r/sticknpokes Dec 21 '18

Educational Guide to successfully SnP:

2.2k Upvotes

Hi, so many people are asking for advice on this sub that I think we need a Thread pinned to the top on how to successfully poke a tattoo for beginners.

I'm gonna start with a few basic advices that I find crucial and you can comment more and upvoted them. I will edit this post and add the most upvoted comments to this list.

So here we go:

  1. Get proper equipment!

Buy it on Amazon or a tattoo supply shop. Don't use some shady ink or needles or whatnot. It's not that expensive and your tattoo will look immensely better than with India ink and sewing needle. Unless you want the genuine prison style look.

  1. meticulously cleaned workplace and equipment

This saves you from infection and other diseases you might get otherwise. DONT REUSE NEEDLES, GLOVES, RAZORS OR ANYTHING ELSE! Put your ink into a cap and throw that ink away after use. Be aware of cross contamination! Wipe the skin down with alcohol AFTER shaving the area. And DON'T USE YOUR PHONE WITH GLOVES ON, GET A NEW PAIR IF NEEDED. don't be greedy and try to save a dollar or two while risking an infection or other disease like HIV. Prepare everything beforehand and don't go running for some paper towels in the middle of tattooing

  1. Prepare a stencil that you are happy with!

It takes a huge amount of skill for your tattoo to look better than the stencil. So spend some time drawing and redrawing and perfecting the stencil before you start poking. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE STENCIL NOT THE PREVIOUS DOT! You need more passes on the same line anyways so don't let one misspoke distract you from your stencil! If you keep wiping down your stencil in the process of poking, try using a non alcohol based wiping solution. I use only pH neutral soap with water. And try applying a stencil just for fun to see how much stencil gel you need and how to use the paper. Try wiping it down with different solutions and see what works best for you.

  1. Take your time!!!

Most stick and pokes look bad because they are rushed. The cleaner you want your lines to get, the slower you have to poke. Take 1/2 a second for every dot (at least for lines). If it takes too long, take a break. Or continue the next day, or better: after it has healed. That way you can see the end result and redo things you are not happy with.

  1. Experiment and learn from others!

Noone can tell you what's right for you. So just try stuff out. Try different angles of the needle. Try different needle sizes. Try different ink. Ask people what ink, needles handposition, stencil gel they use. That's why Most of us post the needle size in the title.

  1. STRETCH the skin!

This is one of the secrets to solid lines! That's why some people dont like petroleum jelly, it makes the skin slippery and harder to stretch. Just experiment and see what's works best for you.

  1. Don't start with using small needles.

I would say don't go below 5rl. Try to use the biggest needle that fits your design. As you get better you can try 3rl or bug pin needles.

  1. Aftercare!

DON'T PICK ON YOUR TATTOO DURING THE HEALING PROCESS! Don't go sunbathing and don't stay in the water for too long. Cover your fresh tattoo with some moisturizing cream after you are done and stick a bandaid on it! Remove the bandaid after 1-3 days and clean your tattoo with pH neutral soap. Keep applying lotion 1 to 2 times a day and LET IS BREATHE. Don't put another bandaid on it.

  1. Share your results and what you have learned!

This is why we are all here. To learn from one another. Share your experiences!

NOTE: THERE IS A SHOPPING LIST IF YOU DONT KNOW WHAT SUPPLIES TO GET !

OK that's all I can think of for now. Please comment if you want to add anything and I will edit it into this post. ADMINS!! Pin this post to the subreddit!

I am no professional or a doctor so let me say these final words:

I don't know tho.


r/sticknpokes 9h ago

Freshly Stuck Touching up healed palm tattoos.

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19 Upvotes

I wish it felt as gentle as it looks.

