How To Become an Excellent Tattoo Master

Many art lovers and gifted artists also love various forms of art, and one of them is most certainly skin art in the form of tattoos. Now and then, people consider starting a career as a tattoo artist.

Embarking on the journey from the first drawing to the perfect tattoo is not just a matter of skill but also one of unwavering dedication and passion for ink. We are here to guide you and answer the question of how to become an excellent tattoo master.

This guide is a comprehensive resource that will cover all the essential factors required to excel in your tattoo master’s career.

What Does It Take To Become A Proficient Tattoo Master?

Becoming a proficient tattoo master is not an easy or quick task. While you can get a set of tattoo equipment and open a home studio, becoming a successful tattoo artist is more than that.

To become a tattoo artist, you will need:

• Proper skill and education
• Tattoo equipment
• Exploring and embracing your style
• Good communication with clients
• A sense of business and marketing
• Work and professional ethics
• Dedication to continuously learning and adapting to new trends
• Mental strength and preparation

Let’s break down each of these factors and discuss the journey to becoming a professional tattoo master.

Skill Requirements and Education

Each profession has one foundational skill that you must possess in order to excel in the career. In the world of tattoos, that is the artistic ability. The creative and artistic ability will help you put your imagination and your client’s wishes onto the paper and then their skin.

Vision and creative ability are considered must-haves for anyone willing to commit to becoming a tattoo artist. Additionally, you will need to understand color theory and human anatomy and have patience and attention to detail.

However, not everyone is born with a talent for drawing or sketching. But in the tattoo realm, that doesn’t mean you can’t become a skilled tattoo artist or create high-quality tattoos. Correspondingly, not everyone with drawing skills and creativity can do tattoo art.

That’s where education and training show their true meaning on the journey of becoming a professional tattoo artist.

Tattoo Artist Training and Education

Having a natural talent for drawing or creating artwork is always a good thing in the realm of tattoos. Nevertheless, talent can go to waste without proper shaping that provides training or education.

Tattoo artist training is available through self-learning, tattoo courses, and apprenticeships. Let’s discuss them more.

Self-learning: With lots of free guides and videos, you can certainly work and practice tattooing on your own. You can practice drawing and create your art. However, self-training will only get you to a certain point. So, if you want to excel, you will have to turn to authorized training.

Tattoo courses: Tattoo school is the next step in the educational path. Tattoo courses give students an insight into the world of tattooing and allow them to gain some first-hand experience. You can learn about drawing up tattoo designs, coloring techniques, differences in equipment, and proper maintenance. Completing the course also yields a certificate that can significantly improve your chances of scoring a first job or tattoo apprenticeship.

Importance Of Tattoo Apprenticeship

Tattoo apprenticeship or mentorship: Learning the theory and getting certification by completing extensive tattoo courses is an essential step in tattoo education. However, putting the words into action is even more important. That’s why starting an apprenticeship or mentorship can be vital to your tattoo career.

Successful tattoo artists agree that education and guidance from a mentor in an apprenticeship are crucial to becoming a proficient tattoo master. Trained and experienced tattoo artists and mentors can help you develop your skills and art styles. Professional Chinese tattoo artist CC advises seeking a studio and a mentor with a feel for the atmosphere and professionalism rather than tuition and fees.

Apprenticeship can last one to three years, and as you learn, you can apply for a tattoo artist license. Any licensed tattoo artist must complete a bloodborne pathogen and communicable diseases course. The goal of a tattoo license is to control and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Therefore, highly successful tattoo artists say that studying with famous tattoo artists in tattoo school or art school can help you a lot in your career. Becoming a successful tattoo artist takes time, learning, taking tattoo and art classes, patience, and commitment.

Tattooing Equipment And Mentainence

A good handyman is nothing without his tools, and the same applies to tattooing. Aspiring tattoo artists also need proper tattoo equipment. A professional tattoo machine, good hygiene and sanitation training, and equipment maintenance are must-haves for any dedicated tattoo master.

