
- Some individuals may have allergies to specific ink ingredients and pigments, particularly colored inks. Before starting, tattoo a small dot of ink on a concealed area of skin and wait 1-2 weeks to check for any reactions.
- Use less ink than anticipated; you can always add more later.
Load the needle with ink to begin. When ready to start tattooing, dip your needle—whether using a machine or stick-and-poke—into the ink and position it over your skin, keeping your hand away from the design. Activate the tattoo gun and align the needle with the stencil line. For simple designs, start from the top and work downward to monitor progress without obstruction from your hand.
- Activate the machine to initiate needle movement before attempting to tattoo. Never insert the needle into the skin without first activating it.
- Stretch the skin with your free hand to ensure a smooth, flat surface for tattooing. A flatter surface yields better results.
- Some tattoo guns allow for automatic ink loading by attaching a cartridge of tattoo ink directly to the gun. If using one of these guns, there's no need to dip the needle.
Insert the needle into your skin and trace along the stencil lines. Insert the needle approximately 2 millimeters (0.079 in) into your skin at a 45-degree angle. While it's challenging to insert the needle too deeply due to its design, ensure it penetrates sufficiently. Trace along the outline of your design, moving the needle gradually.
- Your skin should offer slight resistance as you withdraw the needle, with minimal bleeding. If the skin lacks resistance, the needle may be too shallow. Excessive bleeding indicates the needle is too deep.
- Since the needle is hard to see, tilting it diagonally against the skin is often more effective.
Begin tattooing along the outline of your design. Progress slowly along the stencil line, pausing every few centimeters to remove excess ink with a damp paper towel before continuing. Take your time to ensure even tattooing. Work until all lines are clear and solid.
- If performing stick-and-poke, manually puncture the skin at close intervals. Closer punctures yield solid lines, while wider spacing results in dotwork.
- For designs with solid color blocks, use gentle circular motions to fill these areas after completing the outline.
Re-dip the needle when lines become faint. If lines appear grayish rather than black or if they lose their crispness, pause tattooing and re-dip the needle in ink. Additionally, clean the machine's tip with a paper towel dampened in hydrogen peroxide or green tattoo soap regularly to maintain cleanliness.
- Periodically, use a fresh paper towel dampened with green soap to wipe away excess ink and blood from the skin. Use a new towel each time.
Cleaning and Aftercare
Sanitize the tattoo with green soap and apply ointment. After completing the tattoo, cleanse it with a paper towel moistened with green soap. Then, apply a thin layer of tattoo ointment like A&D or Tattoo Goo to minimize infection risk. Avoid thick lotions or petroleum jelly as they obstruct pores, draw out ink, and impede healing.
- Use a small, pea-sized amount of ointment for most tattoos to promote natural healing.
- Alternatively, substitute specialized tattoo ointment with a pea-sized dab of Aquaphor for moisturization and protection.
Wrap the tattoo with a layer of cling wrap. Carefully cover the tattooed area with a single layer of clear plastic wrap to shield it during the initial hours. Use gentle pressure as the skin may be tender. Securely but loosely bind the wrap using blue painter’s tape or medical tape.
- Keep the wrap on for at least 2 hours, if not longer, as this period is crucial for protecting the tattoo.
- Alternatively, consider using Saniderm, a self-adhesive dressing that provides secure coverage.
Sanitize your workspace and dispose of needles properly. Discard the ink, gloves, and other used items, except for the needles. Place the needles in a secure container and deposit them at a designated used needle disposal center, usually found in hospitals or police stations. Never reuse tattoo materials; always use fresh, sterile supplies.
- Improper disposal of needles poses safety hazards and risks spreading bloodborne diseases. In many areas, it's illegal to dispose of needles in regular trash.
Unwrap the tattoo and cleanse it gently with water. Use a small amount of cool water and mild, unscented soap to delicately wash the tattoo with your fingertips. Reapply a thin layer of ointment afterward. For tattoo aftercare, repeat this cleaning process with warm water and soap 2-4 times daily for 6 weeks.
- Avoid swimming or soaking the tattoo for the first 6 weeks. After the initial rinse, showering is acceptable.
- Monitor the tattoo closely for signs of infection, such as redness or abnormal discharge. Seek medical attention promptly if infection is suspected.
Pointers
- Avoid consuming alcohol or painkillers several hours before getting tattooed, as they thin the blood and increase bleeding during the process.
- Practice tattooing on silicone limbs or practice skin patches to familiarize yourself with the technique before tattooing on real skin.
Precautions
- A tattoo is permanent. Even if it fades or needs removal, it may still be partially visible decades later, often leaving faint scars. Ensure complete commitment to your design before proceeding.
- If you accidentally injure yourself during the tattooing process, seek immediate medical attention. It's better to be slightly embarrassed at a hospital than risk more severe injury or infection.
- Tattoos always involve some degree of pain, with certain areas being more sensitive than others.
- Wait until you're at least 18 years old to tattoo yourself. Before then, your body may still be growing, potentially leading to inconsistent or asymmetrical tattoos in adulthood.
- Never reuse or share a tattoo needle. Treat every drop of blood as if it were contaminated.
Necessary Equipment
- Tattoo machine kits or stick-and-poke tattoo kits
- Tattoo ink or India ink
- Nitrile gloves
- Stencil paper
- Stencil lotion
- Green tattoo soap
- Rubbing alcohol
- Tattoo ointment or Aquaphor
- Saniderm or cling wrap
