Best products from r/sticknpokes

Copying this comment from another thread that I posted in, hope it helps!


Poke with your needle at a 45 degree angle, use a sort of hooking motion to deposit more ink into the skin as well. You'll hear a slight popping, if you go to deep the ink will spread under the skin and won't look great. You're better off poking too soft than too hard, you can always go back over your lines if need be. Search on YouTube and you'll see some people using this "hooking" motion.

Put a very thin layer of vaseline or aquaphor wherever you are going to tattoo before you start poking, this will keep the ink from spreading everywhere so you can see what you're doing. Also, dab your needle on a paper towel after dipping it in your ink to get extra ink off; this will also ensure that you can see what you're doing, as you won't have tons of extra ink sitting on the skin. Wipe with a dry paper towel after you go over a section, and repeat with the vaseline/aquaphor and poking.

Poke one section at a time, don't try to do the whole tattoo over and over. Get a solid line in one section, and then move to another.

If you're using a stencil allow 5-10 minutes between the time that you put it on and you start poking. This will keep the stencil from coming off super easily, you don't want to have to try and eyeball it or re-draw it if you don't have to. Only use a wet (with green soap, if you don't have some buy some) paper towel if you really need to, or when you're finished with the tattoo to clean up all the excess ink. If you use a wet paper towel before you're finished it will wipe off/fade your stencil.

Shave where you are going to be tattooing before you start (I hope everyone knows this already). If you don't have green soap, get some as I stated earlier. You can use it for shaving with, cleaning the tattoo, etc. If you don't have access to green soap, you can use witch hazel for cleaning the tattoo during/after poking. You'll need shaving cream for shaving (assuming you don't have green soap), don't use witch hazel.

Keep everything sanitary, the last thing you want to do is give someone an infection! Use gloves, wipe things down, make a sanitary workstation, use sterile tattoo needles only (NOT SEWING NEEDLES OR PINS), use tattoo ink only (NOT INDIA OR OTHER INK). For other tips on a sanitation check YouTube for a standard tattoo work station!

Last but not least, have some fun! Start off with small things, and work your way up to your own designs! If you like an artist's work, go get a tattoo done by them instead of copying it :)

Here is a link to green soap

Here is a link to very basic tattoo needles - You'll want to use the RL's for lining, and the RS' for shading

Here is a link to some good black ink. I recommend starting with the 1oz bottle, this will last you a long time.

Feel free to pm me or drop a comment if you (or anyone else) needs help! I've only been doing this for a few months, but I feel like I've done a lot of research and have a pretty good idea of how things work!

Of course! It's my pleasure! I'm an open book. We're here to help each other grow.


Thank you so much for your kind words! My IG is @archertattooer - feel free to DM me and we can chat there too. If you're in Chicago I'm happy to tattoo you on the house! I've only been tattooing for about 2 months and came from very humble beginnings - it's just a matter of making sure that I tattoo every single day, either myself or somebody else, even if I'm exhausted after a 9 hour work day. I did apprentice in my early 20's but left for a lot of reasons, so I was able to pick up all the peripheral stuff like building a clean workstation. I'm happy to walk through sanitation with you too!


Yeah so stencils are 100% dependent on the quality of the hectograph paper and your transfer method.


I use this hectograph paperand it's flawless. It's expensive but you can squeeze a ton of tattoos onto one page.

To transfer I use this


Process:

• build your image on separate tracing paper
  
  
• Once you're happy, pull out a sheet of hectograph, then remove the separation paper (it's brown in that kind of paper).
  
  
• Open up the paper so you can transfer your drawing onto the tracing paper portion of the hectograph page - do it however you like, the goal is to get the design on to the hectograph page's layer of tracing paper without activating the actual hectograph portion.
  
  
• once your design is in place, just simply re-trace the image without any lead in your pencil, or with any soft but fine-tipped object, and go over it. You'll see on the back of the page a perfect outline in purple.
  
  
• Shave down the site, clean with greensoap, use gloves of course.
  
  
• Once dry, moisten the area with transfer solution - you barely need any at all.
  
  
• Very gingerly apply the stencil to the site, making sure to never move it once it's applied. Apply firm pressure with your gloved hand.
  
  
• wait just a sec, then gingerly pull it off slowly.
  
  
• Wait a full 10 minutes
  
  
• Tattoo that shit!
  
  EDIT: formatting.
  

In all honesty it isn't very good. I don't mean any disrespect but it needs some love. good news is it's not too late for you friend. get this stuff and go over the whole thing.

Ink: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00OJGLIHA?psc=1

Needles:
https://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Assorted-Disposable-Tattoo-Needles/dp/B0043CU6JQ

And then you have more than enough supplies left over to do some more in a much safer and better way. Good luck.

It looks like you do have some solid lines in certain areas which means you can do it well everywhere!!! Honestly it just takes practice and patience.

I use 3rl - 5rl for outlining and higher for shading/filling up space. The only time i have used 1-2rl is when I give friends knuckle/finger/toe tattoos. These RL sizes have worked out great for me.

When my lines get bad, it is usually because I am rushing and not cleaning up excess ink/blood. This can cause "guessing" where your line is. Take your time and make sure to watch where you are poking, if you can't see, clean it up and continue. The results will make you extremely happy.

