How To Make A Homemade Tattoo?
Download Article Download Article If you can’t afford a professional tattoo or you don’t have access to a tattoo parlor, you can give yourself a tattoo at home without a tattoo gun, using what is sometimes called the “stick-and-poke” method. This process can be dangerous, however, and if it turns out badly, you’re left with a permanent reminder. Be sure you know what you’re doing and make sure to follow all of the safety warnings and sanitation requirements before you try this yourself.
- 1 Buy or assemble a home tattoo kit. The main components of any home tattoo kit are needles and ink. Only use tattoo needles that haven’t been used. Tattoo ink is the only type of ink you should use, but not always easy to find. India Ink is commonly used as calligraphy ink but is the only ink that is not tattoo ink that can be used as tattoo ink. Don’t use pen or marker ink! [1]
- Home tattoo kits are the safest option, are inexpensive, and include both supplies and instructions.
- Find a reputable brand of tattoo ink to ensure it doesn’t contain any toxic ingredients.
- Don’t use sewing needles, straight pins, or safety pins. They are not sterile, even if they are new. It is extremely dangerous to use any of these objects to tattoo yourself. You may end up in the hospital. They don’t hold the ink well and generally aren’t the right type of needle. You need to be as professional as possible if you are going to do this yourself. [2]
- Don’t use old needles. Don’t share needles. Doing either of these will put you at serious risk for infection. Also, be sure to safely dispose of the needles when you’re done.
- 2 Set up your station. You’ll need a few other things before you start putting needle to flesh. Grab some cotton thread, a cup for water, and rubbing alcohol. [3]
- Keep a non-permanent, non-toxic marker around for drawing potential tattoo ideas. [4]
- It’s a good idea to keep ink caps, a shallow bowl, or saucer handy to pour India ink into. Ink caps are inexpensive and can help prevent you from wasting ink. Sterilize with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide that is 91-99% alcohol.
- It’s important to make sure everything you use is clean. Wash any bowls or saucers you’ll be using in hot, soapy water and peroxide/rubbing alcohol, and then cover them with plastic wrap. For extra protection, wear gloves that are very well sterilized when handling any of the supplies you’ll be using. Wash gloves (if using) and hands multiple times throughout the whole process.
- 3 Clean and shave your chosen area. Wherever you decide to tattoo yourself, clean it with soap and warm water. Shave the hair off in the area about an inch larger than you want your tattoo to be.
- After you shave, sterilize your skin with rubbing alcohol. Dab it on with a cotton ball and make sure it’s evaporated before continuing.
- 4 Draw the design on your skin. Trace or draw your desired tattoo in the place you want it to go. You can have someone else do it for you if you want, but take the time to get it how you want it. This image is all you’ll have to go on once you start. You can also use stencil paper and stencil gel to make it more accurate.
- Since you’ll be tattooing yourself, make sure the place you choose is easily. You WILL be poking for a few hours. Awkward or hard to reach places on the body, such as your chest or shoulder, are never good ideas for stick ‘n’ pokes on yourself.
- Stick ‘n’ pokes work much better with simple and tiny tattoos. If you want a complex tattoo, you’re better off going to a parlor.
- 1 Sterilize the needle. The best way to sterilize the needle before using it is with flame. Hold the needle over the flame of a candle or a lighter until it glows. Make sure you hold the other end with tongs, or you’ll burn your fingertips. [5]
- Once the needle is sterile, wrap it in cotton thread. Start about 1 ⁄ 8 inch (0. 3 cm) away from the tip and wrap the thread back and forth about 1 ⁄ 4 inch (0. 6 cm) up the needle until the thread has formed an oval shape. This will absorb some of the ink as you dip your needle into the saucer. [6]
- 2 Start poking. Dip the needle into the India ink and then poke it through your skin, leaving a small dot. There may be some blood after several layers of poking, but there shouldn’t be much. If blood is dripping/excessive, stop immediately and sterilize. Hold a clean paper towel, not cloth, onto the tattoo until it stops bleeding.
- 3 Start working your way along the lines. Stay inside the line of the tattoo design you’ve drawn, filling it in with tiny punctures. Use a cotton swab or a rag to wipe away any blood or excess ink. [7]
- The skin may swell up a bit as you poke it which may cause the resulting tattoo to appear spotty. You may have to do touch-ups when the swelling goes down if you want smooth lines throughout the tattoo. Wait to do touch ups until after the tattoo is completely healed, which can take up to two months.
