The Psychology of Tattoos

Tattoos are becoming extremely popular, so popular that a recent study showed that 38% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have one or more tattoos. 17% percent of Americans have multiple tattoos. 

Tattoos are becoming a very important part of Western culture and are likely to continue to gain popularity. The increasing interest in tattoos has led organizations like Psychology Today to look into why so many people are getting them. 

The current psychological theory suggests that most people who get tattoos say they did to remind themselves of a period of personal struggle or as a form of self-expression. A lot of tattooed individuals said that they get tattoos as a way to show their personal history and honor the people and things that have brought meaning to their lives.

Self-Expression 

Self-expression is how people communicate their personal feelings, thoughts, and ideas. Some of the most common forms of self-expression are art, music, writing, dance, and now, body art. 

Tattoos are a way to show personality traits, tell a personal narrative, or simply show the world your sense of style. Using tattoos as a way to express oneself helps people improve their self-esteem and feel comfortable in their own skin. 

Dr. Joseph Pierre, a professor in health care sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles, says that tattoos have two ways of presenting something to the world that has previously been hidden. 

First, showing off tattoos, means showing off skin, which has been discouraged throughout history, especially for women.

Second, Pierre also says that tattoos are a great way for people to express something about themselves without having to talk about it. Art has been a way to make a point about something without using words for thousands of years. Tattoos are a way for people to communicate about issues and experiences that mean something to them without actually having to say it.

Body Image

Body modifications like tattoos are a very popular way for people to change their body image and present themselves in a way that feels more natural. Professor Verin Swami at Anglia Ruskin University has found that people’s feelings of anxiety and discomfort with their bodies immediately decrease after getting a tattoo and are still lower after multiple weeks. 

People who express themselves through tattoos are more likely to have positive feelings about their bodies, which suggests that tattoos are a great way to improve body image. According to Swami, people feel closer to their bodies after getting a tattoo, which helps to improve their overall mental health.

Love for Art

While tattoos often have deep and emotional meanings, they are also a way for people to show their love of art and design. Tattoos show not only personal style, but also people’s preference for types of art and the things that catch their eye. 

Some people get tattoos that may not have significant meaning to them just because they like the artist’s style and think the design looks cool. Others choose to get tattoos in the style of famous historical artists that they have always admired. 

Tattoos are a way for people to show their opinion of art as a form of communication, and people often use them as a way to make their bodies a living, moving piece of art.

Fashion

Tattoos are quickly becoming a very popular type of fashion accessory. Since the 1970s, fashion designers have been looking to tattoos for inspiration for their collections. More recently, tattooed individuals are finding increased opportunities as fashion models. 

Tattoos are a way to be creative with the way you show your style. Tattoos, like makeup and hair, are ways to communicate your personality visually. Tattoos can inform someone’s sense of fashion and even be what people use to build their personal look.

Rebelling Against Social Norms

Body art like tattoos, piercing, and scarification are used by a lot of people as ways to challenge social norms. Tattoos can show that someone belongs to a particular group, but they can also be a symbol of wanting to be different from the current society. 

Many young people are challenging what it means to be an average person in their society with body art. Over thousands of years, people have wanted to challenge what those in power say is acceptable for the human body, and tattoos are a current way of doing that.

Stigma Against Tattoos  

Tattoos have had tons of different meanings throughout their long history, but many people have had negative attitudes toward them. Psychology Today found that most people who don’t get tattoos choose not to either because of their religion or for social reasons like not wanting to disappoint their family, having trouble finding a job, etc.

In a lot of places, tattoos have been associated with criminality and gang activity, and they are still banned in some parts of the world. Because of this, some people feel that tattoos are an act of rebellion or that a tattooed person is somehow dangerous. 

Finding Community

Tattoos are a good way to show group affiliation like cultural identity. Many people get a tattoo to show where they or their families come from, celebrate their culture, or show what kind of community they belong to. 

There is a community within the people who get a tattoo as well, and it can be a cool way to meet new people in social settings. People who have tattoos are often happy to talk about them with people, and tattoos can help people make new connections and meet new people.

Personal Meaning  

David Vega tattoo

People getting tattoos - especially for the first time - usually have some sort of story behind the design they want. 

Your job as an artist is to also be a storyteller. If your client has some sort of experience or meaningful story behind the tattoo they want to get, look for ways to help powerfully tell that story through your design. 

Not only will this show your client that you understand them and care about the “why” behind their tattoo, but it’ll also get you lots of repeat customers who love your work.

Memorials

Many tattooed individuals get tattoos in order to memorialize someone or something that has meant a lot to them. Portraits of a beloved family member or pet are very common tattoos that help a person remember something they have lost. 

There are a lot of different tattoos that can memorialize someone besides portraits including quotes, handwriting, or images that remind someone of that person. One way that people use tattoos to memorialize someone is to get the same tattoo that a loved one used to have.

Life Lessons

People use tattoos as a way to remind themselves of life lessons they have learned over the years. Inspirational quotes or song lyrics that speak to how people want to live are common choices for tattoos with personal meaning. 

Clients often get tattoos to symbolize certain periods in their life where they learned a lot or changed as a person so they can look back on them to see how far they have come. Tattoos are also a symbol of commitment, and for some people, can be a way to show a strong interest or connection to something that is important enough to carry with them permanently.

Getting Past Traumatic Experiences

Tattoos are also a way for people to improve their mental health after going through a traumatic experience. In their studies of tattoo behavior, Professor Swami found that tattoos can be a powerful way for people to start healing from domestic abuse. Swami found that people view getting tattoos as a way to reclaim their body from the people who hurt them. 

A recent study from the University of Washington showed that tattoos can help with the mental health of people who have gone through cancer treatment. Tattoos can help with emotional recovery and regaining a sense of control over your body. 

Researchers have also found a lot of people getting what are called “pandemic tattoos,” which are tattoos people are getting as a way to celebrate making it through the coronavirus pandemic and re-entering public life.

The Experience

One of the most common reasons that tattooed individuals want to go back for more is because they enjoy the experience that comes with getting a new tattoo. 

The experience of picking a new idea, working with an artist, and getting the actual tattoo done is appealing to a lot of people. Sometimes, people get tattoos without personal meaning, just because they like the actual process of getting a tattoo.

Getting to Know the Artist

Some people like to get tattooed because of the experience of getting to chat with their artist. Either they want to get to know the person behind the design, or they want to talk off some of the nervous energy that comes with getting tattooed. 

Enjoying the Pain  

Some people get body modifications because they simply like the way it feels or enjoy the experience of overcoming the pain. Historically, tattoos and scarification have been used to mark someone as a warrior, and the act of getting through the pain proves someone’s strength. 

This concept has stuck around into the current tattooing world, with things like the Brutal Black Project. The Brutal Black Project is a tattooing experience where the point is to cover the body with black ink as painfully as possible. This experience is built to allow clients to test their limits and feel what it’s like to overcome something really extreme. 

While not everyone who gets tattooed wants to do something that intense, people have reported enjoying the pain of tattoos as well as the release of adrenaline and dopamine that comes from getting a new tattoo. 

Some people like to use tattoos as a way to get over a fear, either of pain, needles, or doing something that others might see as taboo.

Prepare for a Tattoo Career with the Artist Accelerator Program

Understanding tattoo psychology is an important step in your journey towards a tattoo career, but it can also be pretty eye-opening to how difficult tattooing can be. Without the right knowledge, it’s impossible to level up your skills and become a professional tattoo artist. 

