bad lines cause im afraid of going too deep

whippet said:

I absolutely get you. I recently started in a shop with a good reputation, and have tattooed in the shop and recently done a couple of pieces for family at my licensed home studio. When I tattoo at home (now and before) I hit the depth easily and get good first pass lines, but in the shop I feel a different pressure and have found I’m having to re-line parts way more than I should…I’m literally being too tentative.

Though I’m struggling like you, I know that the key is to rely on the sensation when the needle enters the skin, the vibration and the grip.

When I say ‘grip’, I mean that sensation when it feels like the skin is holding the needles, you can feel som resistance.

You might try lining either with a power liner (I found some lovely ones made by Ghost cartridges, in their Hex range) or use a round shader. The greater surface area on either of these configs will reduce the risk of blowing out and you can be a bit more confident in achieving your depth.

On the same note, I would say if possible, avoid very small needle configurations until you build your confidence up.

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whippet said:

I absolutely get you. I recently started in a shop with a good reputation, and have tattooed in the shop and recently done a couple of pieces for family at my licensed home studio. When I tattoo at home (now and before) I hit the depth easily and get good first pass lines, but in the shop I feel a different pressure and have found I’m having to re-line parts way more than I should…I’m literally being too tentative.

Though I’m struggling like you, I know that the key is to rely on the sensation when the needle enters the skin, the vibration and the grip.

When I say ‘grip’, I mean that sensation when it feels like the skin is holding the needles, you can feel som resistance.

You might try lining either with a power liner (I found some lovely ones made by Ghost cartridges, in their Hex range) or use a round shader. The greater surface area on either of these configs will reduce the risk of blowing out and you can be a bit more confident in achieving your depth.

On the same note, I would say if possible, avoid very small needle configurations until you build your confidence up.

Click to expand...

sbllprr said:

hello my name is Isabella (sorry if there are any grammar issues, english is not my first language) ive been tattooing since september 2021
and when i tattoo myself, i get really nice results, one pass lines, nicely packed colors
but when i tattoo other people i get none of that because i am afraid of damaging their skin
how can i get more confident with my skills? its sad that people see my tattoos and get excited to get a tattoo from me, but their result is... underwhelming

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DKJ said:

I'm rarely stressed during my sessions because i don't think about the client as a person, but as a canvas. If you're going to hurt a piece of paper with your pen, it'll end scratched or with a hole in it.
Same goes with human skin, there's def. a point where you're on the softest tone, and one on the darker tone.
The moment you wash the skin, you can -usually- see how deep you hit it.
Think about it this way: we all have different resistance to pain. If you start to care about the client's pain like you're gonna make him/her cry, you won't get a decent depht.
Tattoing hurts, everyone at different levels, until they can't hold it any more.
This is the time frame you have to get your tattoo done.
Get off the idea that you're hurting someone, they asked for it and it's not manageable.
Hit the canvas as quick and as well as you can, and you're reducing the pain time frame.
We all know that after a while, the irritation is too much and we can't hold the pain: be quick, be good, and you won't have to feel the stress of going back at your errors and seeing your client becoming more and more nervous.

My message is: focus on your work, not on how much pain your client could possibly feel. They'll tell you, no doubt. It's quite their work during a session ('he/she sat like a rock').

When you're quick and good, they usually feel less pain.


Peace,

DKJ

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