- 4 Clean the tattooed area. When you finish the tattoo, wipe down the area with soapy water. Throw away any remaining India ink in the ink cap and needles. They are no longer sterile. Use a new needle and a new saucer of ink if you plan on doing any touch-ups in the future.
- Avoid cleaning a fresh tattoo with alcohol — use soap and water, instead.
- 1 Bandage your new tattoo with saran wrap. Don’t use a cloth or band-aid as they can absorb some of the ink and fade it faster. Don’t use any ointments or lotions for the first week of healing because they can clog the tattoo and puts it at risk of infection. [8]
- Leave the wrap on for 1-3 hours, but no longer than 6. [9]
- 2 Keep your tattoo clean. Remove the initial wrap and gently wash the area with warm water and non-scented soap. Don’t scrub, and only wash the tattoo with clean hands. [10]
- Don’t soak your tattoo and don’t run it under hot water. It won’t feel nice, and it take the ink out of your skin. [11]
- Avoid picking at the tattoo as this could cause some of the ink to bleed out, causing messy lines and even scarring.
- Make sure to remove the bandage and wash the tattoo after a couple of hours.
- 3 Apply lotion to your tattoo. After the swelling goes down and the skin starts to scab, switch to a plain, unscented lotion. Most professionals recommend Lubriderm or Aquaphor. Keep the layers thin. Your skin needs to breathe so it can heal properly.
- Moisturize your tattoo 3-5 times a day depending on the size of the tattoo. If your skin starts to look dried out, use a small amount of lotion. [12]
- Don’t apply anything that’s too greasy, like vitamin E, aloe, or Vaseline.
- 4 Let your tattoo heal. For the first week or so be mindful of your tattoo. It’s going to scab over and you’ll need to take extra care to keep it clean. In addition to washing it and keeping it moisturized, you’ll need to avoid certain activities. [13]
- Keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight, as this can cause the ink to fade. It will also burn like a bad sunburn.
- Avoid pools of water such as baths, hot tubs, pools, lakes, oceans, etc. They are full of bacteria, which can lead to infection. [14]
- Avoid any activity that is high-contact or induces excessive sweating, like working out. [15]
- Wear loose clothing so your tattoo can breathe. Tight clothing prevents this.
- 5 Watch out for infection. Be on the lookout for redness or excessive scabbing around your tattoo, as well as any oozing, or swelling. These are all signs of possible infection. [16]
- You can minimize the risk of infection by keeping your supplies clean and taking care of your tattoo. Still, it is possible your tattoo could become infected. If you suspect that your tattoo has become infected, consult your physician. [17]
- Make sure that you aren’t picking or scratching at your tattoo, either.
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- Question Is it 100% permanent or will it go away completely after a few years? Kiara Hamed is a Tattoo Artist based in Dallas, Texas. She has over nine years of tattoo designing experience. She received her Tattoo Artist Certification in 2010 and a BS in Computer Information Systems from Clark University Atlanta in 2013. Tattoo Artist Expert Answer It may fade over time but it’s not guaranteed to go away completely. Tattoos are permanent.
- Question How far apart should the pokes be? Kiara Hamed is a Tattoo Artist based in Dallas, Texas. She has over nine years of tattoo designing experience. She received her Tattoo Artist Certification in 2010 and a BS in Computer Information Systems from Clark University Atlanta in 2013. Tattoo Artist Expert Answer Try to make them as close together as possible so you cover the entire intended area. Otherwise, the tattoo will be splotchy.
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Contents
How do you make a simple tattoo at home?
About This Article – Article Summary X To make your own temporary tattoo, first draw or print out the design you want to use. Then, place tracing paper over the design and trace it with a pencil. Trace over the design again with a non-toxic, black felt-tip marker to make it dark, then cut off the excess paper around the design with scissors.
Clean the area of your skin where the tattoo will go with rubbing alcohol and let it dry. Cleaning your skin first will help the tattoo stick better. Place the tracing paper face down on your skin and wet it with warm water using a washcloth.
Let it sit for 30 seconds, then carefully peel off the tracing paper to reveal a faint outline of your design. Now, go over the design on your skin with the felt-tip black marker to make it pop. Sprinkle baby powder over the design, dust it off, and spray liquid bandage on your tattoo.
How do I make homemade tattoo ink?
Can you make a tattoo with a pen?