However, finding the straight-forward information you need to progress is difficult. And with so much out there online, it’s hard to avoid picking up bad habits from incorrect and outdated resources.

This is one of the biggest struggles new tattooers face, and too many talented artists have given up their goal of getting into the tattoo business because of the years it would take to unlearn their bad habits. 

That’s why aspiring artists are learning to tattoo with the Artist Accelerator Program’s structured course. As a student, you learn every step of the tattooing process from professional artists with the experience and advice you need for your tattoo career. 

With the Artist Accelerator, you can stop wasting time searching through incorrect information. You just get the clear, easy-to-understand lessons you need to start improving fast… along with support and personalized feedback from professional artists in our online Mastermind group.

Over 2500 students have already gone through the course, with many of them opening up their own studios. If you want to join them and learn the skills you need to start working full time faster…

Most Tattooed Man in the World - Meet Lucky Diamond Rich 

Lucky Diamond Rich is an aboriginal Australian performance artist and Guinness World Record holder for being the world’s most tattooed man. 

Rich, who was born Greg Paul McLaren in New Zealand, has covered his body in over 1000 tattoos and various piercings, including a full-body suit of white ink. Lucky Diamond Rich was given his middle name by friends who described him as a “rough diamond”.

Collecting Tattoos 

Lucky joined the circus at age 16 and would juggle chainsaws, ride a ten-foot unicycle, and swallow swords. After he got his first tattoo of a small juggling club on his hip, he waited over two years to get tattooed again.

At 18, he continued getting more and more tattoos with the money he made as a street performer. He wanted the way he looked to be part of his performance art. 

At 28, Lucky Diamond Rich got his first full-body suit of black ink, which he would later go over with a layer of white ink as well as multiple layers of color. He now has tattoos covering his entire body including the skin between his toes, his eyelids, his ear canals, and even his gums. He has also had his teeth replaced with silver veneers.

As the most tattooed man in the world and one of the world’s most distinct-looking people, Lucky Diamond Rich says that he does not regret a single one of his tattoos. Now that his entirebody is covered, Lucky Diamond considers himself to have only one tattoo.

Even with the tattoos, he doesn’t feel different to anyone else. In addition to working as a performer, Lucky Diamond Rich has also worked as a support worker for an alcohol and drug rehabilitation center in Australia.

Most Tattooed Woman in the World - Charlotte Guttenberg

In 2015, 69-year-old Charlotte Guttenberg overtook the Guinness World Record for being the most tattooed woman. She has over 98.75% of her body covered in tattoos, including the back of her head.

Most Tattooed Senior Citizen

Gutenberg and her partner have also been crowned the most tattooed senior citizens in the male and female categories.

Charlotte Guttenberg did not get her first tattoo until her 50th birthday, and she immediately knew that she wanted to get a full suit to cover her entire body. 

Now, Charlotte wants to use her personal re-brand as a way to promote people’s self esteem, as well as the beauty and history of tattoos.

Other Heavily Tattooed People

Julia Gnuse

Julia Gnuse previously held the world record for being the most tattooed woman. A rare skin disease that resulted in scarring led her to have almost her whole body tattooed.

Rick Genest  

Rick Genest, also known as Zombie Boy, was one of the most tattooed people before his death in 2019. He had his full body tattooed as a living skeleton and worked as an actor and model, even appearing in Lady Gaga’s music video for the song “Born This Way.”

Prepare for a Tattooing Career with the Artist Accelerator Program

Learning the details of tattooing is an important step in your journey, but it can also be pretty eye-opening to how difficult tattooing can be. Without the right knowledge, it’s impossible to level up your skills and become a professional tattoo artist. 

However, finding the straight-forward information you need to progress is difficult. And with so much out there online, it’s hard to avoid picking up bad habits from incorrect and outdated resources.

This is one of the biggest struggles new tattooers face, and too many talented artists have given up their goal of getting into tattooing because of the years it would take to unlearn their bad habits. 

That’s why aspiring artists are learning to tattoo with the Artist Accelerator Program’s structured course. As a student, you learn every step of the tattooing process from professional artists with the experience and advice you need to build your skills and create incredible tattoos. 

With the Artist Accelerator, you can stop wasting time searching through incorrect information. You just get the clear, easy-to-understand lessons you need to start improving fast… along with support and personalized feedback from professional artists in our online Mastermind group.

Over 2500 students have already gone through the course, with many of them opening up their own studios. If you want to join them and learn the skills you need to start tattooing full time faster…

However, working in tandem with artificial intelligence might become the “fast track” to a career in tattooing. In this article, we’ll break down why that is, and what tattoo artists - and the industry as a whole - can expect to see from the rise of artificial intelligence.

How Artificial Intelligence Works

Before looking at the effects of artificial intelligence on tattooing specifically, it’s important to know what current AI is capable of doing. This will make it easier to pinpoint where its impact will be felt the most in the tattoo industry.

Written Content

To create written content with an AI program (like Jasper, image below) you simply feed it a few key phrases, videos, or articles. Tell the generator that you want a blog post similar to those existing pieces, and it will spit out completely original content in a matter of minutes. 

While they’re not perfect, AI content generators use the same common phrasing humans use to guess what to write next. It’s similar to autocorrect - just at a much higher level. They do this by using GPT3, a program that allows AI to learn about a topic using articles and videos posted to the internet to then create its own content. 

GPT3 is the most capable - and lifelike - model to date, allowing AI to accurately understand niche topics. It has such a natural language cadence that GPT3 AI can be used to create realistic relationships, as seen in apps like Replika.

The Artwork

Some AI generators are dedicated solely to written content, while others also churn out images based on basic prompts. To create artwork with an AI program, you simply have to type in a command, and it will create a completely custom image in a matter of seconds.

Some generators will ask for additional guidance to help with the creation process. For example, they might ask for the “mood” you’re going for, as well as offer up names of famous artists to help narrow down the style you’re looking for.

Other generators will allow you to draw “rough sketches” of an image and it will then use that as a foundation to create a much more detailed image, saving the human artist hours of manual labor.

It is this ability to create incredible designs in a matter of seconds that is likely to become a major asset to tattoo artists in the near future.

Artificial Intelligence Could Become the Ultimate Creative Assistant for Tattoo Artists

It’s reasonable to estimate that it will be 2-3 years before AI-created art is good enough to replace tattoo designs. (See current results below.)

When asked to create a “Japanese tattoo design on a woman’s back,” Jasper AI created this image from scratch in seconds.

While AI currently does not have the capacity to create tattoo designs that flow with the body’s muscles (a major component of tattoo design), the most advanced AI systems currently in use have only downloaded a small percentage of the internet. 

Along with the millions of dollars of investment pouring into the development of the software, we can expect to see AI generators to become more sophistocated fast, meaning it is reasonable to estimate that within 2-3 years, AI-generated tattoo designs will have enough references to create designs that are professional quality (or better).  

That being said, once AI is able to digest the tattoo designs on Instagram, Facebook, and the like, it will have millions of references to use for any single design. Even if an artist has seen that many images, it is impossible for the human brain to hold - and use - so much information at one time, giving the AI generator a definitive leg up in the design process. 

So, what does this mean for those top artists - let alone new tattoo artists trying to break into the industry?

It means that it will become much easier for artists to unlock and enhance their creativity.

