If you’re new to tattooing, finding the right supplies can be hard.
Which ink works best?
What needles should you use?
With this blog, we’ll help you make the best choices.
Tattoo needles are something you’ll use a lot.
There are different types and sizes, and this guide will explain the basics and what to look for when buying them.
And remember, never reuse tattoo needles – you should always use a new one each time.
Types of Tattoo Noodles
The sheer number of options available when looking through a tattoo needle category might be a little daunting. However, be at ease! This is where your learning starts.
Tattoo needles are classified into six types: round liners, round shaders, magnum shaders, curved magnum shaders, flat shaders, and double stacked. Each of them will be explained in further depth below.
Flat Shader Needles
Flat shader needles are needles that are positioned in a straight line along the needle bar. They are ideal for lining because they can transfer more ink to the skin, resulting in clean, black lines with a single stroke.
Larger flat needles are ideal for filling in color and shading since they produce ink rapidly with a single pass. Flat needles are ideal for fine shading in geometric patterns or mandala motifs. They are also popular for semi-permanent cosmetics.
Common applications include:
- Black and gray work
- Color realism
- Geometric patterns
- Japanese tattoos
- Line work
- Samoan tattoos
- Small shading and color filling,
- Traditional and neo-traditional styles
- Tribal designs
Round Liner Needles
Round liner needles have pins organized in a circle, allowing for clean, accurate lines in tattoos. The number of pins you use (e.g., 01 for extremely fine lines, 14 for very thick lines) and the thickness of each pin determine the thickness of the lines.
When you dip these needles in ink, they only release a small quantity of ink, which is then rubbed into the skin. If too much ink was leaked, it would be impossible to line!
Common applications include:
- Dot work
- Geometric patterns
- Japanese tattoos
- Samoan tattoos
- Script and writing
- Traditional and neo-traditional styles
- Tribal motifs
- Various forms of line (bold and elaborate)
Round Shader Needles
Round shaders are similar to round liners but with the pins set wider apart. This makes them suitable not just for larger lines but also for color filling and rudimentary shading.
Common applications include:
- Basic shading and color filling
- Geometric patterns
- Japanese tattoos
- Line work
- Samoan tattoos
- Script and writing
- Traditional and neo-traditional styles
- Tribal designs
Magnum Shader Needles
Magnum shaders are the ideal option for shading tasks. They can retain and release a lot of ink, making them great for coloring and shading huge areas. Because they inject more ink at once, you just need a few passes, resulting in less skin injury. There are numerous types of magnum needles, as seen below.
Common applications include:
- Black and gray shading
- Color realism
- Japanese tattoos
- Samoan tattoos
- Traditional and neo-traditional styles
- Tribal motifs
- Various forms of shading and color filling
Curved Magnum Shader Needles
Curved magnum shaders, also known as soft edge magnums, soft magnums, or round magnums, resemble conventional magnum shaders but have pins placed in an arch.
This curved design allows the needle edges to better follow the skin, resulting in more equal ink distribution and smoother lines. They are also softer on the skin and aid with subtle shading.
Common applications include:
- Black and grey shading
- Color realism
- Japanese tattoos
- Samoan tattoos
- Traditional and neo-traditional styles
- Tribal motifs
- Various forms of shading and color filling
Different Tattoo Needles Sizes
Now that you have learned about different types of needles let us discuss needle diameters, also known as gauges.
The diameter of a tattoo needle impacts how ink flows. Thinner needles provide finer, more regulated ink flow, making them suitable for intricate line work. Thicker needles let the ink flow more freely, which is ideal for shading and filling in colors.
The diameter of the needle influences the size of the hole in the skin. Smaller punctures are excellent for subtle shading and gradients, whereas bigger punctures are best for stronger lines. #12 needles with a 0.35mm diameter are generally referred to as “Standards” since they are extensively utilized in all styles of tattooing. There are five diameters available in total.
#8 gauge (0.25mm diameter)
One of the smaller needle gauges, known as Bugpins, is not the tiniest but still quite delicate. It is used to provide a slower ink flow for intricate work. Some individuals use #8 gauge needles for the majority of their work since they retain more ink at once owing to the pins’ tight spacing.
#10 Gauge (0.30mm Diameter)
Double Zeros are a popular needle size for all tattoo designs and needle kinds. When the major alternatives are 8, 10, or 12, it is termed the medium gauge size. 0.30mm needles provide a consistent and regulated ink flow that is not as sluggish or constricted as #8 or 0.25mm needles.
#12 Gauge (0.35mm Diameter)
#12 gauge needles, like 0.30mm needles, are used for a variety of needles and tattoo designs. They are also called Standards and are used for lining and conventional tattoos since they allow for speedier ink flow. They are ideal for creating strong lines and filling in or darkening huge areas.
Other needle sizes you may encounter include #6 (0.20mm), #14 (0.40mm), and #16 (0.45mm). These are less popular nowadays and are only utilized for a few particular purposes.
Needle Count
You can see how many needles are in a group on the needle bar by looking at the needle count, which is the second number on a needle package.
The outcome is influenced by the needle spacing. When the spaces are closer together, the line is thinner (called “Tights”), and when they are further apart, the line is thicker (named “loose” or “turbo”).
Taper Lengths
When picking out needles for a tattoo, taper lengths are crucial. From the needle’s shaft all the way to its tip, there is a narrowing of the diameter known as the taper. The range of taper lengths is 0.25mm to 0.60mm. Liners often employ shorter tapers, whereas shading makes better use of longer tapers since they provide a finer point.
Some typical taper sizes are as follows:
- Double Long Taper: 2.5mm
- Extra Long Taper: 3.5mm
- Long Taper: 2.0mm
- Standard (short) taper: 1.5mm
- Super Extra Long Taper: 8.0mm
- Super Long Taper: 5.5mm
A longer taper results in smaller lines, while a shorter one produces thicker ones.
Additional Tattoo Needle Info
You should think about whether you like rough or smooth needles while selecting tattoo needles.
One common form of needle is the smooth needle, which is ideal for making precise lines. You may use them with any kind of ink.
Although they are not as widespread, textured needles are still rather popular. They can retain more ink because of the little grooves that run the length of the needle. You may reduce the frequency of dipping because of this. When shading or creating a blended appearance, textured needles are your best option.
How to Find the Right Tattoo Needles for You
You can experiment with different needle kinds and configurations to find the one that works best for your tattoos if you are familiar with the various possibilities and their codes. Now that you know what to look for, picking off needles is as simple as it gets.