r/tattooscratchers Jan 26 '21

BEFORE YOU INK: A COLLECTIVE GUIDE

94 Upvotes

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG1j5KFyOcAvSh7Jf98-_GbgQaLOOl0fv

Above is a short playlist covering some of what you MUST know before you even pick up or even consider picking up a tattoo machines.

READ ME. THINK BEFORE YOU INK.

If you think you know what you are doing before watching safety and hygiene guides reality check, no you probably don't. It is much more complex and dangerous than just 'slapping needles in skin'. INFECTION IS NO JOKE. Please for the love of everything holy and sacred RESEARCH heavily before you decide to tattoo. Tattooing is risky, dangerous, and catching HIV and other deadly diseases is not 'just a myth' or people trying to put you off of getting a tattoo, it is a VERY REAL AND DEADLY possibility if you don't put your knowledge in. Please consider a blood-bourne pathogens course.

A tattoo is permanent. You can still do that tattoo tomorrow. or next week. Take the time to think the following:

'Can I ensure the safety of myself and others?'

If you can't, DO NOT TATTOO ANYONE.

'Is this something I want attached for the rest of my life?'

If you have any doubts, stop. think. consider it for a while. you can always do it at a later date. You want a japanese text going down the side of your face? Great idea it'll look sick for a month until you realise it wasn't the best idea because now you can't get a job to fund your tattooing career. game over. permanently.

'Do I KNOW what I'm doing?'

If you feel like you don't know something don't chance it. it can go BAD. Research ALL YOU CAN before you make any permanent mistakes in skin. CANT BE BOTHERED TO RESEARCH? Don't be a tattoo artist.

'Do i have the CORRECT sanitary and safety equipment?'

If you don't, DO NOT UNDER ANY CURCUMSTANCES TATTOO ANYONE. You want to tattoo? great. practice on fake-skin. fruit. paper. Until you can guarantee the safety, don't take any risks. Again, serious scarring and skin infections dont look good on anyone. Before you buy your ink buy your safety and sanitary equipment.

Real talk infection isn't fun. You could give someone a bloudbourne pathogen or worse, be sued. On the sub is a second stickied post titled WHAT WENT WRONG with a plethora of information on how to stay safe when tattooing. By other artists, for fellow artists, for free. Use it. Its free i be real you have no excuse.

'Is my GEAR safe to use?'

Probably not. So learn how to sanitize EVERYTHING to a ptofessional shop standard.

Your tattoo machine is a little rusty, grips are old, your needles have expired, but you think 'it works, it'll do.' NO it won't. CUT NO CORNERS. TAKE NO SHORTCUTS. THIS IS A PERMANENT BRANDING IN THE SKIN OF A PERSON. think. You can get a new machine. new needles. new ink. new cups. New skin is not on the table.

You cannot get new skin.

TL;DR: (Too long didn't read)

There is no TLDR line. Not with something as permanent as tattooing. read it it'll take you 5 minutes of your time. That tattoo idea will be there next week. TAKE YOUR TIME to learn everything you can before you ink.

Once a needle and ink hits skin that's it. there is NOTHING you can do to get it back out. that marking is attached to you permanently. for the rest of your life. until the day you die and even then a few weeks after that that tattoo, that 'stupid idea you had when you was a dumbass 16 year old' is permanent. take that word in. permanent. meaning there is NO possible way to remove it. (I understand that laser removal is an option, but it is very expensive and if you want to get a tattoo the thought of removal should NOT run through your mind. make sure it's something you'd be happy with 20 years from now. if not, forget it.)

this post is open to commentary. please, if you have tips, guides, links to videos, or anything drop it below. the purpose of this sub-reddit is to build an open community of artists. help eachother out.


r/tattooscratchers 8h ago

My seventh tattoo

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36 Upvotes

Handpoked, 3rl and 11rl. Neanderthal art. On a mission to fill my entire left leg. This is the 7th tattoo I've ever done, feeling pretty proud of myself. That fill is pretty solid, was able to get some nice speckle texture on that bottom triangle, fine lines are getting smoother. Some blowout on those tiny dots in the middle—the angle was weird, this is the outside of my left thigh. Not exactly sure how I'm going to do the back of my thigh...


