What Are Stick And Poke Tattoos?
A stick and poke tattoo is a hand-poked tattoo made without a machine. Instead, the individual uses a sterile needle and tattoo ink to manually create the design dot by dot. It’s a slower, more personal process that gives each tattoo a unique, handmade feel.
Popularity
Back in the day, stick and poke tattoos were the go-to art form in, let’s just say, less supervised environments—think prisons and middle school bathrooms. All it took was a sewing needle, some pen ink, and a questionable amount of free time. Sure, it was DIY, but definitely not the kind of “craft project” we’d recommend now.
Using pen ink and a sewing needle might sound resourceful, but it’s far from safe. Modern stick and poke tattooing is all about high-quality, sterile supplies that keep things clean and professional. Thankfully, what started as a scrappy form of self-expression has evolved into a legit art movement—one now proudly rocked by celebs like Miley Cyrus and the cast of Girls.
To Properly Stick and Poke Tattoo You Need These Things
A sterile needle, sterile clean toxin-free tattoo ink, sanitary wipes and rubbing alcohol, medical gloves, a clean surface, witch-hazel to calm the skin, an ointment or balm for after-care and a bandaid for your boo-boo. If you want a nice design, you’ll need a stencil. Access to warm soapy water is a plus. And “green soap” is great to have for wiping during the process. Our kits include 20 essential items, everything you need to do your own stick and poke tattoo safely.
How to Stick and Poke Tattoo
Simply dip a fine tip of the needle into tattoo ink, and then poke into some skin – not all the way through the skin, just into it. An interesting epidermal/biological phenomenon traps this foreign dark substance into the skin, to be displayed through the top layers for life. This achieves the same effect as the modern tattoo machine (also called a tattoo gun), and is permanent when done correctly. It is a slow process and is usually painful. View our article on the basics of how to do a stick and poke tattoo. Our basic kit includes a booklet with even more information. We also have a practice kit which includes practice skin and a large instructional poster.
The trick is doing it with desired and predictable results and doing it safely, to prevent the spread of infection or disease.
But, Why Do it Yourself?
Perhaps it is “DIY” coming into vogue, or a push back to the modern age of perfection & automation. Or just wanting to do this sensitive ritual at home with friends and without the cost and possible stress of working with a stranger. Whatever the reason, all kinds of people today are marking themselves with ink and loving every imperfect minute.
