Before you begin your stick and poke journey, it’s essential to become familiar with the tools included in your kit. Understanding the function of each item not only helps ensure a smoother tattooing experience but also supports safety, hygiene, and the quality of your work.

At the core of your setup is the hand poke needle tool — designed to hold your tattoo needle securely while giving you the grip and control needed for steady, consistent lines. This tool works in combination with grommets and grip tape. The grommets are small rubber rings that help anchor the needle in place within the tool, ensuring it doesn’t shift while you’re working. The grip tape wraps around the tool to create a more comfortable, slip-resistant hold, which is especially important during longer sessions.

Your needles come in a variety of sizes, each suited for different levels of detail. The “RL” stands for Round Liner, and the number indicates how many points are grouped in that needle. For example, a 1RL is a single needle for ultra-fine lines, while a 9RL is a larger grouping for bolder outlines or filling small areas. Each needle in your kit is individually packaged and sterilised. Once opened, it should be used immediately and disposed of properly — these are single-use items and should never be reused or shared.

The ink provided in your kit is high-quality, professional-grade pigment. These “ink shots” are pre-portioned and ready to use. Pour the ink into the supplied disposable ink cups before beginning. This avoids cross-contamination and makes it easier to dip your needle throughout the session.

Also included is a sheet of synthetic practice skin. This is designed to mimic the texture and resistance of human skin, giving you a safe space to test how different needles and techniques feel. Practising on this surface is highly recommended before working on real skin, especially if you are new to hand poke tattooing.

You’ll also find transfer paper, which allows you to stencil your design onto the skin before inking. Alongside this, the surgical skin marker is useful for adding detail, fixing your stencil, or drawing freehand directly onto the skin.

To support hygiene and preparation, your kit contains black nitrile gloves, alcohol wipes, and a sheet of medical-grade Tegaderm (second skin) for aftercare. These items help minimise risk during tattooing and support the healing process afterward.

Finally, once your tattoo is complete, safe disposal of your used needles is critical. Used sharps must be discarded in a proper sharps container. Never throw tattoo needles directly into household waste, and never reuse them.

By understanding each of these components — what they are for, how to use them, and why they matter — you’re already laying the foundation for a safer, more enjoyable tattoo experience. Stick and poke tattooing is a deeply personal and artistic process, and taking the time to respect your tools will show in the final result.

Proper preparation is crucial before beginning any tattoo — whether it's your first or your hundreth. Stick and poke tattooing may be a slower, more deliberate process than machine tattooing, but it demands just as much care, precision, and attention to hygiene. The time you invest in setting up your workspace and mindset will directly affect the comfort, safety, and quality of the tattoo you create.

Before anything touches skin, spend time practising on the synthetic practice skin provided in your kit. This surface is designed to replicate the feel of real skin, allowing you to get a sense for needle depth, ink flow, and hand stability. Try tracing lines, dots, and curves similar to the design you’re planning to tattoo. This practice helps you build the muscle memory and confidence you’ll need once you begin working on real skin.

Next, set up your workstation. Choose a flat, clean surface with enough space to lay out all your supplies. This area should be well lit and free from unnecessary clutter. You’ll want everything within arm’s reach — your gloves, ink cups, alcohol wipes, needle tool, needles, grommets, ink, grip tape, transfer paper, and aftercare materials. Once you begin tattooing, you won’t want to touch anything unrelated to the session, so plan ahead.

Before filling your ink cups, be sure to shake the ink shot thoroughly, this is a crucial step to ensure the ink is the correct consistency. If you’ve already poured out your ink and it isn’t all one consistency, mix it with a sterile utensil (such as one of the needles) until it is mixed throughly. Each ink shot has enough to fill 3-4 ink cups.

Lighting plays a key role in tattooing. Poor lighting can lead to inconsistent lines or missed details. Aim to work under a bright desk lamp or near natural light if available. Avoid dim rooms or heavily coloured lighting, as these can distort your perception of the stencil and ink.

