What do professional tattoo artists use? Must-have list

A tattoo artist's class is primarily determined by their technical skills, creativity, and customer approach. However, this is not enough to execute a great project. Every tattoo artist needs the right tools for the job – and we're not just talking about the tattoo machine. Read our article and find out what professional tattoo artists use. Here you will find a ready-made shopping list for starters, including, among others, tattoo accessories necessary to set up your workspace.

Tattoo machine

It’s not even appropriate to start with anything else. Professional tattoo artists predominantly use rotary machines, especially pen-type models, which are very comfortable, quiet, generate only minor vibrations, and fit perfectly in the hand.

Many professionals also invest in wireless machines, which are a very good addition to a tattoo studio's equipment – they are particularly useful during off-site sessions and for projects in hard-to-reach places.

Needles and cartridges

The choice between classic tattoo needles and cartridges depends solely on the tattoo artist's preference. Old-school artists, working with coil machines, often prefer needles, while cartridges are undoubtedly much more convenient. It's hard to definitively say which solution is better – we leave that to your judgment.

Tattoo inks

Tattoo inks are essential equipment for every studio. Professional tattoo artists use only branded REACH-compliant inks, which are safe for the skin and do not contain any potentially harmful substances. You need inks for outlining, shading, and filling, and for some tips on choosing tattoo inks, check out a separate article on our blog.

Tattoo Vaseline

This is an inconspicuous but very important piece of equipment in a tattoo studio's setup. Vaseline facilitates the movement of the machine during work, provides additional protection for the client's skin, and contributes to maintaining a higher level of hygiene during tattooing.

Crucially, this should not be ordinary cosmetic petroleum jelly. Professional tattoo artists use only petroleum jelly dedicated to the tattooing process, which you can read more about in a separate article prepared by Ars Tattoo.

Dressings

Professional tattoo artists certainly do not use cling film (sic!) to protect a fresh tattoo. They choose either special films, or – an increasingly common solution – second skin dressings. The latter are definitely the best choice for skin protection and accelerating the healing process, and you can, of course, buy them at Ars Tattoo – for example, check out the Tattoo Eazer Protective, recommended by our experts.

Hygiene and disinfection products

These include preparations for preparing and maintaining the cleanliness of the workstation and the tattoo artist's tools, as well as products for washing the client's skin to eliminate the risk of infection. Professional hygiene and disinfection products are available in Ars Tattoo's permanent offer.

Cosmetics

Professional tattoo artists use tattoo care cosmetics to additionally protect the design made on the client's body and to provide them with instructions on how to care for a fresh tattoo. Every professional studio should have cosmetics such as tattoo butters and moisturizing creams.

Tools for pattern preparation and transfer

Work on a tattoo begins long before the machine is turned on. Every professional first creates a design, using, for example, a technical pen. Then the design must be transferred to the client's skin, which is done using printers, stencil paper, and hectographic inks. All accessories for transferring designs to skin are available in the Ars Tattoo online store.

We also haven't forgotten about the smaller, yet very useful accessories, such as disposable gloves, ink caps, sterilizers, etc. All of this is also available at Ars Tattoo, so you can complete all your studio equipment in one place.