AI will never be able to replace human emotion or an artist’s personality and style. However, learning how to use those things to draw amazing tattoo designs can take years of practice, and many new artists have a hard time getting the ideas from their mind onto paper. 

If an aspiring tattoo artist is still building those drawing skills, an AI generator will be able to act as an assistant by giving them a solid design to work off. Because the generator will sample the work of top-performing artists, it is recreating the same process that new artists use to learn (mimicking their favorite artists) at a much faster rate. 

However, because these designs are still guaranteed to be unique (and not exact replicas of other artists’ designs), artists will be able to tattoo those designs right away or use the AI-generated image as a base for their own work. Instead of drawing from scratch, they instead have a good starting point that saves them several hours of frustration. 

This process will allow new artists to take their time learning how to draw, while still making it possible to earn a living as a tattoo artist. 

Why AI Will Benefit New Tattoo Artists Most

AI will enhance an artist’s ability to create by making the process faster while also needing less effort. For tattoo artists who have made a living off of their decades of drawing experience, this might be alarming. 

However, when used correctly, tattoo artists at all levels can use AI to further their career. That being said, new artists are likely to see the most direct benefits.

This is partially because “old-school” tattoo artists are known for rejecting the use of technology in tattooing, which means they get left behind while artists who hop on the train early are able to skyrocket their careers. We have seen this trend over and over throughout the years:

Rotary Tattoo Machines

While rotary tattoo machines have not replaced coil machines entirely, most artists opt for them. They are easier to use, easier to fix, and can create finer lines and smoother shades than the original coil machine design.

Tattoo Television 

Tattooing TV shows like InkMaster and Tattoo Nightmares pushed tattooing into the mainstream. What was once considered taboo was suddenly romanticized. 

People saw tattooing as a way to travel, find creative expression, and find freedom within a well-paying career. Suddenly, tattooing became “cool.” Tattoo shops popped up overnight in every city, and owners were easily making six figures simply from tattooing’s new popularity. 

Instagram

Tattooing 101 Instructor Brandon’s Instagram

Instagram allowed tattooing to go viral. With the invention of Instagram, tattoo artists suddenly had a free way to market their services and show off their work. This not only allowed them to find new customers, it also exposed people to artists all over the world, leading to more education on what good tattoos look like. 

The ability to see work from so many different artists caused a major shift in the industry. Instead of walking into the nearest shop, customers suddenly knew of artists who specialized in the style they wanted in the next town or city over - and they were willing to make the trip and pay more for that artist. 

iPad, Procreate, Photoshop 

Digital drawing streamlined the design process for tattoo artists. With digital tools that made perfectly straight lines and allowed for exact symmetry, many artists found that apps like Procreate and Photoshop made their drawing process easier, while also making their designs look better. 

Additionally, using digital tools allowed artists to easily resize their work and travel with the ability to make new designs, even if they left their traditional watercolors and pens at home.

AI is the Next Step of Evolution for the Tattooing Industry

Most of the next generation of tattoo artists will be “digital natives.” This means that they were learning to use advanced technology before they could walk. (Many people will be more familiar with the term “iPad babies.”) 

Because of their familiarity with technology, they will be likely to embrace AI as tattoo artists. Current tattoo artists will need to adopt the technology for themselves, or they will see themselves surpassed by artists who have only months of experience compared to their decades.  

No matter how experienced an artist might be, it is impossible to compete with someone who is using AI to create tattoo designs, social media posts and other marketing materials that attract customers, etc. 

Essentially, AI is likely to push many tattoo artists committed to the old ways of tattooing into early retirement. While many artists were able to continue working despite rejecting iPads or online marketing through social media, the gap between the “old ways” and the abilities of AI will become too large for them to hurdle.

What AI-Assisted Tattooing Looks Like

As new tattoo artists integrate AI into their workflow, we can expect to see a few changes:

We’ve discussed how image generation with AI will be able to help tattoo artists create incredible designs at their same skill level or higher in a matter of seconds. (Normally, large tattoo designs can take upwards of 6 hours to create.)

However, it’s important to understand how tattoo artists can use AI-generated written content as well.

Unless an artist is in the top 1% skill-wise, it’s rare that a client will search them out by name. Instead, artists that want to get ahead in the industry need to use marketing tactics to put themselves out there and get new clients. 

However, for many artists, social media and marketing is a chore. 

AI-generated copy will allow tattoo artists to optimize their marketing efforts. With the ability to create captions, emails, video scripts, and more on demand with AI software, artists will be able to put out higher-quality posts that get them noticed in a fraction of the time it took them before.

Because AI will make it easy to target often-searched terms and phrases, tattoo artists will be able to double down on their marketing to create a bigger client list, build their brand (which translates to higher per-hour pay), and spend less time on the admin side of their business. 

Looking Forward: AI as an Admin Assistant

While still far off, it’s likely that AI will be able to handle the inboxes of tattoo artists in just a few        years. Having an AI bot handle questions from customers, pricing estimates, and more will save artists hours per week of being on their phones, trying to keep up with their growing inbox.

A major obstacle that keeps tattoo artists from growing their online presence - and resulting client list - is that it is very difficult to create new tattoos and designs quickly enough to satisfy most social media platforms’ fast-paced algorithms.

TikTok, the world’s fastest-growing social media platform, recommends posting one to four times per day. Instagram recommends posting at least once per day.

Artists using AI to generate tattoo designs will no longer find this an issue. Additionally, they’ll be able to find more time for actual tattooing without the hours-long process of creating custom designs. Provided they have basic technical skills, they’ll be able to create high-quality tattoos (with higher-quality designs), faster, boosting their production - and their careers. 

In the past, the only way to become a tattoo artist was to get an apprenticeship under a tattoo artist working in a shop. And the only way to get “accepted” by a mentor was to show a portfolio of high-quality tattoo designs that proved a potential apprentice’s artistic skills before they even touched a tattoo machine for the first time. 

While that process is becoming more flexible through online programs and in-person tattoo schools, AI-generated artwork will make it easier to get into tattooing because new artists’ time and attention can be focused on actually tattooing designs, and they will only have to know a little bit about drawing. This removes a massive obstacle for many aspiring tattoo artists, which means faster improvement for new artists.

As AI continues to get better, the more that ability to grow will accelerate.

What AI’s Effects Mean for the Tattoo Industry as a Whole

Because AI can assist artists who are still developing their artistic skills - and technical skills can be improved upon much faster - the bar to entering the industry will be much, much lower.

This will cause a number of effects within the industry:

Because the tattoo industry will be more accessible to aspiring tattoo artists, we can expect a flood of new artists entering the market. With an influx of tattoo artists armed with an unlimited number of great designs, a massive wave of new clientele will follow. 

This expected growth of the industry will be similar to the expansion seen after the rise of tattoo television, just at a larger scale.

Business owners will see the rise of new tattoo artists and clients as a major opportunity to get in on the ground floor before the industry experiences a major boom.

This means that new tattoo supply companies will come onto the scene offering new machines and equipment. This will likely drive the cost of supplies down, even among reputable brands.

However, the biggest change artists are likely to see is that fewer companies will require artists who order from them to be connected to a tattoo shop. At present, many tattoo supply companies will not sell their products to artists who cannot prove they work in a tattoo studio. 

But, as more artists start learning - and practicing - at home, companies who refuse to sell to such a large demographic of the industry will likely find themselves getting run out of business by bigger suppliers who will.