Wear comfortable clothing that allows free movement and doesn’t interfere with the area you’ll be tattooing. If you’re working on yourself, be sure the chosen body part is easily accessible and in a position where you can keep your hand steady. If you’re tattooing someone else, make sure both you and your subject are seated comfortably, with the tattoo area exposed and stable.

Once your space is set and your practice is complete, it’s time to begin prepping the skin. Shave the area you're looking to tattoo and use an alcohol wipe to clean the area thoroughly, removing dirt, oil, and bacteria. Allow the area to dry completely.

If you’re using a stencil, now is the time to apply the design using your stencil paper. To create your stencil, begin by placing your stencil paper carbon-side down on a flat surface. Lay your design over the top and trace it using firm, even pressure with a pen or pencil. The design will transfer through the paper onto the underside, creating a usable stencil. Once your tracing is complete, cut around the outline to remove excess paper.

To apply the stencil to the skin, first clean the area thoroughly, then, with a gloved hand, apply a thin layer of transfer soloution (through years of experience, we recommend using Dettol hand sanitiser). Dettol not only helps sterilise the area further but also works extremely well as a transfer medium, allowing the stencil to bond cleanly to the skin. Gently press the stencil onto the skin once the soloution has become tacky, holding it in place for several seconds before carefully peeling it away. Allow the stencil to dry completely before you begin tattooing, and avoid touching or smudging the design during setup.

You can also use the included surgical marker to draw your design directly onto the skin. It's also great for touching up any imperfections from the stencil transfer.

Finally, wash your hands thoroughly (once more) and put on a pair of the included black nitrile gloves before touching any sterile items. At this point, your space should be organised, your tools should be ready, and your design should be prepped and visible on the skin.

Taking this time to prepare properly is the difference between a rushed, risky tattoo and a clean, confident result. Once you're fully set up, you're ready to begin the tattooing process.

Once your stencil is dry and your workstation is fully prepared, it’s time to begin the tattooing process. This part of the journey requires focus, patience, and care. Stick and poke tattooing is slower than machine tattooing, but it offers a unique level of control and intimacy with the design. Don’t rush — a steady hand and thoughtful pacing will always yield better results.

Start by donning a fresh pair of nitrile gloves if you've touched anything outside your sterile area. Assemble your needle tool by inserting the desired needle into the hand poke pen, securing it firmly with a grommet, and wrapping the grip area with tape for comfort and stability. You should feel confident that the needle is locked in place and that you can hold the tool securely without strain.

Choose the appropriate needle size based on your design. Finer lines will require a 1RL or 3RL, while bolder lines or shading may benefit from a 5RL or larger. Pour a small amount of your ink into an ink cup.

Feel free to apply a thin layer of vaseline at this point, it will help protect the skin, but also will make excess ink easier to wipe away. After every few wipes, add a little more vaseline.

Dip your needle into the ink and begin tattooing by gently poking along the stencil line, dot by dot. Each poke should deposit a small amount of ink beneath the surface of the skin. You do not need to press hard — excessive force will damage the skin and create blowouts. Instead, aim for a consistent, controlled depth. A good guideline is to feel a slight resistance as the needle breaks the skin, without pushing so deeply that the skin dimples or bleeds heavily. The skin should remain relatively calm during the process, with only light redness or minor bleeding.

Wipe the area frequently with a clean gauze pad or paper towel to check your progress and prevent ink from obscuring the stencil. Tattooing slowly allows for better line work, so don’t be discouraged by the pace — each dot adds up to a clean, solid line over time. You may need to go over each section more than once to build saturation, but always give the skin a moment to settle before layering additional passes.

Pay close attention to your hand posture and breathing. Staying relaxed and consistent helps maintain the rhythm you need for clean lines and solid shapes. If your hand starts to shake or fatigue sets in, take a break. There’s no need to complete a tattoo in one sitting if it compromises quality or comfort.