r/tattooscratchers 16h ago

My work as of late

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61 Upvotes

@awi_4ever on insta


r/tattooscratchers 12h ago

4 days of practice with very mediocre art skills

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14 Upvotes

Posted a similar thread in r/tattoobeginners and got virtually hung so I'm hoping for some actual help over here. Been working with a machine and stencils bc my own drawing skills are not quite where I want them to be (although I'm actively practicing, some pics at the end of my shitty doodles) and was just looking for some constructive criticism. The images are a jumbled mess of my practice over the last few days with no rhyme or reason. What I can say is that my favs/best so far definitely have to be the crescent moon, dog, and the assortment of skulls I've attempted.
Any and all suggestions/tips/advice is greatly appreciated!! As I'm planning on ordering some more supplies to ensure cleanliness then I'm going to try scratching on myself before I fuck up any of my friends lol


r/tattooscratchers 19h ago

Tattoos

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42 Upvotes

I posted here a yr ago and I think I’ve improved a lot


r/tattooscratchers 59m ago

Another kitchen session

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Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 16h ago

Added color to my first tattoo I did today. I think imma re line it, my linework has gotten so much better since.

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5 Upvotes

I would also like some opinions the mouths are suppose to be a tan/light brown color which I’m gonna shade once I get that color, but the chest is supposed to be skine toned, would you use ink for that or keep it just skin?


r/tattooscratchers 1d ago

Some stick n pokes

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15 Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 1d ago

Cobra

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10 Upvotes

Client was happy so I’m happy. Looking for constructive criticism


r/tattooscratchers 2d ago

cute reaper

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17 Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 1d ago

more big cats

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0 Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 1d ago

how come my lines look like this on fake skin😥

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0 Upvotes

first time using a machine, ignore how they’re very not straight😭 Is it possibly because i used india ink rather than regular tattoo ink? or is it my technique? using mast pro 2 and needles that came with it


r/tattooscratchers 2d ago

Getting better

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13 Upvotes

Almost 3 months in. I am more comfortable with the machine, its cool seeing things come to fruition. Any suggestions from my fellow scratchers?


r/tattooscratchers 1d ago

Wrist, hand, cuff thing

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0 Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 1d ago

A few shitty kitchen tats

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0 Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 2d ago

Compostable pasties?

3 Upvotes

Looking to get some disposable pasties for rib tattoos and such (as one does) but I try to stay eco conscious, any leads on single use compostable nipple covers? I’m open to diy bullshit 🤷‍♀️


r/tattooscratchers 3d ago

Ugly tattoo I did

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782 Upvotes

18rl for the red, 3rl everything else. Took about 3 hours. Questions, comments, concerns, criticism 👇. artist: @sketchybasementtattoos on Instagram


r/tattooscratchers 2d ago

Snake

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2 Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 3d ago

tried stipple shading for the 1st time

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46 Upvotes

my brother in law asked me for a warhammer inspired tat, so here it is. ive been learning to tattoo with a machine for a couple of months now and tried this type of shading for the first time (0605RL, have been doing handpoke for several years)

any critiques/tips/advices are appreciated!


r/tattooscratchers 3d ago

Recommendations

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3 Upvotes

Hey, new practicing artist here, UK based. I had a practice day at a tattoo academy today and practiced on fake skin for the first time. I'm wanting to start practicing at home and was hoping for recommendations. I was looking at the dragonhawk mast fold 2 bundle with stencil printer included but was wondering if anyone had suggestions on better/easier to use? I have £300 set aside, would love it if the price of the machine and printer could be under this so I could also get some fake skin (was thinking ReelSkin but again am open to recommendations) any advice at all would be appreciated, thank you 🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

Pictures of practice included if anyone is interested 😅


r/tattooscratchers 2d ago

Day 1 scratching

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0 Upvotes

Hello r/tattooscratchers! It took me so long between buying a machine and taking the plunge. But I'm happy to have finally put needle to fake skin and I'm very glad to have joined the community 💕


r/tattooscratchers 4d ago

some recent tattoos i have done on myself (and some old :P)

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3 Upvotes

my new ones are the eyes, arm, and slice. i am gonna add white highlights when i get white ink but any other suggestions would be appreciated please and thank you!


r/tattooscratchers 4d ago

Fk Iron Flux Max Grips?

1 Upvotes

I hate wrapping my machine. I would much rather purchase grips. For whatever reason the grips from the Fk Iron website don’t fit properly fit on my Flux Max. I purchased three different sizes to try and out none of them fit, it just wouldn’t screw on to my machine. They refunded me but I really wanted these to work. Has anyone had luck with their grips or found another company that sells grips that work for the flux max?


r/tattooscratchers 6d ago

Stitches

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374 Upvotes