As the tattoo industry grows, it will gain more attention from both local and national governing bodies. Most likely, this will mean stronger regulation when it comes to safety (like the UK's 2022 Ink Ban) and training.

For artists seeking in-person apprenticeships, this is a good sign. If there are clear standards for what an apprentice must learn and standard timelines mentors have to follow, it is far less likely that an apprentice will be taken advantage of for free labor. This will likely curb some of the abuse that happens in apprenticeships as well, since there will be a government office that mentors will report back to. 

Despite more regulation, the industry can expect to see a decrease in in-person apprenticeships. Because so many of the artists entering the industry will need flexible learning plans due to full-time jobs, family obligations, etc., the current style of in-shop apprenticeships will no longer be the norm.

Because AI programs can develop hundreds of new designs at any time, tattoo artists will be much less likely to steal designs and copy them for their own clients. Creating custom designs will be easier - with none of the social repercussions that come from being labeled a “copycat” in the industry.

How Artists Can Best Position Themselves to Take Advantage of AI: Using Innovation to Launch Your Career

The tattoo industry as a whole can expect several benefits from the effects of AI, including a larger community of new tattoo artists, less harsh apprenticeships, and a growing acceptance of tattoos due to a larger clientele. 

Additionally, artificial intelligence offers tattoo artists benefits they can use as tools to reach their individual career goals faster. Here’s how artists can use AI to position themselves for success in the coming years:

Is Tattoo Ink Dangerous?

The recent UK ink ban has caused the United States and Canada to take a closer look at what ingredients go into tattoo ink - and whether they are actually safe for people to have in their skin.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no ink made particularly for tattooing. While there are popular “tattoo ink” distributors that offer tattoo artists sterile products to prevent infection (Solid Ink, Intenze Ink, and Eternal Ink, to name a few), the actual pigments that go into these inks are the same ones that go into many paints and textiles. 

Many of these pigments are known to contain heavy metals and other materials that you wouldn’t necessarily want to put into your body. However, the trace amounts of these materials found in the ink have not been proven to cause cancer (or any other illness). 

According to the study’s lead scientist, John Swierk, Ph.D., the biggest concerns we should have when it comes to tattoo ink causing cancer are actually the laser removal process and ink particle size. 

Lasering Certain Inks can Produce Carcinogens

Even though tattoo inks contain trace amounts of dangerous materials, they aren’t a real threat - provided they remain in their original, stable form. The true problem is when those ink particles begin to break down, which can be caused by the presence of certain bacteria or the laser removal process.

When ink containing azo pigments (these are the same pigments targeted by the UK ink ban) break down via bacteria or UV light, they release a nitrogen-based compound that may cause cancer. 

The Most Dangerous Ink Colors

Azo pigments are found in nearly every color of tattoo ink. Black and red ink normally do not contain azo pigments. Please note that this does not mean black and red ink is free of harmful material. One study found that 83% of black inks tested contained Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are known to be carcinogens.

Small Ink Particle Size Could Cause Cancer

Swierk’s team also studied the size of tattoo ink particles. Normally, tattoo ink particles are large. This is important because the body’s natural defense systems cannot break down those large particles effectively, which allows the tattoo to stay in place with minimal fading. 

However, if a tattoo ink particle is too small, it can make its way through the cell membrane and damage the cell. This type of damaged cell - under the right conditions - could cause cancer. 

Ink Particles Can Collect in the Lymph Nodes

The body sees tattoo ink particles as a “foreign invader” that needs to be destroyed. Even though it’s very difficult for the body to break down such large particles, it will try to do so by flushing out the material using the body’s natural “drainage” system, the lymphatic system.

Tattoo Ink and Skin Cancer

In addition to recent studies, there has been a longer-standing concern over whether tattoos cause skin cancer. 

Though we’ve seen that tattoo ink does contain potential carcinogens (as many food, makeup, and household cleaning products do), there is no conclusive evidence that simply having tattoos causes skin cancer. However, there is a risk for skin cancer if someone tattoos over a mole without the approval of their doctor. 

The Tattoo Ink Ban and New Safety Measures

As mentioned previously, the UK has recently put a ban on many ink colors containing azo pigments, giving artists a year-long grace period to find replacements. It is expected that the U.S. will follow suit with similar bans in the near future. 

This crackdown on ink ingredients has led many tattoo ink distributors to reformulate their ink using safer materials and to be more transparent in their labeling. (In the August 2022 study, Swierk’s team found ethanol in a tattoo ink, but ethanol was not listed on the label.)

This increase in safety, however, has led to an increase in prices, as many of the safer materials are more expensive to produce.

What Does This Mean for Tattoo Artists?

The findings of Swierk’s team are still in the process of being peer reviewed, and no action has been taken by the FDA at the time of writing. Tattoo artists in the U.S. and Canada are still able to use tattoo inks that they see fit. However, with this new information, it is likely that both artists and clients might want to re-evaluate which inks are used during the tattooing process. 

The findings of Swierk’s study are to be added to whatsinmyink.com as a resource for artists (and their clients) to review ink ingredients. 

While more scientific studies on tattoo ink (and subsequent improvements in the tattoo industry) will make tattooing a more medically-safe art form, safer - and more expensive - ink could lead to a rise in costs for tattoo artists, who often function as individual businesses. Because of this, tattoo artists can expect safer, easy-to-read ink that clients can trust - but they can also expect to raise their prices in the coming years to compensate for the increased costs.

Artists who have adapted to technology have been able to speed up their work process to improve faster and do more tattoos. Artists who have not, however, have ended up falling behind in the industry.

This is why it’s so important for new tattoo artists to know what technology is out there for them - and how to use it.

What’s New in Tattooing: iPads, Machines, Marketing, and More

The following list will break down the biggest advances in tech that tattooing has seen in the past several years. We’ll also include resources to help you get started with that technology yourself.

iPad + Procreate

The Procreate App on the iPad is the biggest game changer tattooing has seen from technology. This is because it can save artists several hours of work each week.

Social Media

Before social media, tattoo artists would have to wait for walk-in clients to get work. Overtime, as their work got better, those walk-in clients might come back and get more tattoos from that artist. However, building a client list and becoming an appointment-only artist this way took years. 

Today, artists use Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and more to build a following, which makes it easier to reach more people and get more clients. Because those people are familiar with their work, they’ll become clients, even if they are a new artist without much experience. 

Because of this, many new artists are getting popular online, which means they are getting the same type of clientele (and income) of much more experienced artists. Additionally, if they have followers across the country or worldwide, they can have work waiting on them whenever they want to travel. 

Because of technology, “going viral” in a single day can lead to months of work and a stable career.

Online Booking

In the past, clients would have to come into the shop to book an appointment with their artist. 

Today, you can connect your calendar to an online booking tool, and customers can book in with you without messaging back and forth trying to find a time that works. 

You can also collect deposits online, and even have clients sign waivers electronically in the shop. These automated processes not only save you time, but it allows you to have all your documents in one place without having to keep a ton of papers around.

Rotaries and Pen Machines

For decades, coil machines were the only tattoo machines artists used. While some artists still prefer to use them, coil machines need a lot of tuning. To be able to use one properly, you need to be a bit of a machine builder on top of being an artist.

However, in the last ten years, rotary machines and pen machines have become incredibly popular. Instead of having to manually tune the machine, rotaries and pen machines have made it easy to get set up and start tattooing right away. 

