Learning to tattoo: where to start?

If you've been thinking about trying your hand at tattooing for a long time, what's stopping you? You have easy access to accessories, including affordable ones, perfect for beginners. You have the Internet, which is an unlimited source of knowledge, inspiration, and even instructional videos.  Learning to tattoo only requires dedication. So it's time to move from planning to execution. Read our article, where we advise on how to take the first steps in tattooing.

Knowledge, knowledge, and more knowledge

Tattooing only seems simple at first glance. There is a huge difference between making a sketch and reproducing it on the skin. Even if you have undeniable talent, draw beautifully, and have enormous creativity, you still need refinement and valuable knowledge, which is best sought in specialized press and literature.

At Ars Tattoo, we have prepared an extensive category for you covering press and books dedicated to the art of tattooing. Find a few items for yourself, delve into them, and gain a solid foundation to start your tattooing adventure.

Choose the right tattoo machine to start with

Learning to tattoo obviously requires buying a machine, and that's where the difficulties begin. Don't worry, you just need to clarify certain facts to make it much easier to choose the right machine for yourself.

First of all, you need to know what types of tattoo machines there are. The basic division comes down to coil and rotary models. For starters, we suggest the coil version – it's a classic machine, a bit clumsy, heavy, loud, and vibrates strongly, but once you learn to tattoo on this equipment, transitioning to a rotary machine later will not be a problem at all. In addition, coil machines are really cheap, so it's a great choice for beginners.

Needles or cartridges?

The choice between traditional tattoo needles and cartridges is highly dependent on which machine you decide on. If it's a coil machine, you'll need needles. With a rotary machine, you can buy more convenient (especially when changing) cartridges.

Here, we refer you to another article where we extensively discuss the topic of tattoo needles.

Tattoo inks

You have the machine, you have the needles, so now you need inks. Here's good news for beginners, because at this stage, you can confidently stick to cheaper tattoo inks without REACH, meaning those that don't have to comply with the EU regulation on the safety of tattooing inks – these only apply to inks intended for human skin.

Of course, you won't be tattooing people while learning, so simply buy REACH-free inks for outlines, shading, and fillers, in various color options. We advise opting for inks in smaller bottles – this way, you can find out which ink works best for you without incurring high costs.

Invest in tattooing learning accessories

Don't worry, there won't be that many. The most important are artificial skins (synthetic skins), which perfectly imitate human skin and are therefore ideal for learning to tattoo. It's worth choosing skins in various sizes, preferably double-sided – they allow you to make mistakes without consequences, practice hand steadiness, test different designs and styles, etc. At Ars Tattoo, we recommend ProSkin artificial skins, which you can, of course, purchase in our online store.

Ars Tattoo tip:

Our store also offers ready-made tattoo kits, which include everything you might need for learning and perfecting your tattooing technique.

Accessories for learning to tattoo also include disposable gloves, ink caps, and let's not forget hygiene and disinfection products for the workstation. You can buy all of this immediately at Ars Tattoo.

Also check out other advice articles developed by Ars Tattoo experts, where you'll find many valuable tips for beginners and more advanced tattoo artists. We advise on, among other things, how to apply, wear, and remove second skin, and how to assemble a good tattoo aftercare kit.