How deep does a tattoo needle go? (2024)

FAQs

How deep does a tattoo needle go? ›

A Tattoo needle penetrates 5 layers of the epidermis

A good rule of thumb is that tattoo ink should be deposited 16th of an inch (1-2mm) from the surface of the skin, trapping it in the dermal layer. However, there is no “one size fits all” depth. Your client and the placement of the tattoo will affect the depth of the dermis.

While not likely, there is a possibility that a tattoo needle could go too far and puncture the hypodermis and rupture a vein. Tattoos typically do not puncture regular veins, but there is a higher risk of encountering more problems with spider veins. So, yes, you technically could try to tattoo over a spider vein.

Set the needle so that it comes out ~4mm at the bottom of the machine's stroke. Push the needle into the skin only 2mm. Set your pinky and ring fingers onto the skin and use them as a “guard” to keep your depth consistent. Your middle finger will be under the cartridge, supporting it.

In addition to excessive pain, bleeding, and scabbing, a tattoo that is too deep may also have a blurred or distorted appearance. When the needle goes too deep, it can cause the ink to spread beyond the intended area, leading to a smudged or blurry appearance.

Unlike a hypodermic needle, a tattoo needle does not inject liquid when it is sunk into the skin. Rather, as the solid, ink-coated stylus descends, it opens a small hole up to 2 millimeters deep.

A needle depth that's too shallow only hits the epidermis. Because the cells in this layer constantly regenerate, the ink won't last long, and the tattoo will look worn and faded in a matter of weeks. Go too deep, and you'll notice that the ink appears to spread slightly under the skin.

However, if you're new to tattooing, we recommend sticking to 8 volts until you're comfortable with a quicker hand speed. You need to have the fundamentals down before running the machine at a higher voltage, or you'll be at a higher risk of chewing out the skin.

If the needle being used on your tattoo doesn't go deep enough into the dermis layer of your skin, that means the ink has been deposited in the epidermis layer. As we mentioned before, ink deposited here will quickly leave the skin when epidermal cells renew themselves, making for a not-so-permanent tattoo.

Needles used for lining are the least painful. Whereas magnum needles used for shading and coloring have larger tips and can be applied a bit deeper into the skin to get the desired effect. Areas with more nerve endings and less flesh feel more painful.

What does a tattoo needle feel like? ›

“The most common answer is that it feels like a cat scratch on a really bad sunburn,” Olivia says. And for Trinity: “Getting a tattoo feels like when you pet a cat's belly, and the cat grabs your hands and kicks, scratching you with its claws,” she says. “It's not aggressive. But it does hurt, at least a little.”

To avoid annoying ink splatters and puddles make sure you're only dipping the needle in ink, and not the plastic tube as well, and also make sure your machine isn't running too fast.

If you're new to tattooing, going with a slower hand speed may be more comfortable. We recommend trying out 6v or 7v to get started. From there, you'll want to make sure you're moving at a pace where you can get good saturation of your lines. If you're comfortable, you can increase your voltage and hand speed.

If it were to go too deep, this is when scarring can occur, and blowouts. A blowout occurs when the needle penetrates too deep and the ink spreads out within the skin, causing a shadow-like effect around the tattoo.

In addition, any bleeding that occurs when the needle leaves the skin and the ink is drawn in will push some of the ink out. If the ink is too light under the skin, all of the color will be removed before the tattoo heal, the faded tattoo will disappear quickly. Beneath the dermis is the subcutaneous tissue.

Tattoo artist JoJo Roman compares the sensation of getting a tattoo to the feeling of a constant cat scratch (all my cat people out there know what she means). Other people say getting a tattoo feels like someone is continually scratching a hot needle across your skin—because that's kinda what's happening.

Tattoo ink needs to be injected into the middle dermis layer of the skin to look sharp, beautiful, and long-lasting. Tattoos get overworked when the artist injects the ink too far into the skin, and underworked when the artist doesn't penetrate the skin enough. Either result can leave your tattoo looking unfinished.

The dermis, a connective tissue made up of collagen and networks of elastic fibers which give skin its resiliency, is the layer in which tattoo ink is deposited. The dermis (papillary layer) immediately below the epidermis is made of loose connective tissue and contains small blood vessels and nerve endings.

Our opinion is that you should never exceed 1/8 of an inch. You should feel a pop of the skin while you're doing it, when you do, don't go much past that point. You'll quickly see the results if you've gone deep enough so don't rush it.