The list of tattoo equipment is quite long. But the essential parts of any tattoo master’s kit are a tattoo machine, needles, inks, tattoo stencils, printing machines, cups, and nozzles.

Tattoo machine

A tattoo machine, or tattoo gun (named by its aggressive appearance), is a central part of any tattoo equipment. There are a few basic types of tattoo machines: coil, rotary, and pneumatic.

• Coil tattoo machines are a traditional type that uses alternating electromagnetic current. The current passes through coils and turns magnets on and off. Magnets pull a spring-loaded armature bar and create an up-and-down motion, which taps needles into the skin. This action produces the traditional buzzing sound we are all used to, and a lot of seasoned tattoo artists prefer this type.
• Rotary tattoo machines use a small spinning motor attached to an armature, which produces an up-and-down motion. This motion moves the needles, but the working principle is much smoother and quieter compared to coil tattoo guns.
• Pneumatic tattoo machines appeared after the 2000s. They use pressurized air from air compressors to move the needles up and down. They are lightweight and safe to use in an autoclave.

Tattoo Needle

Tattoo needles are another vital part of tattoo equipment. They transfer and embed the ink into the human skin and are connected to a moving part of the tattoo machine.

Fundamentally, there are two types of needle groupations: liners and shaders. Liners are grouped and best suited for lines, while shaders work great for creating tattoo shades.

Besides the primary types, needles can differ in size, group, or number. Like buying a brush or a pencil, you will have a wide choice of needle selection. The Sizes of needles come in gauges (usually 8, 10, or 12), which represent a diameter in millimeters. Needle groups are Round Liners, Round Shaders, Magnum Shaders, Curved Magnum Shaders, Flat Shaders, and Double Stacks.

As an example, you can buy 1209RL needles.

In our example, the needle size is gauge 12. RL represents round liners. The middle number represents the number of needles, which in this case is nine.

The key to becoming a proficient tattoo master is choosing your needles according to the requirements and other equipment. Look for needles that are sanitary, safe, and compatible with your tattoo machine.

Tattoo Ink

Tattoo ink is a substance that enters thicker layers of our skin, so it must be safe and everlasting. Ink is a mixture of solid particles of pigment, molecular dyes, and binders suspended in a water solution.

On a basic level, ink consists of two components: the pigment and the carrier. The pigment creates the colors we need. The carrier acts as a suspension product that keeps the pigment in the ink free from pathogens and evenly mixed.

The type of ink used significantly impacts the longevity, appearance, and safety of your tattoo. There are two primary types of ink: stable pigment ink and pre-dispersed ink.

• Stable pigment ink is a concentrated ink that yields the most bright and bold tattoo ink colors. However, you have to mix it and thin it before using it in your tattoo machine.
• Pre-dispersed ink is convenient for grab-and-go. It is pre-prepared, which saves a lot of time, but mixing two brands can generate pretty bad results.

When choosing your ink as a professional, check the safety data sheet. Make sure the ingredients are checked and safe for use, as irritations and allergies can create severe issues.

Other Tattoo Equipment And Materials

As noted, the list of tattoo equipment and materials is quite long, but things like the following are also essential:

• Transfer sheet
• Synthetic skin
• Vaseline
• Ink cups
• Grip
• Tattoo Gloves
• Transfer gel
• Green Soap
• Material protection
• Thermo copier
• Disposable material

Transfer sheets, thermo copier, and transfer gels will help you transfer the design onto the skin. Vaseline, synthetic skins, and soap will protect and keep the new tattoo safe. Soap and material protection is crucial for hygiene. While not essential, these little tattoo supplies can make a difference between mediocre and professional tattoo artists.

Equipment Maintenance And Hygiene

Keeping your equipment and work area clean of viral, bacterial, organic, or inorganic contaminants is crucial to becoming a professional tattoo master. The work area has to be easily clean, well-ventilated, and adequately lit. Flooring and work surfaces must be smooth and water repellent and/or easy to wipe and disinfect.

