Tattoo Equipment

Most tattoo inks purchased from reputable manufacturers are considered safe, but some inks can cause allergic reactions and sensitive skin.Knowing how to help clients who are prone to allergic reactions and answer questions about the ink you’re using will help them have a better tattoo experience. Here’s what we’ll cover in this article: Tattoo allergies …

Tattoo numbing creams (and sprays) are applied to the skin to reduce pain during the tattooing process. Less pain means clients can sit longer – and flinch less – saving you time and preventing mistakes in your designs.While numbing creams can’t give someone a “painless tattoo,” knowing when to use it – and how to …

Blue ink is extremely common in tattooing – but is it safe? And can an all-blue tattoo really stand the test of time like black ink? Though blue has been used in tattooing for decades, there has recently been controversy about whether it should be considered safe for use in tattooing. In this article, we’ll break …

Rotary tattoo machines use a direct drive motor to push ink into the skin. Because of this, they are much easier to set up than a traditional coil machine that has several pieces that need adjusting before doing a tattoo.Because they’re easy to set up, we highly recommend rotary machines (or pen machines that use …

The terms “riding the tube” and “floating the needle” have to do with your needle depth. Riding the tube automatically controls your needle depth to keep you from going too deep in the skin. But it makes it harder to see your stencil.Floating the needle means you manually control your needle depth. This makes it …

Tattoo needles have different sizes so they can perform different jobs. The measure of the diameter (“thickness”) of the needle determines how much ink goes in the skin with each deposit. For example, bugpins, which have a smaller diameter than standard needles, can be helpful if you’re trying to restrict ink flow to add detail or …

As a new tattoo artist, the amount of equipment out there can be overwhelming. However, without the right equipment, you could be holding yourself back. This can make the learning process way longer. That’s why Brandon will explain:Which brands he recommendsAdvice about buying tattoo equipmentHow to tell when it’s time to upgrade your setup Table of …

As a new tattoo artist, you’ll build up your tattooing setup overtime. However, it’s much easier to find good products when you have help from more experienced artists. To help, our tattooing instructor, Brandon, put together a list of all his favorite recommendations for new artists so you can find the quality products you need to …

Stroke length in a tattoo machine is the measurement of the needle’s up-and-down motion. Picking the right stroke length is the difference between a busted tattoo that can’t be fixed and a tattoo with crisp lines and perfect blends.  In this article, we’ll be breaking down:What machine stroke isWhich stroke to use for lining, packing, …

Learn to make stencils digitally and by hand, operate a thermal printer, prepare the skin and apply a stencil, as well as how to avoid smudging the stencil while you work. We’re taking you through the whole process from start to finish.

We recommend CNC’s thermal stencil paper.

Most people think that becoming a professional tattoo artist means creating amazing designs every day. And while that’s an outcome of success, what people don’t see are the characteristics that allowed the artist to get to that point-  the grit behind it all.In the tattoo industry, simply being a good tattoo artist is not enough …

Your tattoo machine is the most important part of your setup. Without it, you have no way to actually put ink in the skin. As a beginner tattoo artist, a big part of improving your tattoos is choosing machines with the settings you need and making proper adjustments (when possible). If you can’t use your machine correctly, …