Final Thoughts – As you may have noticed, we seriously advise people not to do any DIY, homemade tattoo, especially the stick-and-poke kind with pen ink. This can be seriously dangerous and can put your health at risk. It is always better to go get professionally tattooed than to risk skin and tattoo infection. What we’re trying to say is that DIY tattoos aren’t simply worth it! Also Read:
- 5 Best Stick-and-Poke Tattoo Kits (2022 Updated)
- 6 Stick and Poke Ink Alternatives (And Why You Shouldn’t use Them)
How do you transfer paper to skin?
Step 4 – Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto the cotton ball or swab, and apply the alcohol over the area of skin you wish to transfer the design to. Make sure the skin has become moist with the alcohol.
How do you make a permanent tattoo with Sharpie?
How can you get permanent tattoos without a needle?
A tattoo that is warning you for too many hours of sunlight exposure, or is alerting you for taking your medication? Next to their cosmetic role, tattoos could get new functionality using intelligent ink. That would require more precise and less invasive injection technique.
Researchers of the University of Twente now develop a micro-jet injection technology that doesn’t use needles at all. Instead, an ultrafast liquid jet with the thickness of a human hair penetrates the skin.
It isn’t painful and there is less waste. In there new publication in the Journal of Applied Physics, the scientists compare both the needle and the fluid jet approach. Ötzi the Iceman already had, over 5000 years ago, dozens of simple tattoos on his body, apparently for pain relief.
- Since the classic ‘anchor’ tattoo that sailors had on their arms, tattoos have become more and more common;
- About 44 million Europeans wear one or more of them;
- Despite its wider acceptance in society, the underlying technique didn’t change and still has health risks;
One or more moving needles put ink underneath the skin surface. This is painful and can damage the skin. Apart from that, needles have to be disposed of in a responsible way, and quite some ink is wasted. The alternative that David Fernández Rivas and his colleagues are developing, doesn’t use any needles. 
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What can I use instead of tattoo ink?
What can I use if I don’t have tattoo ink?
Download Article Download Article There are several ways that you can make tattoo ink. Using wood ashes and white liquor to make an organic tattoo ink is a cheap but sterile option. You can also use dry ink pigment with medical grade liquids to make a tattoo ink that mimics what tattoo artists use in their shops. Safety is important when you’re mixing tattoo ink, so make sure you wear gloves and a mask over your mouth and nose.
- 1 Burn wood to create ashes. In order for wood ashes to work well as a tattoo ink, you need to completely burn the wood you’re using. The ashes should be totally black, with none of the wood’s natural color still visible. They should also be completely cooled when you use them. [1]
- Different types of wood will give you a slightly different shades of color when the ashes are used as ink. Lighter woods will produce a grayer pigment; darker woods will produce a blacker pigment.
- 2 Grind the ashes. Once you’ve burned the wood of your choice to create ashes, you’ll need to grind the burned wood. You want the ash particles as fine as possible so that they make a smooth and easily usable ink. Advertisement
- 3 Choose a clear spirit. To create tattoo ink from wood ashes, you’ll need to mix the ashes with a liquid. Some people recommend that you use distilled water, but this still risks some bacteria getting under your skin as you press the needle in. Instead, use a clear spirit – like vodka or gin – as your liquid base. [2]
- 4 Mix them together. Mix your ashes and clear spirit together by blending them in a blender for 10 to 20 minutes. The consistency should be a slurry – a little thicker than water, but thinner than a paste – and should not have any chunks in it. [3]
- It’s hard to recommend an exact proportion of ashes to liquid for this, since it will depend on how finely you grind up the ashes, the type of wood you use, and the desired pigmentation of your ink. It’s better to add liquid slowly – you can always add more, but you can’t take any out.
- 5 Track the ash and liquid amounts. If you’re creating a larger tattoo, make sure you track the ash and liquid amounts you’re using. You’ll likely have to mix up more than one batch of ink, and knowing the exact measurements keeps the pigment of the ink consistent. [4]
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- 1 Choose your pigment powder. Many tattoo supply companies have pigment powder available for purchase. You’ll need to decide which color or colors you want to use and purchase those colors.
- It’s best to purchase pigment powder from a tattoo supply company since you can be sure it’s safe. You don’t want to accidentally use pigment ink used in car paint.
- 2 Mix witch hazel with propylene glycol and medical grade glycerin. When using pigment powder, you’ll need to add it to medical grade liquids. Mix together 2 pints (32 ounces) of witch hazel (which you can get from most holistic health stores or online), 2 ¼ teaspoons (0. 38 ounces) of medical grade glycerin and 2 ¼ teaspoons propylene glycol to form a liquid base.