According to the CDC, you must clean equipment and have tools sanitized before and after each tattoo and client. Cleaning involves removing debris (organic or inorganic) from an instrument or device. If visible debris is not removed, it can interfere with microbial inactivation and compromise disinfection.

After you have cleaned all machine parts mechanically, you can safely disinfect your machine. A sterile tattoo station is free of visible and invisible blood and ink. Always wear fresh medical gloves when touching any equipment. Try not to contaminate the machine parts by touching the unbagged disinfectant spray bottle.

Develop Your Style And Technique

The internet and AI software have made the tattoo design world very tempting, with all the ideas and solutions at your fingertips. However, determining your preferred tattoo style and placement is crucial. Developing a particular art style is what any successful tattoo artist requires.

Some of the most popular tattoo styles are traditional, neo-traditional, new school, Japanese, tribal, minimalism, geometric, or realism, so we’ll discuss them more. However, there are dozens of styles that clients might like, such as portrait style, illustrative, surrealism, lettering tattoos, and dot or line styles such as semicolon designs.

Traditional Tattoo Style (American style)

Traditional-style tattoos are a symbol of post-WWII counterculture. They are inked with bold, saturated hues and look like drawings with an almost cartoonish quality. You can recognize them by brightly colored tattoo ink with a bold black outline and minimal to no shading.

Common traditional tattoo motifs include anchors, skulls, swallows, mermaids, sails, roses, hearts, eagles, panthers, and snakes. Because traditional tattoos have various names, people also call them Old School, American Traditional tattoo style, Classic tattoo style, and Western Traditional tattoo style.

Neo-traditional Tattoo Style

Neo-traditional tattoos are a next-gen counterpart to Traditional tattoos. They are heavily influenced by Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles, but they have similar defining characteristics to traditional tattoos.

You can recognize neo-traditional tattoos by prominent linework and vibrant ink color palettes. The typical motifs are animals, flowers, vines, and abstract portraiture.

New-school Tattoo Style

The new-school tattoo style combines the elements and represents an evolution of Traditional and Neo-Traditional tattoo styles. Similar to the previous two styles, the new-school design uses bold, black linework to create a definition between large-scale shapes or designs.

Some of the common motifs of the new-school tattoo style are Disney movies, video games, anime, comic books, graffiti, and hip-hop culture. The new school ironically displays these symbols.

Japanese Tattoo Style

Japanese tattoos, known as Irezumi, originated during the country’s Edo period (1603-1868). This style is known for vivid colors, illustrative linework, and its distinctive use of negative space.

Japanese tattoos are typically larger pieces. People choose artwork on the back, as a sleeve, on the inner elbow, across the chest, or down the leg. However, some also prefer smaller symbols. Common motifs represent Japanese folklore, such as samurai, Buddhist deities, dragons, tigers, snakes, koi fish, and many more.

Tribal Tattoo Style

Tribal tattoos feature elaborate patterns, and artists do them in black ink. They favor nature-inspired symbols, including plants, the sun, the moon, different animals, water, and plants.

Besides looking awesome, tribal tattoos have a deeper meaning related to the style’s origin. For example, there are differences between Polynesian, Samoan, and Māori Tribal tattoos. Understanding the origins can significantly help your clients decide and choose a perfect tattoo.

Henna Tattoos

Henna tattoos are an entire style based on a popular form of body art in South Asia called Mehndi. In its origin, Mehndi is a temporary body art that represents the plant henna, which has a rich history that covers thousands of years and many civilizations.

In the West, the symbols represent permanent body art in the form of henna tattoos. The tattoos represent rich traditions because they symbolize beauty, joy, and spiritual well-being.

Minimalist Style Tattoos

Minimalist style is omnipresent today in various designs and decorations, and they reminisce fine art. These tattoos characterize fine linework and delicate details. You can recognize them by their simple, clean designs with minimal to no shading. The style adapts heavy use of negative space and a limited color palette.