Also, it looks like you did this freehand, which can make it harder. I LOVE freehanding, but using stencil transfer paper helps out a lot and can make you a better freehander! It allows you to draw what you want beforehand and then lay it down on you skin so that you can follow the lines your first go through. (It comes off with your first wash off of excess ink, so make you don't forget a line or else you'll have to freehand it)
This is what I use
It will also help 10 fold with letters

Let me know if you have questions about any techniques I described here.

EDIT; Wording and grammar

It’s far from comfortable, but I kinda flex my arm as if I’m getting my blood taken if that makes sense! Second time round I did it in bed, using a little study desk (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07JZ4LDFV?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title - in case you’re interested!) so it was much easier on me! It’s great bc that angle is pretty hard on my neck and tough on my shoulders to keep my arm held out like that (I did it at my dining table first time round and it was too low down so I just kept it flexed out instead) but because it’s a bed desk my arm rested pretty comfortably at the right angle! Sorry if that’s awfully confusing!
And thank you ❤️

If you have an amazon account you can order real tattoo needles and ink for pretty cheap. I would definitely consider that because then you can be much less worried about potential contamination, infections, etc. The items I linked are the needles and ink I bought and the ones that seem to be popular. 3RLs and 5RLs are pretty common for first time pokers. Real tattoo needles are preferred because you can poke faster (think 3 or 5 pokes at a time as opposed to 1). As for suggestions for what to tattoo, only you can really know what you'll like! In general, I'd start with something small. Think of things you like- interests, hobbies, movies, animals, shapes, people, nature, etc. Then start sketching out a few things, maybe even on your body, until you're happy with something. Don't be afraid to take more than a few days or weeks to decide, this will be on your body forever!

I just hold the needle itself. I’ve experimented with other alternatives like taping the needle to a pencil or popsicle stick but I prefer the needle alone. If I ever get an actual poking tool I’d like to get one from @merkamachines or @rodolphecintorino but they can be quite pricey. I know a lot of people use these elastic wraps as well: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XP911DZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_16_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1550344312&sr=8-16&keywords=tattoo+supplies

I imagine you’d like using this stuff since you wrap it to your desired grip! I’ve used this stuff a couple times and liked it but not enough to continue buying it.

Hope this helps!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010GJG9NQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_zCJwbb6l7Igcd

These are fine if you're just starting out. $10 is a tiny amount to guarantee a way better tattoo.

1 and 3 round liners will be incredibly fine and hard to maintain a clean line, but great for details and precise correction. 5-9rl will give you a clean, solid line most easily. A 7rl will likely give you the best overall result. Be safe! Wear gloves!

Edit: just be aware that sewing needles are very likely to yield blotchy lines with blowouts and will damage the skin easily. It's also just kind of a pain in the ass tbh.

Absolutely hands down the best lotion for healing tattoos, it's like skin glue, amazing!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000XY9LT4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1492461012&sr=8-1&keywords=Eucerin+Intensive+Repair&dpPl=1&dpID=41U7-l0LsEL&ref=plSrch

I get almost all my supplies on amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Tattoo-Transfer-Paper-Stencil-Supplies/dp/B07CYGVXL1
Basically using this instead will allow you to draw something without having to awkwardly try and copy it on yourself by hand. Also your lines will look a lot nicer bc you have a nice crispy stencil to follow. This and actual tat needles :) i recommend practicing on fruit or fake skin first, or if you're gonna send it, go SUPER slow, don't use a ton of Vaseline, it'll wipe ur stencil away, and wipe delicately but frequently

I use those blue shop towels soaked with green soap. They're super absorbent so a towel or two will last you the whole session and the green soap makes it feel soothing af. Works like a dream.

Alright I am home now.

These are the needles I bought and have lasted me 6 tattoos (5 of which took two sessions). There are some in there I will probably never use but you never known when you decide to do some fat lines and need those 9rl's.

Washing your hands is nice but gloves are another layer of safety on top. Unless you are going to the doctors soon to swipe some.

This is the ink I use. Small but has lasted me.

Dettol for stencil transfer paper because I am not about to fuck up the bad on something that is gonna stick around for a bit. I also just have alcohol wipes at home from a kit, dollar store plastic shot glasses I wash, and paper towels to complete my kit. Should set you back 50 but last you through a ton of stick and pokes.

I still use sewing needles for my pokes but I had bought a pin vice to help hold it. I would imagine it could work well for a tattoo needle too.

I have this one. The top can be removed so I would imagine it could handle the length of a tattoo needle.

So I bought a a variety back of 60 needles (you choose what needles you want and how many of each you want) for 8.99

It seems like quantities of 50/60 are about as small as they get as the retailers sell mainly to shops who need large amounts of needles. Unfortunately, having this many needles has resulted in me forever finding them in purses, couch creases, drawers, and oddly enough, in books....

Kuro Sumi!!!

You can find lesser quantities for less money, but this is what I bought and I’m confident in saying that I’ll never have to buy ink again. Also, keep an eye out for knock offs. If it seems too cheap to be real, it’s because it is.

Kuro Sumi has been the most consistently praised ink I’ve seen which is why I went for it, but there are other options that don’t run as much that are still reliable. You just gotta look at reviews and see what other pokers say, not just machine tattooers.

Edit: formatting shit.

these ones are the ones I've been using, been working pretty well !

poke some bullshit on yourself, have fun. get some real needles and ink. Make sure you research blood borne pathogens before you tattoo anyone else though.

Tattoo ink. It's about the same price as India ink, looks nicer, has a variety of colors to use, and there no chance of accidentally using ink with say cadmium, or cobalt in it. black, variety pack

Kuro Sumi