Education

Choosing the right tattoo needle can have a huge impact on the quality of your work. From creating bold outlines and smooth shading to packing colour efficiently, different needle sizes and configurations are designed for different techniques.

While tattoo machines and high-end synthetic skins often steal the spotlight, every professional tattoo artist knows the real foundation of a clean tattoo starts long before the machine is turned on. A reliable tattoo stencil primer is essential for transferring designs cleanly onto skin, locking them in place, and ensuring they last throughout the tattoo process without smudging or fading.

We’ve rounded up some of the best tattoo machines of 2026, covering premium, mid-range, and budget-friendly options. So, whether you’re building your dream setup or just need a reliable back-up, there’s something here for every style, skill level, and budget.

We got to visit Julien, also known as Stabby Places Tattoo, at the Blank Collective in London to watch him create a striking sketch-style anime tattoo.

Whether you’re looking for inks with intense saturation, smooth application, or vegan and cruelty-free formulas, this guide will help you find the best colour tattoo inks to suit your preferences!

To help, we’ve put together some of the most popular aftercare products recommended and used by tattoo artists, so you can find what works best for your setup.

As a beginner, whether you’re starting out on your apprenticeship or you’re a new tattoo artist fresh out of training, you need a tattoo kit that will help you develop your technique, enhance your skills, and give you the confidence to create great tattoos. 

We sat down with Alisia Harker, co-owner of Mischief Tattoo Studio and sponsored artist at Killer Ink, to watch her create a stunning ornamental tattoo.

If you’re starting out as a fine line tattoo artist, or you’re an established artist wanting to know more, this blog breaks down everything you need to know.

We had the pleasure of visiting Clarke Dudley at the One22 Tattoo Club in Nuneaton where we watched him create an incredible black and grey surrealism tattoo.