- 3 Add the pigment powder. Once your liquid base is mixed, add your pigment powder. The amount of pigment powder you use will depend on how bright or subdued you want the color to be. Add the pigment powder slowly – again, you can always add more but you can’t take any out.
- 4 Mix in a blender. To mix your ink together, put it in a blender at low speed. If you find your ink is too thick, add a bit more liquid. If it’s too thin, add more pigment. Once your ink reaches your desired consistency, turn the speed up to medium and mix your ink for about an hour.
- 5 Store in a sterile container. Once your ink is finished, store it in a sterile, airtight container. You should place the container in a cool, dark place.
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- 1 Gather your supplies. To apply your homemade ink at home, you’ll need a few supplies: a few very fine sewing needles, a #2 pencil, a ballpoint pen, some sewing thread, matches, and alcohol swabs. You’ll also need your ink!
- 2 Wash your hands. Before you begin to give yourself a tattoo with your homemade ink, make sure you thoroughly wash your hands. This means washing your hands well, with soap, for at least two minutes.
- For some extra cleansing, you can also wipe your hands with an alcohol wipe after you’ve washed them.
- 3 Make your needle. You’ll want to prepare your needle for applying your homemade ink by attaching it to a longer handle. This gives you more control over the movement of the needle and makes tattooing easier. Insert the eye end of your thin needle into the eraser of the #2 pencil.
- You might want to wrap the thread with some tape to give it extra support and make sure it doesn’t move.
- 4 Heat your needle. Once you’ve got your needle put together, you’ll need to heat the tip up. Light a match and hold the needle over it for ten to fifteen seconds. Make sure you turn the needle so it heats evenly. Heating the tip of the needle kills any germs on the needle. This can prevent infection when the needle goes under your skin to apply the ink.
- 5 Draw your design. Use an alcohol swab to clean the area of your skin where you want to apply your tattoo. Then, using the ballpoint pen, draw on your design.
- If you’ve never done your own tattoo before, you might want to start with a small design.
- You should practice your design on paper before you draw on your skin.
- 6 Ink your needle. Once you’re satisfied with your design placement and style, it’s time to ink your needle. Simply dip your needle into your homemade ink. Gently tap the needle on the side of the jar or its lid to remove any excess ink. You don’t want the needle to be dripping with ink.
- 7 Apply the ink to your skin. Once you’ve got ink on your needle, poke the needle into your skin at any point in your design. To make sure the ink actually stays in your skin, you’ll need to poke through the first two layers of skin. Continue this process along the lines of your design.
- Your skin may bleed occasionally when you poke the needle through. Some bleeding is normal, but if you notice a lot of blood, stop immediately.
- You’ll need to reload your needle with ink occasionally. If you notice that the ink color is fading, reload the needle.
- 8 Take care of your tattoo. After you’ve finished your tattoo, you should wipe it down gently with water and mild soap and apply anti-bacterial ointment. If your tattoo is in a place that is likely to rub against your clothing, wrap it with clear plastic wrap. Once you unwrap it, clean it with soap and water, but don’t use a cloth. [5]
- In the days after your tattoo is finished, you might notice your skin dries out quite a bit. This is normal. Just use a bit of fragrance-free moisturizer and rub it gently over your tattoo.
- 9 Touch up the design of your tattoo. Your skin will swell when you repeatedly poke it with a needle. Once you’ve finished your tattoo and your skin has had time to heal, you might notice that you’ve missed a few spots. Simply go back and repeat the tattooing process to touch up the areas that you missed.
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Add New Question
- Question Will this ink be able to last up to a year? The maximum that this tattoo ink will probably last up to is maybe 8 months. But it all depends on how you make it, and how you use it, and where you put it. If you put it on your back, which will probably be covered up by your shirt, it will more likely last longer than if you have it all on your arm.
- Question If I don’t have a blender, what do I do? This may make it a bit harder, but you can try to beat it with a spoon. It will take longer, and it may not make the ink mix last as long. Otherwise, it is okay to use a spoon!
- Question Can I make tattoo ink from store-bought charcoal? Killian Campbell Community Answer You can, but it won’t last long. If you buy a good and more expensive brand with lots of phosphates, it will last longer than the cheaper brands.
- Question Is it actually permanent or will it go away within a year? It’s actually semi-permanent and will fade away in a year, more or less. If you want it to last less time, you can try henna tattoos.
