What Types of Tattoo Needles & Cartridges Are There?

Tattoo needles and cartridges are the central tools in tattooing, crucial for the quality and appearance of your tattoos. Each type of needle has specific characteristics and applications, making them suitable for different techniques and results. Here, you will learn everything about the different types of tattoo needles and cartridges to ensure you are well-equipped for any tattoo project.

Round Liner Needles

What Are Round Liner Needles?

As the name suggests, Round Liner Needles are arranged in a circular configuration. This setup makes them ideal for precision work. They are primarily intended for drawing fine and clear lines, making them indispensable for outlines and detailed graphic works.

Applications

Use Round Liner needles for anything that involves fine lines—from delicate tribal motifs to detailed portraits. They are also perfect for small tattoos where precision is crucial, such as symbols or small letterings.

Round Shader Needles

What Are Round Shader Needles?

Round Shader Needles are arranged similarly to liners but are often slightly thicker and offer more flexibility in shading. They can be used for both soft shadows and filling smaller areas.

Applications

These needles are versatile and excellent for shading techniques and filling small areas. You can also use them to create soft color transitions, which are particularly sought after in realistic tattoo works.

Magnum Shader Needles

What Are Magnum Shader Needles?

Magnum Shader Needles consist of two rows of needles arranged parallel to each other. This configuration allows for efficient and even filling of large areas.

Applications

Magnum Shaders are ideal for filling large color areas. They are often used for shading and applying colors to larger tattoo designs and are essential for fast and effective work on extensive tattoos.

Curved Magnum Shader Needles

What Are Curved Magnum Shader Needles?

Curved Magnum Shaders, also known as Soft Edge Magnums, have a slightly curved arrangement of needles. This shape allows for a gentler touch on the skin, causing less irritation.

Applications

These needles are particularly good for extensive shading where a soft transition between colors is desired. They are also ideal for working on more sensitive skin areas, as they are less stressful on the skin.

Double Stack Magnum Shader Needles

What Are Double Stack Magnum Shader Needles?

Double Stack Magnum Shaders have two overlapping rows of needles, allowing for a denser and more opaque color delivery than traditional Magnum Shaders.

Applications

These needles are perfect for intensely filling and shading very large areas. They provide excellent coverage and are ideal for parts of a tattoo that require high color saturation.

Flat Shader Needles

What Are Flat Shader Needles?

Flat Shader Needles are arranged in a single flat row. This arrangement makes them ideal for precise shading and filling techniques, particularly in geometric designs or solid colors.

Applications

Use Flat Shaders for techniques requiring sharp, clear lines and precise shading. They are great for artistic styles that require defined texture or specific shapes.

Different Needle Sizes

If you want to start as a tattoo artist, it's important to know the different types of tattoo needles and cartridges to make the right choice for your projects. Here you will learn what needle sizes there are and how they are used.

1. 0.25 mm (Bugpin Needles): These very fine needles are ideal for detailed and delicate work as they allow a slower ink flow rate. They are especially suitable for fine lines and precise details.
2. 0.30 mm (Double Zero Needles): These needles are very popular and versatile. They offer controlled but steady ink flow and are well suited for a variety of tattoo styles.
3. 0.35 mm (Standard Needles): These needles are ideal for bold lines and filling larger areas. They have a faster ink flow and are often used for traditional tattoos and fillings.
4. Other sizes like 0.20 mm, 0.40 mm, and 0.45 mm: These sizes are less common and are used for very specific purposes. They can be useful for extremely fine or particularly wide work but are not as common as the other sizes.

Choosing the Right Needle

The choice of the right needle depends heavily on the type of tattoo you want to do. Needle size affects ink flow and line fineness. Finer needles are better for detailed work, while thicker needles help fill larger areas more quickly. It is also important to adjust the needle size to the skin texture of your client to achieve optimal results.

Choosing the right needle/cartridge is crucial for the quality of your work and the satisfaction of your clients. Every tattoo artist, whether beginner or experienced professional, should have a deep understanding of the tools of their craft. By familiarizing yourself with the different types of needles and their specific applications, you can ensure that every tattoo you create is not only beautiful but also of the highest quality.