Due to delicate linework and clean designs, you should use smaller needles and less ink. That also means you can finish minimalist tattoos much quicker, but they tend to be less resilient.

Geometric Style Tattoos

The geometric style combines a series of geometric shapes such as rectangles, triangles, circles, squares, or others. The array of visually pleasing combinations and patterns yields contemporary elegance to any conventional tattoo design.

Bold or fine linework with little to no shading reminds us of minimalist, blackwork, and watercolor styles. However, various shapes, patterns, and combinations have their unique styling that many love.

Realism Style Tattoos

As the name states, realism tattoos represent real-life images that artists create using techniques to make them look photorealistic. This style was popular in the 1950s and is still one of the most popular today.

New advancements in tattoo equipment and design bring us a variety of ink colors and solutions suitable for this style. Realistic tattoos of celebrities or loved ones, animals, a coveted object or place often involve a lot of detail work or shading.

Cyber Sigilism

Cyber sigilism is a contemporary tattoo style. It fuses the elements of cybernetics, technology, and mystical sigils to create futuristic and meaningful tattoo designs.

A unique fusion of the past and present has a deeper meaning of self-expression for those who identify with the digital realm. Cyber sigilsm tattoo style uses futuristic and mysterious aesthetics; intricate mechanical lines weave alongside more flowing, natural shapes. Simply put, it is a world where advanced technology coexists with obscure symbols.

Client Communication

Getting a tattoo can be a long process that creates permanent designs, and many clients can have second thoughts or be scared about getting tattooed. To become a professional tattoo artist, you will have to communicate with the clients throughout the process.

Any good tattoo artist will talk to clients from pre-preparation through design to aftercare. A professional tattoo artist, CC, also highlighted this, and you can learn more about it in our extensive interview.

Communicating With Clients Through Phases Of Tattoo Process

Client communication during a design process is crucial in reaching mutual goals. It is not uncommon for a client to bring a picture of a tattoo or tattooed person and say: “I want this for me.” 

However, each person has unique body lines, and artists have different styles. So, the same tattoo can turn out differently for two people. That’s why it is crucial to talk to the clients and explain your ideas and solutions in terms of design and adaptability.

In addition to the design, you must take a professional approach to guidance throughout the creation process and aftercare. Explain to clients what they can expect during the tattooing. Pain thresholds are different for each person, but preparing them for what comes next can be crucial in making them comfortable. You can also inform them about the relationship between tattoos and employment.

Finally, once you finish the tattoo, you’ll need to give them advice about aftercare. The results of a tattooing process can significantly depend on the healing process, so you must explain the thorough aftercare to your clients. Besides affecting appearance, poor tattoo healing can also cause health and medical issues, and that’s the last thing you want as a proficient tattoo artist.

Bussines And Marketing

If you are running your own tattoo studio as a professional artist, you will also need proper business management and marketing skills. Once you develop your unique style, you create a brand. There is no successful brand that doesn’t rely on a carefully constructed identity so that things will come slowly.

Creating a brand requires a clear mission statement, values, and unique selling proposition. These will set your tattoo brand apart from your competitors. However, developing a brand can be challenging without proper marketing.

Social Media Marketing For Tattoo Artists

Today, most experienced tattoo artists display their work through social media and websites. You should focus the most on social media activity, such as posting regular images of your work, advertising, offering promotions, and easy client communication. This activity is crucial for any business today, including the tattoo world.

Instagram and Pinterest, with their visual-centric content, are perfect starting points for any tattoo artist. You can display your work and create a tattoo portfolio that many can use to make a decision. A well-written and easy-to-read website can also help. If you browse the internet, you can notice that most reputable tattoo shops have content-rich social media pages.

Client Feedback

Displaying and hearing a client’s feedback can significantly impact your tattoo business, especially if you are just starting. Feel free to ask for client feedback after completing a tattoo.