Additionally, because these machines are easier to use, they’re very beginner-friendly. This allows new artists to get to tattooing faster without having to worry about many settings.

Cartridges

Most artists today use cartridges and disposable grips while they tattoo. This saves artists hours of time. When they’re done with a tattoo, they can simply drop the used cartridges into a biohazard container. 

Before cartridges were available, tattoo artists would have to clean their tubes before running an autoclave every night to sterilize them.

On top of that, many artists would have to solder their own needles. This is a dangerous and time-consuming process, and it’s no longer recommended that artists make their own needles.

Online Ordering

Before artists could order supplies online, they’d have to order over the phone. Supply companies would send books of their products to tattoo shops, and artists would call in with a list of what they needed. 

Today, online ordering has made this process much simpler. It’s also now much easier for beginners to get supplies if they aren’t learning in a traditional shop setting.

Online Learning

Technology has made tattooing much more accessible. In the past, the only way to learn to tattoo was in a traditional apprenticeship. However, this meant that aspiring artists who couldn’t work fulltime in the shop had no way to learn.

Nowadays, artists are turning to online platforms to learn how to tattoo at home, on their own time. 

Become a Tattoo Artist With the Artist Accelerator Program

Having a career in tattooing is not only fulfilling, but it’s also the most stable way to make a living as an artist. However, for decades, the process to become a tattoo artist has been notoriously difficult. 

The apprenticeship process requires aspiring tattoo artists to work 50-60 hours a week without pay for 2-4 years. That, combined with the toxic culture of abusing apprentices, makes getting into the industry almost impossible for newcomers. 

That’s why we created the Artist Accelerator Program. Our online course provides a simple, structured way of learning to tattoo that has been proven to work by over 2500 successful students, with many of them having gone on to open their own shops all around the world. 

Inside the program, we’ll take you through every step of the tattooing process in 9 clear, easy-to-follow modules and support you along the way within the Tattooing 101 Mastermind online community.

In the Mastermind group, you’ll collaborate with other students, get answers to your questions, and receive personalized video feedback on your artwork and tattoos from professional tattoo artists. With this friendly community of both new and experienced tattoo artists, you’ll never be stuck again. 

When you join the Artist Accelerator Program, you’ll have instant access to the full course and the Mastermind community, as well as our 30-Day Flash Challenge and recorded interviews with tattoo artists from all over the world. 

Click here to learn more about the Artist Accelerator Program. 

Myths about Tattoos

Tattooing can seem like a pretty mysterious process. This has led to plenty of misconceptions about the process of getting a tattoo as well as healing. 

Below are some of the myths we hear the most from clients - and why they aren’t true.

Having tattoos causes health conditions. 

Some people say tattoos can lead to illness or even cause cancer. This myth might stem from the fear of the spread of bloodborne pathogens, which can happen if tattoo artists don’t use sterile equipment. Additionally, some clients will have allergic reactions to ink. 

Color tattoos hurt more than black and gray.

All tattoos hurt, and color does not hurt “more” than black and gray - but there is a reason people believe this.  

Artists have to use different techniques for inks with different consistencies. If the ink is thin, it might take an extra pass or more time to get the ink in, which adds an extra step to your tattoo process. While it depends on the brand, color ink tends to be thicker than black ink. This is why it seems like color tattoos “hurt more.” 

Getting a tattoo drunk hurts less.

Plenty of people think that having a few drinks before their appointment will make the pain more bearable. However, alcohol actually causes the opposite reaction. In fact, most artists warn people not to drink the night before or day of their appointment. 

Because alcohol thins out the blood, it causes a person to bleed more during their appointment. Alcohol also dehydrates the body, which makes a tattoo more painful. 

This is the same case for painkillers, especially ibuprofen, because they thin the blood. This means a person will bleed much more during their appointment, which can make it harder for a tattoo artist to work. 

You cannot donate blood after getting a tattoo. 

If you have tattoos, you can give blood. However, each state has different regulations on how long you have to wait after getting a tattoo before donating blood.

Covering new tattoos with ointment will help them heal better.

While it might seem like a good idea to keep a new tattoo “hydrated” with a ton of ointment, using too much can keep a tattoo from healing properly. 

If there’s a thick layer of ointment on top of it, a new tattoo can’t breathe, and the ointment will actually pull ink out of the tattoo. It’s best to just apply a thin layer to assist the skin in its natural healing process.

Chlorine can fade your tattoos.

This one is partly true. While you’ll have plenty of customers who will jump in the pool or head to the beach right after getting a tattoo, most people know that swimming can cause the ink to fall out of an unhealed tattoo. This means that swimming in a pool with chlorine can cause the tattoo to look faded.

Once the tattoo is healed, going in the pool won’t fade your tattoos. If there’s higher levels of chlorine in the pool, it can cause some mild damage to the top layer of skin (redness and irritation). However, tattoo ink sits in the second layer of the skin, out of reach of the chlorine. 

Myths about the Tattoo Industry and Tattoo Artists

The tattoo industry started out as an “underground” art form, and it hasn’t always been legal. Because tattooing hasn’t always been in the public eye, it’s been easy for stereotypes about the industry to get blown out of proportion.

Only sailors, bikers, and criminals get tattoos.

For a while, this was actually true. People who were “outsiders” of mainstream society would get tattooed.

However, today this is a myth. All different types of people from many different industries get tattooed, as tattooing has become more popular.

Tattoo artists are mean.

This is another myth that used to be - at least partly - true. There’s an old stereotype that tattoo artists are intimidating and rude. Because tattoo clients were originally people who were “rough around the edges” and because tattoo artists were more rare, many artists didn’t care about customer service. 

However, as more tattoo artists have come on the scene and tattooing has become more mainstream, customer service has become an incredibly important part of the job.

Sailor Jerry practiced on cadavers.

Well…this one might be true.

Sailor Jerry is an iconic figure in tattooing, and he’s credited as the creator of the American Traditional tattoo style. However, learning to tattoo and refining his new style would take a lot of practice. 

Rumor has it that Norman Keith Collins (Sailor Jerry) had connections with local morgues, which meant he could sneak in and practice on the bodies inside.

Tattooing is a “crazy” lifestyle.

There’s two reasons people believe this: 

First, many people think that tattoo shops are dramatic places to work. A big part of this is due to tattooing TV shows, which show artists and clients fighting back and forth all the time. Much of this is scripted to get people interested and to keep them watching. 

While all tattoo artists will end up with a wild story every once in a while, most days are normal “work days.” They show up to the shop, tattoo and talk with clients, and go home. 

The second reason people think tattooing leads to a “crazy” lifestyle is because they think tattoo artists party all the time. Of course, there are plenty of artists who spend time going out. But most artists go home after work to draw tattoo designs, spend time with their family, and get some rest.

You have to have a tattoo apprenticeship to learn tattooing properly.

10-15 years ago, this was the case. Tattooing is a complicated process, and aspiring artists need to be able to see the process step by step. Before the internet, the only place to do that was in a tattoo shop working under a tattoo artist. In return for this education, new artists would work full-time for free to help run the shop.

However, with the recent advances in technology - learning online through video is possible for new artists. This means traditional apprenticeships are no longer required, and artists can choose to learn whatever way works best for them, their schedule, and their financial situation.

