Things You'll Need
Gloves
Tattoo machine
Sterile needle
Disposable ink caps
Ink
Clients walking into a tattoo shop choose between flash or custom artwork for their design. Displayed in racks or binders in the tattoo shop, flash artwork consists of sheets of designs of a specific subject matter or tattoo style. Custom artwork requires a client to consult with a tattoo artist and provide artistic references for the tattoo artist to incorporate into a design.
Step 1
Don a pair of gloves. Insert the sterilized tube and needle into the tattoo machine. Attach the machine to the clip cord and power supply.
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Step 2
Place the number of disposable ink caps necessary for the tattoo on the barrier of your setup. Each color for the tattoo requires a separate ink cap. Fill the disposable ink caps with ink from the housing bottle. Avoid touching the inside or rim of the ink cap with the tip of the housing bottle to promote aseptic technique.
Step 3
Dip the needle in the color for the outline. Press down on the foot switch of the machine to make the needle move in and out of the tube to remove any excess ink that may clog the tube.
Tip
Clean any excess ink off of the housing bottles immediately to prevent dried ink from clogging the tips.
Change your gloves after cleaning and shaving the client's skin before beginning the tattoo.
Warning
Never perform a tattoo unless you are a licensed professional in a tattoo shop.
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