Positive feedback in the tattoo world is highly valuable, and you can use it as a part of marketing. Verbal feedback goes from one customer to another and can attract customers’ friends or relatives. Written feedback is excellent for displaying and attracting interested clients who are not familiar with your work. Positive reviews can yield a lot of new clients, and many tattoo artists display them.

Don’t be scared of negative feedback. Negative feedback can shake your confidence, but it’s up to you how you process it. Instead of bumming out, work on the stuff clients dislikes. There are always people who won’t be satisfied no matter how hard you work. Experienced and popular tattoo artists use these words as an improvement, not restraint.

Tattoo Work Regulations And Ethics

Currently, there is no federal law in the United States that would regulate the practice of tattooing. However, each state has statutory laws that you must first learn before becoming a tattoo artist.

As a result, in many states, it is illegal to tattoo a minor without parental consent. In addition, you, as a tattoo artist, must give informed consent. The consent has to:

• Inform clients about the risks associated with getting a tattoo,
• Describe the potential for discomfort during the tattooing process.
• Tell clients about the possibility of regretting tattoos and the difficulty in removing or covering up a tattoo.

Highlighting the stuff clients can or cannot do or what they should expect creates a professional atmosphere in the shop. Anarchy gives off a vibe that a shop lacks professionalism, which can bump down the respect of a tattoo artist.

Tattoo Artist Work Ethics

Besides the written state laws, you can create additional restrictions in your tattoo shop based on your moral feelings and work ethic. You can:

• Refuse clients under a specific age
• Restrict performing specific artwork (offensive artwork)
• Refuse giving tattoos to intoxicated clients.
• Limit the type and/or location of the tattoo (specific body parts)

But protecting your rights as a tattoo master is not the only thing you should worry about. You also have duties to your clients, so you must:

• Maintaining a professional and respectful demeanor with clients at all times
• Follow local, state, and federal health regulations.
• Provide a safe and clean environment (sterilize the equipment and clean the work area)
• Be knowledgeable of CPR, cross-communication prevention, bloodborne pathogens, disease spreading, and illness.
•  Ask clients for possible conditions and complications (illness, diseases, pregnancy, bloodborne pathogens, human skin diseases, allergies)
• Respect the client’s taste, ideas, and symbolism.
• Respect the client’s privacy and nudity during tattoo-hidden body parts.
• Honor your clients’ requests to the best of your ability.
• Educate clients on what constitutes a safe procedure.
• Educate clients on proper tattoo aftercare.
• Be transparent about design ownership and other artist’s policies.

Follow Tattoo Industry Trends

Although tattoos are one of the oldest forms of body art, dating back to Neolithic times, the industry is constantly evolving. If you want to become an excellent tattoo master, you must follow the trends in the industry.

Staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in tattoo technology can provide a competitive edge. Improvements offer both artists and clients unique and innovative tattoo experiences. The new trends in the tattoo realm brought technological, environmental, and health improvements.

Technological Improvements

When talking about technological improvements, we see new wireless and digital machines offering greater precision and efficiency and less pain in tattooing. There are even automated tattoo robots that can do the hard work for you, but many prefer a human touch.

3D printing allows tattoo artists to create custom tattoo designs and prosthetic limbs with greater accuracy and speed. New software and AI trends can help artists manipulate and visualize designs, adjust colors, or create complex shapes.

Environmental Improvements

Progress also brought more environmentally friendly equipment and materials to the tattoo world. For example, there are more sustainable and degradable ink, needles, and paper towels.

Eco-friendly ink now uses natural materials that break down over time, making it a more sustainable option for clients. By adopting sustainable and eco-friendly practices, you can reduce the impact on the environment and attract environmentally conscious customers.

Health Improvements

Advancements in health solutions for the tattoo industry have improved tattoo aftercare products and removal. All-natural and organic ingredients promote faster and more efficient tattoo healing.

Improvements in tattoo removal technologies have quietly revolutionized this notion. With various innovative techniques, individuals now have a discreet array of options that promote more efficient and less painful removal.