Become a Tattoo Artist With the Artist Accelerator Program

Having a career in tattooing is not only fulfilling, but it’s also the most stable way to make a living as an artist. However, for decades, the process to become a tattoo artist has been notoriously difficult. 

The apprenticeship process requires aspiring tattoo artists to work 50-60 hours a week without pay for 2-4 years. That, combined with the toxic culture of abusing apprentices, makes getting into the industry almost impossible for newcomers. 

That’s why we created the Artist Accelerator Program. Our online course provides a simple, structured way of learning to tattoo that has been proven to work by over 2500 successful students, with many of them having gone on to open their own shops all around the world. 

Inside the program, we’ll take you through every step of the tattooing process in 9 clear, easy-to-follow modules and support you along the way within the Tattooing 101 Mastermind online community.

In the Mastermind group, you’ll collaborate with other students, get answers to your questions, and receive personalized video feedback on your artwork and tattoos from professional tattoo artists. With this friendly community of both new and experienced tattoo artists, you’ll never be stuck again. 

When you join the Artist Accelerator Program, you’ll have instant access to the full course and the Mastermind community, as well as our 30-Day Flash Challenge and recorded interviews with tattoo artists from all over the world. 

Click here to learn more about the Artist Accelerator Program. 

Day in the Life of a Tattoo Artist

While you’ll have different clients and tattoos, you’ll follow the same schedule almost every day.

A “Late” Start

Tattoo studios usually open up around 12pm and stay open until late (10pm-12am, depending on the shop). Because of this, tattoo artists can have a later start than most people with a 9-5 job. 

After getting up and getting ready, it’s time to head to the tattoo shop. 

Parents

Balancing kids’ schedules with a tattoo artist’s schedule can be complicated. Because tattoo artists tend to stay in the shop until late at night, kids are already asleep by the time they get home. 

Most tattoo artists with children wake up early to take them to school, and then have a gap of time between school drop off (around 8am) until work (around 12pm). 

Apprentices

Tattoo apprentices will have an earlier start than the artists in the shop because they have to get there early to clean the shop and prepare for the day. To see the schedule of a tattoo apprentice, check out our article “A Day in the Life of a Tattoo Apprentice.”

12:00pm – Studio Opens

Once you get to the shop, what you do will depend on whether you have appointments lined up or not.

Prep for Appointments

If you have an appointment, you’ll go ahead and set up your station, get the stencil ready, etc.

Waiting for Walk-Ins

If you don’t have appointments lined up, it’s likely that you’ll be waiting on walk-in clients. Using this down time to post on social media and work on marketing, drawing, and being productive will be super helpful especially if you’re at the beginning of your career.

2:00-3:00pm – Lunch…?

This one gets a question mark because a lot of tattoo artists don’t eat much during the day. If you’re tattooing all day, it’s easy to skip eating to keep working. 

However, making sure you’re eating and taking time to stretch during the day is important to your health. It’s highly recommended that you take breaks throughout the day to keep your body feeling healthy.

Afternoon – 10pm

Throughout the rest of the day, you’ll be repeating the process of cleaning, setting up your station, tearing down your station, and preparing for the next client.

While it might take a few extra minutes, make sure to take pictures of all your work to post on Instagram to attract new clients. 

10:30pm – Dinner and Drawing

Because tattoo shops close late, you’ll also be getting home – and eating dinner – pretty late. However, your work still isn’t done. If you have appointments for the next day, you’ll need to spend time drawing the designs you’ll be tattooing.

Even if appointments are booked a month out, it’s normal for artists to draw the designs the night before and make any changes the client wants the day of. (You might have a general idea before you actually start drawing in mind.)

2:00am – Time for Bed

Most artists will stay up late drawing for their appointments and won’t get to bed until after midnight.

New Artists

If you’re new to tattooing or you’re an apprentice, you’ll still spend this time drawing. However, it’ll be for your portfolio or for practice. 

If you don’t have a client list of people who come back regularly to get tattooed by you, it’s also important to spend this time responding to messages of potential customers.

Weekends, Hobbies, Family, and More – Tattoo Artist FAQs

Tattooing is hard work, and it’s pretty time-consuming. While having a creative career gives you the freedom to grow as an artist, it can also impact your schedule and other areas of your life.

What are weekends like for tattoo artists? When do you spend time with your family?

Whether you get the whole weekend off depends on which shop you’re working for. Some shops will be open on Saturday. Most shops will be closed on Sundays. 

If you work at a shop that’s open seven days a week, it can be difficult to figure out a schedule that works for everyone, since most people will want to take their day off on a weekend. However, if you work weekends, you’re able to make a ton of money. 

The problem is that this is a double-edged sword. Even though you might be making more money, if you have school-age kids, you won’t be able to spend as much with them at home. 

The key is making your schedule and your family’s schedule work with your job so you can still get quality time with the people you love.

Do you have time to have time for other hobbies? 

Between tattooing and making time for family, it can be really hard to have other hobbies. 

When you’re first starting out, it might feel impossible to make time for doing other things you enjoy. However, when you move up in your career (for example, open your own shop or do tattoos by appointment only), you will have some time for hobbies outside of work.

Are your friends mostly tattoo artists?

Yes and no. Most tattoo artists are more like “work friends” with the other artists in the shop. 

It’s more likely that you’ll actually end up building friendships with some of your clients because you end up spending much more time with them through your appointments. 

While you don’t want to be best friends with every customer (plenty of people will use your “friendship” to ask for discounts or even apprenticeships), you will find some that you build life-long friendships with.

When do you work with your apprentice? How much work does it add to your day to have an apprentice?

When you have an apprentice, you’ll work with them every day. Each morning, you’ll let them know what you have planned for them, whether that’s drawing, cleaning the shop, etc. They’ll also watch you tattoo, which means you’ll need to explain what you’re doing while they take notes.

Teaching an apprentice does put more on your plate. You can’t go on autopilot because you have to actively explain everything you do. Additionally, teaching them to do things like tear down a station takes extra time. Even though it might be second nature to you, they’ll take longer to do it. 

However, apprentices are there to help run the shop and clean, which takes some of those responsibilities off of you, so it does balance out.

Become a Tattoo Artist With the Artist Accelerator Program

Having a career in tattooing is not only fulfilling, but it’s also the most stable way to make a living as an artist. However, for decades, the process to become a tattoo artist has been notoriously difficult. 

The apprenticeship process requires aspiring tattoo artists to work 50-60 hours a week without pay for 2-4 years. That, combined with the toxic culture of abusing apprentices, makes getting into the industry almost impossible for newcomers. 

That’s why we created the Artist Accelerator Program. Our online course provides a simple, structured way of learning to tattoo that has been proven to work by over 2500 successful students, with many of them having gone on to open their own shops all around the world. 

Inside the program, we’ll take you through every step of the tattooing process in 9 clear, easy-to-follow modules and support you along the way within the Tattooing 101 Mastermind online community.

In the Mastermind group, you’ll collaborate with other students, get answers to your questions, and receive personalized video feedback on your artwork and tattoos from professional tattoo artists. With this friendly community of both new and experienced tattoo artists, you’ll never be stuck again. 

When you join the Artist Accelerator Program, you’ll have instant access to the full course and the Mastermind community, as well as our 30-Day Flash Challenge and recorded interviews with tattoo artists from all over the world. 

Click here to learn more about the Artist Accelerator Program

As an aspiring tattoo artist, you want to make an informed decision before spending time preparing for a new career. Like any industry, the world of tattooing has seen major changes since the beginning of the pandemic that have affected both competition and income expectations.

