Choosing your cartridges

To get a tattoo, the tattoo needle being an essential tool, choosing the best quality needle is necessary. It is important to learn about the essentials of tattoo needles . The mission of tattoo needles is to place the ink between the dermis and the epidermis, under the skin. Placed in a plastic cartridge, or soldered in a needle bar (metal rod), the tattoo needle is the essential instrument for creating a tattoo.

We will talk about needles here, but as you have understood, the needle is only part of the cartridge. The cartridge is the assembly comprising the nozzle and the needle.

There are five basic groups of needles in the tattoo world: Round Liner, Round Shader , Magnum , Rounded Magnum , Flat.

Needle types:

Round Liner Needles

The tips of the needles are welded in a tight round for clean and precise line work. The thickness of the line will depend on the number of needles chosen (1RL very thin, 14RL very thick) as well as the diameter. The tracing needles , once dipped in ink, will allow small amounts of ink to enter the skin. The greater the number of needles placed, the thicker the line to be drawn.

• Tattoo Styles: Dotwork; all complex layouts; Lettering; Japanese ; Traditional and Neo Traditional; Geometric ; Tribal or Samoan.

Round Shader Needles

They are very similar to round liner but they are welded further apart . This means that they are ideal for making thicker lines, but are also used for color fills and shading.

• Tattoo styles: Some lines; Lettering; Color fills and shading; Japanese ; Traditional and Neo Traditional; Tribal or Samoan.

Magnum Needles

Magnums are the most used for all shading . They hold and deliver a lot of ink, making it easier to shade or fill color in large areas. This allows fewer passages and therefore less trauma to the skin. There are several types of magnum needles.

Rounded Magnum Needles (curved)

Rounded magnums , also called Soft Magnum , Soft Edge Magnum or Magnum, are used in the same way as magnums except that the needles are welded in a rounded (arched) manner. This form of soldering provides better ink dispersion and a more regular line. This is less damaging to the skin and is ideal for light shading. These needles are used for all types of shading and color filling.

• Tattoo Styles: Black and Gray; all types of shading and color fills; Color realism; Japanese ; Traditional and Neo Traditional; Tribal or Samoan.

Flat Needles

• The Flats are welded in a straight line on the needle bar. They are used for tracing because their shape allows them to deliver more ink. This means lighter or darker lines in one pass. Large Flats are used for shading or color fills, because the ink flow enters more quickly in a single pass.

  • Tattoo Styles : Intricate Shading; Geometric patterns; Mandalas; Permanent makeup.

The diameter :

The diameter of the needle is directly linked to the flow of ink. The smaller the diameter, the weaker and better controlled the ink flow.

• Caliber #8 – Diameter 0.25 mm : one of the smallest diameters and called Bugpin. Used for detailed and fine work requiring a slower flow of ink for complicated jobs.
• Gauge #10 – Diameter 0.30 mm : very common needle size, and called Double Zero. It can be used for all styles of tattoos as it is the average size for most types of needles. The flow of ink is continuous and stable.
• Gauge #12 – Diameter 0.35 mm : exactly like the 0.30 mm needles, #12s are widely used for all styles of tattoos and needle sizes. Often used for lining or traditional tattoos as they have a much faster flow of ink. Ideal for thick lines and large area shading/filling.

Hand numbering:

The numbering of tattoo needles corresponds to the number of needles soldered together. For example, 12 09 RL hands mean # 12.09 gauge Round Liner. THE 09 means there are 9 needles welded together in a round looking like this: