Tattoo Needles: Basic Tattoo Supplies

Tattoos are very popular nowadays, due mainly to the more recent innovations that allow pictures or images in the computer to be transformed into tattoo formats. The more basic tattoo supplies are necessary in a tattoo parlor. Needles are among the more basic of the tattoo supplies that one will always see in a store. These are what are used to deliver the ink onto the skin of the individual. There are two basic kinds of tattoo needles and both have a different purpose.

A tattoo needle is actually made up of several sharp ends attached to a single bar. The sharps, as they are called, can range from three to nine ends at one bar or more depending on the need of the artist. The uses of these needles depend upon how comfortable the tattoo artist is and his preference. These tattoo supplies come in both round and flat shapes depending on whether the artist needs a liner or shading.

Liner Tattoo Needle

These types of tattoo needles are the tattoo supplies used to penetrate the skin of the individual seeking body art and to deliver the ink. The liner needles are tattoo supplies that are used to outline the form of the tattoo. These tattoo supplies are rounded and can be a single needle attached to the bar or several sharps. The single needle is quite rarely used these days compared to a few decades ago. At the very least, three needles are usually used to outline a tattoo but can reach up to nine depending on the thickness needed. All nine needles are shaped in a round pattern, thus the name round.

Shading Needles

These types of tattoo supplies are used to shade in a tattoo or to fill it with color. Shading needles can range from nine or more. They are also called magnum needles and are usually a double row of several needles. The tattoo artist uses these tattoo supplies to also blend in some color to add realism to the tattoo.

Opinions about which part of the actual tattooing hurts more differ. Many believe that outlining is more painful due mainly to this being the first exposure to pain that an individual gets from the tattoo. The act of outlining the tattoo also needs more continuous flow of movement compared to shading where the artists might stop every once in a while. These tattoo supplies are essential to every tattoo.