To get a read on how this shift has affected tattoo artists, we conducted a 2021 State of the Industry survey, asking 600 artists - both new and veteran - for their opinions on the industry’s current state, as well as their predictions for its future.

1. Tattoo Shops Closing

A large number of tattoo shops have closed in the past two years. With heavy restrictions on non-essential businesses in 2020, tattoo shops took a heavy hit, with many of them closing their doors for good.

Because of this, it wasn’t a far stretch for our 2021 State of the Industry survey to find that the biggest fear for new artists preparing to enter the tattooing world is fewer job opportunities due to so many tattoo shops closing down. 

However, this fear might be based on an old model of the tattoo industry. 

In our poll of professional tattoo artists already working in the industry, we found that 54% of their customers come from word of mouth recommendations - double that of the 25% coming from the studio’s combined social media efforts and walk-in customers.

So, yes, there are fewer jobs in shops available…

What does this mean for new tattoo artists trying to break into the industry?

In the past, artists got their start in a street shop taking walk-in clients. However, with the rise of social media, most customers are looking for artists, not shops. This allows artists to use their own social media and word of mouth to gain customers instead of relying on the shop’s ads and walk-ins for their income. 

This ability to be independent from shop owners makes it much easier for artists to work in private studios and keep all of their income. Out of the artists we surveyed that aren’t shop owners, an overwhelming majority said they are working on a 50-60% split. 

Without the overhead of a shop owner, artists doing their own marketing and working in a private studio can either double their earnings - or half the amount of time they have to spend working. 

Note: Private studios still need to be compliant with their local health department’s standards for tattoo studios, and they must be registered as a business. To learn more and get a checklist of everything you need to create a studio, visit our article How to Start a Tattoo Business.

2. Competition is Heating Up

With fewer shops in operation and more artists going out on their own, new artists are able to avoid much of the hazing and gatekeeping that was previously used to keep competition out of the industry. That, along with the rise of online learning and self-taught artists, means there are fewer barriers in the way for new tattoo artists.

However, that means there’s about to be a lot more competition in the industry.

In fact, that was the #2 concern for new artists, and the #3 concern for established artists.

What does more competition mean for new tattoo artists?

It means that you should be building a brand.

For most new tattoo artists, it will be impossible to reach the level of someone who has been in the industry for 20 years in just a matter of months. However, most new artists are trying to rely on their art and tattooing skills alone to help them get clients through social media platforms that are already oversaturated with competition.

However, very few artists know how to market their work. This means that the easier way to stand out from the crowd is to use simple marketing tactics and build a brand that clients connect with. When clients feel like they know you and have a relationship with you, they’ll want to be tattooed by you, even if you don’t have the same skill set as a more experienced artist.

Note: If you’re not sure where to start when building a brand or using marketing techniques, check out our article 15 Steps to Growing Your Tattoo Business.

3. Potential Recession

In 2020 and 2021, tattoo artists saw their incomes plummet, with over half of the professional artists surveyed saying their income decreased 25-50% since COVID-19 shutdowns began. Many artists fear that COVID and other global events mean the U.S. is headed toward a recession in the next year or two (with some economists predicting fall 2023 as the official start).

Chart via ibisworld.com

However, tattooing is one of the most resilient “luxury” businesses, regularly seeing huge upticks in business immediately after major social and economic events. (This is most likely caused by the connection between tattoos and stress.) 

According to ibisworld.com, the slight dip in employment statistics, wage statistics, and market size of the tattoo industry in 2020 was followed by a significant increase in 2021. (Some artists have attributed this growth to a prevalent “YOLO” attitude among people who were hesitant to get tattooed pre-COVID.)

This boom in the industry after economic hardship is not new to the tattooing industry. In fact, there was a large increase in tattooing immediately following the 2008 recession, with some artists actually claiming they saw more business mid-recession in the fall of 2008.

This is why it’s important to look at the attitudes surrounding tattooing specifically during economic hardship, not just general business.

What does a potential recession mean for new artists?

While it’s hard to predict whether there will be a recession in the next few years - or how severe it might be - there is one thing that new artists can take away: they should be prepared for the tattooing “boom” that comes after financially stressful world events.

Aspiring artists that have their portfolio and their skills ready for that immediate growth will be able to take advantage of the flood of customers. 

Note: If you’re not sure how to start building your skills, check out our most popular article, “How to Tattoo for Beginners.”

4. Government Licensing Laws and Ink Bans

In our State of the Industry Survey, both new and veteran artists had government crackdowns on tattooing at the top of their list of threats to the industry.

The UK’s call for evidence about the safety of tattoo inks.

For new artists, the main worry is the possible increase in requirements necessary to become a licensed tattoo artist, while experienced artists cited the 2022 ban of several ink pigments in the UK as a major concern.

What does more regulation mean for new artists?

When states and counties tighten their regulations for the tattoo industry, the artists who are already licensed will not get their licenses revoked. They might have to fulfill additional requirements, but it’s pretty standard for changes like this to include a “grace period” where artists will still be allowed to work while they adjust to the new rules.

This means that the best thing to do is learn to tattoo and get your license as soon as possible. That way if new regulations are passed,  you won’t be kept from tattooing entirely, and you’ll be able to work while making necessary adjustments.

When it comes to ink bans, it’s likely the U.S. will follow suit in the coming years and ban several ink pigments that are considered dangerous. For the most part, these bans stem from inconclusive research, which is why it is so important to fill out “calls for information” from lawmakers. Calls for information allow people in the industry (artists, manufacturers, etc.) to explain why certain inks should be considered safe.

However, because these bans are threatening most ink colors, ink manufacturers are working toward using safer materials. This perception of safety from the public will continue to make tattoos more “mainstream,” leading to more customers. 

5. Tattooing Robots

While “robots replacing tattoo artists” ranked fairly low on our surveyed artists’ list of worries, they’re still worth talking about. Last year, the first “remote tattoo” was performed with an artist directing a robot from a different location.

This experiment was meant to be a test of the capabilities of 5G and was not intended to see if tattoo artists could be replaced by robots. However, it does show that the possibility of robots creating tattoos is on the horizon. After all, machines don’t get tired or make mistakes, which would make them an attractive option for shop owners that want to embrace the technology once it's available.

What do “tattoo robots” mean for new artists?

The possibility of “tattoo robots” means that artistry and personal style are more important than ever. While it’s true that tattooing robots are a good way off, it is very likely that the technology will improve enough to the point that customers could pick designs and get tattooed by a machine.

However, there’s a big difference between a machine using a design a customer picked out and a tattoo created for a person’s body by an artist. Understanding how to make a design fit and flow - as well as creating custom artwork - is not possible for today’s technology. 

Making sure that your drawing and design skills are as strong as your tattooing skills will mean job security as we enter a more technological age. 

Note: Need help developing your own style? Check out our article about Tattoo Design Techniques to learn more about creating custom art for your clients.

With online resources opening up new paths to becoming a professional tattoo artist, many new artists are skipping the tattoo apprenticeship phase to start working in a tattoo shop sooner.

In this article, we’ll aim to break down how you can become an established tattoo artist without an apprenticeship, as well as why online learning is the best way forward for the next generation of tattoo artists. 

