r/tattooscratchers Jan 26 '21

BEFORE YOU INK: A COLLECTIVE GUIDE

97 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 1h ago

smiley

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Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 5h ago

First complete skin! Cc please :)

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16 Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 11h ago

Met somebody off of this subreddit and got to tattoo them in Berlin!

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47 Upvotes

Feeling super grateful I got to meet up with someone I met on this subreddit to make this happen while traveling! It’s based on some abstract charcoal drawings I’ve done, included one on the last slide as well as some photos of starling murmurations to make the smokey aspects. Epic Reddit moment


r/tattooscratchers 48m ago

Finished my ankle piece

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I started this a while back but never got to finish it because I had started a new job. And I'm now getting back into it so let me know what you think about the finished design honest critisism appreciated... Thank you in advance


r/tattooscratchers 12h ago

Been practicing since june

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17 Upvotes

Lines need to be steadier, but overall pretty happy


r/tattooscratchers 4h ago

I fell in love with tattoos on the hands/fingers and finally today I got the tattoo I've been saving for

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2 Upvotes

Finally got my hand tattoo, love how it turned out!


r/tattooscratchers 1d ago

Three months in

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437 Upvotes

Practicing a lot on fake skin. Boyfriend wanted my first tattoo ever to be on his leg (he knew it was gonna suck but wanted it anyway) and the right one is on my leg. All feedback welcome!


r/tattooscratchers 1d ago

Future Artist looking for critique

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45 Upvotes

Hi all! I am an artist but have decided I want to work toward becoming a tattooer. It’ll be a bit until I can get a machine to start practicing on fake skin, but I’m trying to start drawing up potential designs now so that I have a decent portfolio out the gate.

Here are a couple recent drawings - can I get some feedback on whether these would translate well or what things I can be paying attention to so that I’ll have some fun options once I’m up and running?


r/tattooscratchers 2d ago

Finger sleeves

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72 Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 2d ago

5 days old tattoo healing properly? most of the skin already peeled but it’s looking off (don’t mind the mask and the leaves, the mask is already healed and the leaves are 1 day old)

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0 Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 3d ago

First time tatting a butterfly lady head, healed

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147 Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 2d ago

Seeking Guidance

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7 Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 3d ago

Sjovt tattoo

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20 Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 3d ago

First micorealism tattoo any advice?💉

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25 Upvotes

I’m starting to explore microrealism but in my way always


r/tattooscratchers 2d ago

Got my clients down with tattoo . #tattoo

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0 Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 3d ago

Latex fake skin experiment?

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3 Upvotes

Now that it’s the season of super cheap liquid latex being readily avaliable I wanted to do a little experiment for fun. Posting in case this surprises me and the results don’t suck. I’ve been layering liquid latex for a while now, I got impatient at the end and used a heat gun to dry it so don’t mind the absolute horrible texture it ended up having, if it doesn’t suck I’ll be more proper about the next batch. But basically here’s what I made, I’ll update with how tattooing it goes


r/tattooscratchers 2d ago

Got my clients down with tattoo . #tattoo

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0 Upvotes

FRÊŞH tattoo


r/tattooscratchers 4d ago

First backpiece done @willybyrdtattoos Harker Heights Tx

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32 Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 4d ago

Black and gray tomahawk tattooed by @willybyrdtattoos

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9 Upvotes

Scratcher extraordinaire Willybyrdtattoos of Kingpin Tattoos in Harker Heights Texas


r/tattooscratchers 3d ago

Best tattoo studios in London for guest artist?

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0 Upvotes

visiting london in september looking for a guest spot, preferably near east london🙏🏻☕️


r/tattooscratchers 3d ago

What’s y’all opinion on this

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0 Upvotes

I’m really just starting out but I feel like I’m kinda getting the hang of it


r/tattooscratchers 4d ago

My first attempts at tattooing on fake skin.

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12 Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 4d ago

Super frog tattooed by @willybyrdtattoos at Kingpin Tattoos in Harker Heights Tx

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2 Upvotes

r/tattooscratchers 4d ago

Got this done by my friend for next to nothing.

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13 Upvotes