When doing a stick and poke tattoo, one of the most important factors is how deep the tattoo needle goes into the skin. The depth of the needle is critical for both the quality of the tattoo and the safety of the person receiving it. In this article, we will provide guidelines on proper tattoo needle depth for stick and poke tattoos.
What is Stick and Poke Tattooing?
Stick and poke tattooing, also known as hand-poked or homemade tattoos, is a method of tattooing without the use of a tattoo machine. Instead, a tattoo needle or grouping of needles is inserted into the skin manually. The needles go in and out of the skin, puncturing it and depositing ink with each pass. Stick and poke tattoos are done without the aid of electricity.
While tattoo machines can drive needles into the skin hundreds of times a minute, stick and poke relies fully on the tattooer’s hand movement. The movements are usually short and quick pokes. This slower and more deliberate process gives the artist greater control over the look of the tattoo.
Stick and poke is an ancient and traditional tattooing technique that has persisted to this day alongside modern machine tattooing. Before electricity, stick and poke was the only option. The hand-poked technique allows for highly customizable designs.
Recommended Tattoo Needle Depth
When doing a stick and poke tattoo, the standard recommended depth for the needle to penetrate is 1/64th to 1/16th of an inch (0.4 mm – 1.5 mm) into the skin. Going any deeper than this maximum of 1.5 mm depth can cause unnecessary pain, damage, bleeding and poor results.
Here are some general depth guidelines to follow:
| Body Part | Needle Depth |
|---|---|
| Hands, feet | 1/64th inch (0.4 mm) |
| Arms, legs | 1/32nd inch (0.8 mm) |
| Torso, shoulders, thighs | 1/16th inch (1.5 mm) |
As shown in the table, the recommended depth varies based on location on the body. Areas with thin skin over bony areas, like hands and feet, need a shallower depth. Meatier areas like the arms, legs and torso can handle slightly deeper punctures up to 1/16th of an inch.
Reasons for Proper Needle Depth
There are a few key reasons why staying within this recommended depth range is important:
- Avoids hitting blood vessels and bleeding – Puncturing too deep raises the risk of hitting capillaries and drawing blood.
- Minimizes pain – Deep needle punctures will be more painful.
- Prevents ink splatter – Inserting too deep can cause ink to splatter under the skin.
- Improves ink retention – The proper 1/16th inch depth deposits ink evenly into the dermis layer.
- Reduces damage and scarring – Minimizes trauma to the skin.
In summary, a needle depth within the recommended parameters will provide the best tattoo results while keeping the process safe and minimizing pain and injury.
Factors That Affect Tattoo Depth
There are a few factors that can influence the optimal needle depth for an individual:
Skin Thickness
The thickness of a person’s skin impacts how deep the needle should go. Areas with thin skin require less depth. Thicker skin allows for slightly deeper punctures without hitting sensitive layers.
Needle Configuration
Needle grouping – Using needle groupings with fewer needles requires less depth. More needles grouped together penetrate deeper with each poke.
Needle diameter – Thinner diameter needles require shallower punctures than thicker ones.
Needle point shape – Different beveled, tapered or flat needle points insert to different depths.
Tattoo Location
Some parts of the body have thinner skin and less padding over bones or joints. These areas, like hands, feet, ankles and wrists need less needle depth.
Experience Level
An experienced tattooer can assess skin thickness and use the optimal depth. Beginners should stay on the shallow end of the depth range.
How to Determine Proper Needle Depth
Here are some tips for figuring out the right needle depth:
- Consider skin thickness over the tattoo area
- Start very shallow and do test pokes
- Adjust based on the person’s feedback and pain reaction
- Check that ink is depositing evenly without splattering
- Never go deeper than 1/16th inch (1.5 mm)
Doing test pokes allows assessing the proper depth on each individual. Check that the ink inserts cleanly without too much pain or bleeding. Adjust the depth accordingly, going more shallow if needed.
Signs of Needles Inserted Too Deep
Some indications that the needle has gone too deep into the skin include:
- Excessive bleeding or leakage of plasma
- Severe pain with poking
- Brusing under the tattooed area
- Ink splatter below the skin rather than clean lines
- Skin damage, scabbing and scarring after healing
If any of these signs occur, the needle depth should be reduced. Remember to never exceed 1/16th inch depth.
Potential Risks of Puncturing Too Deep
Inserting the tattoo needle too far below the skin can lead to:
- Intense pain – Hitting nerves and sensitive tissue causes severe discomfort.
- Excessive bleeding – Piercing veins and capillaries draws blood.
- Infections – Bacteria is carried deeper into the skin.
- Nerve damage – Sensory nerves can be damaged if hit by the needle.
- Scarring – Deep tissue trauma leads to thicker, discolored scars.
- Allergic reaction – More ink spread under the skin raises allergy risk.
- Poor ink retention – Ink inserted too deep may diffuse and blur.
To avoid these risks, staying within the recommended 1/16th inch maximum depth is vital.
Tips for Inserting the Needle at the Right Depth
Here are some best practices for piercering the skin at just the right depth when doing manual stick and poke tattoos:
- Use the right needle size for the skin thickness of the tattoo area.
- Try different hand angles and motions to control depth.
- Let the needle grouping glide lightly over the skin first to gauge depth.
- Start very shallow and gradually adjust depth as needed.
- Frequently dip needles in ink so they don’t insert too far.
- Keep wrist and hand movements delicate with short pokes.
- Ask for feedback from the person on pain levels.
- Check skin after each pass for proper ink depositing without bleeding.
With practice and experience, inserting the needles at just the right depth range becomes much easier. Always remember to err on the side of shallowness, especially as a beginner.
Using Caution When Tattooing Sensitive Areas
Certain parts of the body require extra care and shallower needle depth. Use caution when tattooing:
- Hands, feet, ankles – Very thin skin covers joints and bones.
- Bony areas like ribs, spine, shoulders – Minimal padding and fat.
- Face, neck – Lots of nerves close to skin surface.
- Groin, armpits – Many blood vessels and lymph nodes.
Only use a tiny fraction of the 1/16th inch maximum depth for these areas. A depth around 1/64th of an inch is ideal. Work slowly and gently, testing depth frequently.
Best Practices for Safe Needle Depth
Implementing these practices will help ensure proper needle depth and safe tattooing:
- Always start shallow and work up in increments.
- Do test pokes first before full needle insertion.
- Adjust based on pain feedback and skin reactions.
- Check carefully for bleeding or plasma leakage.
- Stay well below 1/16th inch depth for bony and delicate areas.
- Use smaller needle groupings for precision.
- Work slowly, gently and carefully.
- Stop immediately if the person experiences distress.
- Ask for consent continually throughout the process.
Proper needle depth takes practice. Beginners should have an experienced tattooer monitor their technique and depth.
Conclusion
How deep to insert the needles when doing stick and poke tattoos requires precision. Follow the recommended guidelines starting at 1/64th inch depth for hands and feet. Incrementally work up towards the maximum 1/16th inch depth for areas like the arms, legs and torso based on skin thickness.
Use extra care and shallow depth around bony prominence and delicate areas. Going too deep can cause bleeding, pain, scarring and other issues. Start shallow and adjust deeper very gradually. Always aim for the minimum depth needed to deposit ink cleanly.
With practice controlling needle depth by hand, you can become proficient at inserting ink at the perfect level. Patience and care for the person receiving the tattoo is just as crucial as technique. By following proper depth guidelines and employing safe practices, stick and poke tattoos can be an enjoyable and beautiful experience.