How To Stay Innovative In Tattoo Industry

There are several things you can do to keep up to date with the tattoo industry. You should:

• Display and update your work: Build a portfolio and post it on social media. Keep your profiles active, and show your work to potential clients. Use high-resolution photos as they demonstrate professionalism.
• Adopt modern technologies and equipment: Don’t be afraid to use state-of-the-art technologies and solutions. 3D printers, software, or AI models can help you during the tattoo process. But, also try to rely on them only partially.
• Keep up with industry trends: Another aspect that builds a successful career is constant growth and learning of new tattoo trends. Things change, and you must be willing to accept them.
• Continuous learning: Stay ahead by attending workshops, experimenting with new techniques, and learning about the latest trends. Attend seminars and conventions and use any opportunity to learn about new stuff.
• Offer Promotions And Incentives: Encourage your satisfied customers to refer their friends and family to your shop by offering referral incentives. Consider offering promotions or discounts on your services, as everyone loves a good deal.

Mental Skill Requirements

Artistic skills and creativity are considered a must-have for a tattoo artist career, but there is more. You will need exceptional mental qualities on the road to becoming a tattoo artist.

Tattoo artists must work well with people. You must communicate, listen, and understand the client’s wishes. Any established artist must judge if the client is fit and resilient enough to withstand the tattooing and get informed consent for the procedure. You also need to explain verbally and in writing how to care for a tattoo.

Besides communication, tattoo artists need both mental and physical stamina. You will need to sit still for long periods, with mental staying power, to concentrate on a detailed drawing. Good hand-eye coordination, attention to detail, and creativity are just some of the mental qualities that every excellent tattoo master must possess.

Professional Tattoo Artist Self-Care

Being a tattoo artist can be exciting, fulfilling, and inspiring. But on the flip side, an artistic career is also full of stress. Consequently, mental health for tattoo artists all comes down to how you handle those stressors inside and outside the studio.

Professional tattoo artists are known for maintaining high mental skills and self-care even when their jobs are overwhelming. 

Tips For Artist Self-Care

Here are some tips on how to practice self-care as a tattoo artist:

• Have organized booking: Having a lot of clients is always good for the work, but it can cause a burn-out. The more time you work, the less energy and enthusiasm you have for it. Organized booking can help you deal with this issue, even if you are overbooked.
• Take regular breaks: Tattooing can be a psychically and mentally demanding profession, and taking regular breaks can help a lot. Stretching or moving around the workshop regularly can help you deal with fatigue, repetitive strain, and stress that piles up as a result of previous.
• Draw creative designs for yourself: working to client wishes and demands can suppress your creative and artistic expression. If you feel bothered by that, draw some creative designs just for yourself. That way, you won’t extinguish the spark you had in you when you were starting your career as a new tattoo artist.
• Value your work: Value the time, money, and effort you spent on your training and equipment. Employ fair pricing, even if you feel like you are overcharging a regular, friend, or relative. Underpricing your work can cause some resentment or feeling slighted. Understanding the tattoo salary is crucial in creating fair pricing.
• Avoid a toxic environment: If you have to settle for working in a tattoo studio, avoid the ones with a toxic environment. No money is worth working for if you feel disrespected or disagree with the shop’s culture. Always look for a reputable tattoo shop and team of people you can trust and who treat you with respect. 

Final Thoughts On Becoming A Successful Tattoo Artist

To become a tattoo artist, you can’t just buy some equipment and start working on your own. Although artistic skills, creativity, and vision can help you in the journey, shaping up your skills to match the specific style and body anatomy can take time, patience, and training.

Besides mandatory skills, successfully running a tattoo shop or working in one also requires proper equipment, communication, and marketing skills. You must create a professional atmosphere in your shop, and that means both you and the client follow the regulations and work ethics. Finally, throughout the process, you must keep up with new trends and consider self-care.

Adapting to all of these factors is what distinguishes mediocre self-taught artists from aspiring tattoo artists who spend time learning everything required for the job.