Key Highlights:

• With today’s technology, it is possible to learn to tattoo online instead of in a tattoo shop.
• Online courses allow for structured tattoo artist training without asking for disruptive time commitments from apprentices and mentors.
• Companies and educational institutions are using online programs as primary learning resources for employees and students (including medical fields). The tattoo apprenticeship process can make the same shift with proper e-learning resources.
• Learning to tattoo online allows aspiring tattoo artists to grow independently and at their own pace, which leads to quality learning as opposed to a time-based commitment.

How to Learn to Tattoo Online Without a Tattoo Apprenticeship

If you want to learn without an apprenticeship, your best option is to learn from tattoo artists online. YouTube, blogs, forums, and other resources can provide the knowledge you need to become a certified tattoo artist, as long as you know where to look.

To start tattooing through this alternative method, you’ll still need to learn all the same things you would in an apprenticeship:

• How to draw tattoos
• How to be hygienic and keep your clients safe
• How to use a tattoo machine and other tattooing equipment
• How to line, shade, and pack color in a tattoo

The best way to find the answers you need is to make sure you’re using trending search terms in each of these areas.  

How to Draw Tattoos

Learning how to draw is the first step in any in-person tattoo apprenticeship. Instead of drawing landscapes or still-life like you would in fine art classes, you’ll want to focus on drawing tattoo designs.

Tattoo designs are very different from regular artwork because you have to take the shape and flow of the human body into account.  

Here are the most popular tattoo drawing search terms from 2021 that people have successfully used to improve their drawing skills:

• How to draw tattoos on Procreate
• How to draw tattoos step by step
• How to draw realistic tattoos
• How to draw rose tattoos
• How to draw traditional tattoos

How to Keep Clients Safe

Self-taught tattoo artists get a bad rap from the industry because they often do not place enough emphasis on sanitary practices. While it’s not the sexiest topic in tattooing, you can get your tattoo license revoked with just one sanitation mistake.

The riskiest part of tattooing - for both you and your client - is contact with blood. You need to get your Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) Certification before you ever tattoo a person (including yourself) to make sure you are tattooing safely. 

Here are a few of the top online BBP certification sites offering up-to-date training (2021/2022):

• https://courseforbbp.com
• https://www.bloodbornepathogentraining.com/
• https://www.nationaloshafoundation.com/blood-borne-pathogen/  

How to Use Tattoo Shop Equipment

Before you learn to tattoo, it’s important to know how your equipment works - and where to get reliable tattoo equipment.

Obviously, your tattoo machine is the most important part of your setup and will require the most research. Here’s the top “tattoo machine” search terms from 2021:

• What tattoo machine is best for beginners
• How tattoo machines work
• Tattoo machine maintenance
• Tattoo machine setup
• Tattoo machine stroke explained

How to Practice Tattooing: Lining, Shading, and Packing

Accidentally learning outdated techniques in lining, shading, and packing can derail your career as a self-taught tattoo artist. Because of this high risk, we’ve created a free training program anyone can access to learn the basics of these skills.

Why Online Learning is Qualified to Replace In-Person Tattoo Apprenticeships in 2022

Obviously, we’re a bit biased toward online learning. However, it’s not without reason. While there have not been any studies conducted in the tattooing industry specifically, recent studies in parallel fields indicate that online learning might be the superior option to in-person training for future tattoo artists.

Online Training Improves Retention

According to studies conducted in 2019, over 77% of companies provided online learning opportunities for new team members (note that this was even before the COVID-19 pandemic). Additionally, employees say they learn 5x more material when they’re able to learn independently online.

This is because online learning allows for personalized pacing. Like tattooing, every job has numerous protocols, safety measures, and processes that have to be completed daily. When people are allowed to control when and where they learn, they’re far more likely to retain information, as opposed to “time-based” learning.

“Time-based” learning requires a certain amount of hours to be completed, but doesn’t offer a structured way of working through material (much like in-shop apprenticeships that often require 50+ hours a week).

This migration to online learning isn’t just confined to training in the business world.

Medical E-Learning Confirms Effective Online Training

Academic and medical institutions are utilizing online education more than ever before. In 2018, a Forbes contributor confirmed that over 300 nursing degrees (both bachelors and masters) were able to be completed online.

This is a particularly important note because nursing, like tattooing, is often centered around client care and utilizes a lot of the same materials, sanitation processes, etc.

Of course, some medicinal occupations require a certain amount of in-person learning to work with real people. This is usually the main argument proponents of apprenticeship-only learning will make against e-learning.

It’s true that nursing students need to see patients who are actively sick or injured to observe changes in their physical conditions. Unlike the medical field, tattoo artists can practice their skills on fake skin, on themselves, or on friends in private studios, giving them the hands-on learning they need while still using online learning resources.

With so many studies confirming the efficacy of online learning in both the education and business spheres…it’s time for the tattoo industry to join.

E-Learning is More Effective with Structured Programs

Of course, the easiest way to learn using online resources is through a structured course. (That’s why we created the Artist Accelerator Program.) 

Being able to work through the same lessons an apprentice would learn while still having the freedom to learn at your own pace and in your own space is the ideal combination of an independent learning style and guidance from professionals.

Why Online Learning is Good for the Tattoo Industry

A lot of “old-school” artists tend to claim that the rise of self-taught artists learning solely online is detrimental to an art form that is so well rooted in tradition.

However, moving tattoo learning online not only allows the industry to keep up with modern technology, it also allows the industry to keep up with demand.

Millennial customers have flooded the tattoo market in the past several years, with 41% of millennials surveyed in 2021 saying they have at least one tattoo. Additionally, 23% of Gen Z is tattooed (and only half of them are 18 or older). 

Compared to the 32% of Gen X and the 13% of Baby Boomers, it’s clear that the tattoo industry is on a huge incline, which means it needs more artists.

Because most tattoo artists only take one apprentice at a time (if they take an apprentice at all), it’s difficult for the number of artists to grow quickly enough to suit the demand of customers. 

Why Online Learning is Best for Aspiring Artists in All Age Groups

Above we noted that learning online allows people to choose when and where to learn so that they can consume learning materials more effectively. 

Generally, this idea would appeal mostly to aspiring artists who are past their mid-20s because of the industry’s partiality toward younger artists. 

Tattoo shops are notorious for turning away older artists because apprenticeships are not conducive to the lifestyles of people with children, major financial responsibilities, etc., which rules out most people past their late teens and early 20s. 

Artists past this age group can use online learning to work at their own pace without giving up time with family, their full-time jobs, etc., whether that means setting aside time to learn in a condensed period, or spreading their learning out over several years.

However, we would be remiss to skip over the benefits of online learning for the younger generations of aspiring artists. 

Anyone born in the 2000s has never known a time without Google, classifying them as “digital natives.” Because such a large portion of this generation prefers online environments, learning online can be the preferable option for aspiring artists, even though they’re “young enough” to be in an apprenticeship. 

Final Thoughts

While tattooing will always be an in-person service, in a world where a hybrid workplace and “work from home” options have become the new desired company culture, the tattoo industry can easily adapt to an e-learning format when it comes to training new artists, if given the right structure and platform.

If you want to become a tattoo artist without an apprenticeship, you can use online resources to learn, as long as you know where to look.

If you’d like to get the structured learning you’d experience in a tattoo apprenticeship while still learning independently with up-to-date resources, Tattooing 101 has a variety of online resources, video tutorials, and a full tattooing course to help you become a certified tattoo artist.