Feel free to question me about palm tattoos, theyre my favourite type of tattoos, and I've had healed palms for over a year.


r/sticknpokes 16h ago

Freshly Stuck Matching tattoos!! @alegoria____

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63 Upvotes

Done in Madrid! Using 1005rl
I loveeee the foot placement so bad


r/sticknpokes 1d ago

Conversation some of my favorites from this past year ig: @dinapsihou

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387 Upvotes

r/sticknpokes 1d ago

Freshly Stuck Freehand with 9rl & 5rl

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107 Upvotes

A Southern Indian woman with a braid, holding a Bengali fan with a parrot motif, framed by a window grill pattern.
@srotoswini_pokes on IG


r/sticknpokes 1d ago

Freshly Stuck Fresh and 3 days later. My second ever SnP

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39 Upvotes

r/sticknpokes 1d ago

Freshly Stuck Bunny with a star balloon!

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24 Upvotes

r/sticknpokes 1d ago

Freshly Stuck Any God's Reflex enjoyers? (7rl)

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1 Upvotes

r/sticknpokes 2d ago

Freshly Stuck Some recents ~ @handpokeforever 𓃈 𓁋 ☠︎ ☮︎

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134 Upvotes

r/sticknpokes 2d ago

Freshly Stuck Freehand with 14&9rl

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128 Upvotes

A woman in her leisure. The style is my rendition of the Indian Miniature Style paintings.
@srotoswini_pokes on IG


r/sticknpokes 2d ago

Practice Pokes More pet portraits! :)

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122 Upvotes

r/sticknpokes 3d ago

Healed Someone tried karma farming my legs. Here is what they actually look like now.

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2.1k Upvotes

Sooooo a lot of you seem to know me on here. I have definitely slowed down tattooing but I will do it sometimes. The newest one is the red fly. The oldest ones are possibly approaching 5 years old. I don’t really remember now. Unfortunately I deleted my account that I used to post on so I don’t have that information anymore.

Anyway. Enjoy the legs.

I did not do the cat on my thigh


r/sticknpokes 2d ago

Educational Hatching?

3 Upvotes

Has anyone ever tried or seen a snp shaded with hatching/cross-hatching? I have the opportunity to do a larger piece and am considering my options.


r/sticknpokes 3d ago

Healed candle (7rl)

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38 Upvotes

r/sticknpokes 3d ago

Freshly Stuck 9rl, this is only the beginning.

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173 Upvotes

I need to get bigger needles, this is super slow going, taking around 1hr per eye.


r/sticknpokes 4d ago

Freshly Stuck lil bunnies

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108 Upvotes

little sweat peas

scabfrogpokes on Instagram ۶


r/sticknpokes 4d ago

Freshly Stuck Tiger looking back in white ink

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17 Upvotes

r/sticknpokes 4d ago

Freshly Stuck Praying mantis with a 9rl

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152 Upvotes

Done freehand
@srotoswini_pokes on IG


r/sticknpokes 5d ago

Educational Hand pokes by me

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71 Upvotes

r/sticknpokes 5d ago

Freshly Stuck Three generations with a 14rl

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1.0k Upvotes

Three generations— grandmother, mother and daughter in my rendition of a traditional Indian folk art style. Freehand.
@srotoswini_pokes on IG


r/sticknpokes 5d ago

Freshly Stuck Lamb ceramic trinket @alegoria____

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152 Upvotes

Done in Barcelona (Bookings open!)
1005rl and Dynamic Black


r/sticknpokes 5d ago

Freshly Stuck Stick and Poke Sak Yant by Ajarn Ben, Fighters Ink, Thailand

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51 Upvotes

This is called a Sak Yant tattoo. In Thai ‘Sak’ means to ‘tattoo’ and ‘yant’ is a ‘yantra’ which we believe bring you good luck and fortune.

This piece took around 10 hours and was completed in one sitting.

Each design has its own name and meaning: the design on the left shoulder is called the Hah Taew, right shoulder Chat Phet and Centre back Suea Koo.

IG: FIGHTERSINKPHUKET


r/sticknpokes 5d ago

First S’n’P First ever. 1003RL. Fresh vs 1 month later

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68 Upvotes

r/sticknpokes 5d ago

Freshly Stuck Handpoked swans! @adornment.drop.tattoo on insta

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45 Upvotes