Throughout the process, monitor your environment. If anything becomes unclean — your gloves, a tool, or the work surface — pause and replace or clean it before continuing. Tattooing requires constant awareness and respect for hygiene.

When your design is complete, gently wipe the area one last time and allow the skin to breathe for a few moments before applying aftercare.

Stick and poke tattooing is not just about technique — it’s about intention and care. Taking your time and working with precision ensures a result you’ll be proud of and that will heal well.

Tattoo aftercare is just as important as the tattooing process itself. A clean, well-healed tattoo not only looks better but is less likely to scar, fade prematurely, or develop complications such as infections or allergic reactions. Stick and poke tattoos heal much like machine tattoos, but because they tend to be slower and more deliberate, the skin may be slightly more irritated depending on the duration of the session.

Once the tattoo is complete, gently clean the area one final time with a gauze pad clean paper towel. Make sure there is no excess ink, blood, or debris remaining on the surface. Let the skin air out for a minute or two. Then, apply the provided sheet of second skin (cut to size if needed) — a medical-grade, breathable film that acts as a barrier against bacteria, dirt, and friction. Second skin can usually stay in place for 24 to 48 hours, depending on your skin type and how well it adheres.

Before applying the second skin, ensure the area is completely dry. Peel back the protective layer and carefully place the adhesive side over the tattoo, pressing gently from the centre outward to avoid bubbles. Once applied, avoid peeling or adjusting it unnecessarily, as this can compromise the seal.

While the second skin is on, do not submerge the area in water or apply additional ointments. It’s normal for the skin underneath to appear slightly cloudy as fluids collect — this is part of the natural healing process. If the bandage becomes overly saturated, begins to peel, or feels uncomfortable, you may remove it early and switch to a traditional aftercare routine.

Once removed, gently wash the area with warm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap. Pat the tattoo dry with a clean towel and allow it to breathe. For the next several days, apply a thin layer of a gentle, unscented tattoo aftercare balm or a moisturiser such as Bepanthen. Do not over-moisturise, as this can delay healing.

During the healing process, avoid scratching, picking, or exposing the tattoo to direct sunlight, pools, hot tubs, or excessive sweating. The tattoo may scab or peel slightly — this is normal. Let the skin flake naturally without interference. Most stick and poke tattoos take between 2 to 4 weeks to fully heal, though this may vary depending on placement, technique, and individual skin type.

By following these aftercare steps, you’ll protect your new tattoo and help ensure it heals cleanly with strong, lasting results.

As always, your safety is our number one priority. If you're not sure that your tattoo is healing correctly or you are feeling unwell, please seek professional medical assistance.

Once your tattoo is complete and properly wrapped, it’s time to clean up your workspace. This step is critical — not just for hygiene, but for safety and legal compliance. Tattooing involves the use of sharps and potentially biohazardous materials, and every session should end with a thorough, deliberate cleanup.

Begin by carefully removing your gloves and disposing of any visibly soiled paper towels, ink cups, and other disposable materials. These items should be placed in a lined bin and sealed before being discarded in your household waste. Avoid touching anything outside of your workstation until you’ve washed your hands thoroughly.

Used needles must never be thrown into regular rubbish. Tattoo needles are classified as sharps and must be disposed of in a proper sharps container. These containers are puncture-resistant and designed to prevent injury or contamination. If you don’t have one yet, they are widely available online or at most pharmacies. Once the container is full, it should be returned to a designated sharps disposal point — many local councils, pharmacies, or hospitals offer this service. Never attempt to recap needles, bend them, or dispose of them loosely, as this poses a serious risk to others.

Clean your pen tool by removing any used grommets and wiping the surface with an alcohol wipe.

Wipe down your entire workstation with disinfectant, including any surfaces the tools, ink, or your hands may have touched. If you were working over a towel or protective covering, dispose of it appropriately and replace it with a clean one for your next session.

Finally, wash your hands again with warm soapy water and dry them with a clean towel.