A tattoo needle is a set of very fine points joined into one grouping that puts ink into the skin. It is mounted in the machine, and its configuration decides whether the artist draws a line, shades or packs in colour.
What types of needles are there?
The main configurations are:
- round liner: points packed tightly, for outlines,
- round shader: points arranged loosely in a circle, for shading,
- magnum: points in one or two rows, for large areas of shading and colour.
A needle code usually gives the number of points, their thickness and the configuration. Cartridges are popular today: ready-made units with the needle enclosed in a housing, swapped in one move.
What matters to the client?
The needle must be sterile and single-use. After the session it goes into a medical waste container. Hygiene requirements for tattoo studios are set out in the recommendations of Poland's Chief Sanitary Inspector (in Polish). Our own rules are part of our studio terms.