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- In the days after your tattoo is complete, you might notice that scabs form, and that your tattoo might bleed a bit. This is normal. Don’t peel the scabs off – they’ll come off naturally in subsequent cleanings.
- Your tattoo will remain swollen and sore for a few days. It might also feel warm to the touch. This is normal.
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- Make sure you’re using ink pigment created specifically for tattoos. Some websites will sell ink pigment without noting that they’re actually for things like car paint. Buying your pigment from tattoo websites is the safest route.
- If your tattoo stays red and swollen and sore more than 2 days or so, seek medical attention. You might be having an adverse reaction to the tattoo.
- Use gloves and a mask when you’re mixing tattoo ink.
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What can I use for a homemade tattoo?
7 WAYS – HOW TO MAKE TEMPORARY TATTOO AT HOME -EASY AND WATERPROOF
Summary – If you want to save on tattoo practice, then you can try making homemade tattoo inks that are perfect for tattooing on fruit, pigskin, or silicone skin. You can make tattoo ink by mixing wood ashes and vodka or using dry pigments, propylene glycol, glycerin, and witch hazel.
Is pen ink toxic for tattoos?
Pen Ink – With the number of art stores and online warehouses that you can purchase from, pen ink should never be an option for tattooing. Pen ink is easily accessible and cheap. Still, it is not meant to enter your body in any way, shape, or form. Pen ink is highly toxic and unsterile.
What ink is safe for stick and poke?
Use India Ink – Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images Do not use just any old ink for your stick and poke. Ink, like the ink from your pen, is not sterile and can be highly toxic. A non-toxic ink, like India ink, would be your best bet. It’s natural, carbon-based, and less likely to cause infection.
Is Bic pen ink toxic for tattoos?
Summing It Up – Pen ink is very rarely toxic and unless you ingest a lot of it, you should be fine. If some symptoms do appear, look for medical help. Play safe and don’t try any tricks with pen ink and tattoos. Not only it won’t look pretty, you can get a very bad infection and you don’t want any of that. So do try to be always careful and have fun with your inks! Back to the Blog 
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How do you make a temporary tattoo with Sharpie and paper?
Can you make a temporary tattoo with regular paper?
Steps Download Article –
- 1 Purchase water slide paper. Most tattoo stickers are made with water slide paper, which makes the tattoo stick onto the skin and last. You can purchase water slide paper from a craft store or online.
- If you don’t have access to water slide paper, normal printing paper will work as well.
- 2 Choose a picture online or create your own. You can find a cool tattoo by looking up “tattoo designs” online or create your own using Photoshop.
- Choose a tattoo that is meaningful to you. You can print out special symbols, a character, or a drawing of an animal.
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- 3 Print out your picture. Remember to flip the tattoo before you print it, especially if it contains words, as the tattoo will appear mirrored once you apply it.
- You can print in colour; however, black works best.
- Print the picture as big as you want it. If you’re creating batches of tattoos, a smaller size is best.
- 4 Cut out your picture. Leave a 1/2 inch rim around the edges. The picture shouldn’t be cut too small.
- 5 Soak your picture in perfume. Spray the front and back of the paper with a scented perfume of your choice. Apply a generous amount.
- 6 Soak the picture in hot water for three minutes. Fill up a sink or small bowl with hot water and place your picture gently on top. Gently push the picture to break the water’s surface and let it sink.
- 7 Allow the paper to soak for three minutes. It’s helpful to set a timer to remind you to remove the paper. Once the paper has finished soaking, remove it from the water and spray it with perfume again.
- 8 Apply the tattoo to your skin. Pick an area where you’d like the tattoo to go, such as your wrist or arm. Spray the side of the paper that you’re sticking onto your skin with perfume.
- Place the ink side of the paper face down on your skin and spray it with perfume once applied.
- 9 Allow the tattoo to adhere to the skin for seven minutes. Once the timer is up, carefully remove the tattoo. Starting from the edges, slowly peel the paper away from your skin.
- If you have paper residue on the tattoo, wash it off with water, don’t try to rub it off, it will ruin the tattoo.
- 10 Gently pat the tattoo dry with a towel. Now you have a brand new waterproof temporary tattoo that should last for up to a month!
- If you for some reason want or need to remove the tattoo, rubbing alcohol on the skin will wash it off.
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- Use very hot water when soaking your tattoo
- It may take a few tries to get the perfect tattoo
- If you would like to take off your tattoo, put hand-sanitizer on it and rub it off.
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- Make sure you are not in an enclosed room when spraying the perfume, it can be toxic to breathe in too much.
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