Saferly is the brand behind some of our favourite hygiene and safety products, as well as an epic selection of novelty ink caps!

With their release of heart, skull, and cutie doll ink caps in the last year, we were keen to dig into the brand and find out how they come up with their product ideas.

We spoke to Laurent Hrybyk, Senior Creative Manager at Saferly, about what his work entails, the science of creating ink cap moulds, and his own spicy side hustle!

What was the original idea behind the Saferly brand?

The idea behind the Saferly brand was simple: empowering artists with every essential for hygienic and streamlined tattoo, piercing, and PMU procedures. It started with just the bare bones essentials, like things you need every day around the shop, but as we've expanded, we're offering so much more than standard protection from cross-contamination.

We've got rulers, applicators, and mapping string for PMU; stylised PPE and novelty ink caps for more personalised workstations; and competitive tools that make life around the shop easier, like wireless ink mixers and rinse caps with foam. Basically, the mission has stayed the same - empowering artists in their day-to-day life at the shop - but it's just expanded so now they can be empowered not only to have everything they need, but express themselves and try some game-changing supplies too!

What was the first ever Saferly product?

The very first Saferly product ever introduced to our site was (drumroll please...) the Saferly Soap Dispenser, otherwise known by its SKU number: MED-038!

What is your role at Saferly, and what does that entail?

I am the Senior Creative Manager at Saferly. I lead a team of designers and photographers to handle all the visual communication (like packaging, photography, and promotional materials).

What is the rest of the Saferly team like?

A small group of dedicated, positive people that work hard to get artists and professionals the supplies they need to do their best work.

How do you come up with ideas for your novelty ink caps?

The short answer is... we just have fun with it. Tattoo artists are often playful personalities, and we are too. If we think it'd look good as an ink cap, it's crossed our minds. The longer answer is that we've taken inspiration from popular, competitive supplies in the industry that artists love. For example, the Cutie Doll Head ink caps are inspired by the tattooable Cutie Doll by A Pound of Flesh. Artists LOVE that thing. It just made sense to take a canvas that artists are obsessed with and turn it into a fun, functional staple in their setup. Quite a few of our novelty ink caps are inspired by A Pound of Flesh designs.

Is there a trick to getting the right size and depth of ink cap?

 No tricks! We just ensure all our novelty caps are based on standard ink cap sizes so they meet industry standards and requirements.

Does the size of the base factor into how easily ink caps stay put on the workstation?

Yeah, a larger base gives an ink cap a more stable foundation, so it'll be harder to knock over and cause spills. A larger base can also more easily accommodate larger ink caps, giving them more surface area to fit securely. When it comes to something like the skull caps, we wanted to make sure there was an ample base to hold that pesky numbskull in place even when it's brimming with ink.

That isn't to say it's bad to have an ink cap with a smaller base. It all depends on the artist’s needs, what size caps they're using, how many caps they're using, how organised their setup is, and how much ink is in each cap. But overall a larger base is more secure, and it's also going to reduce the need to stick their ink caps to their workstation with adhesives and glides.

Was it difficult to get the details right in manufacturing the skull ink caps?

Oh yeah, it was a pretty long process. We took the design from the Yorick Skull, another popular canvas by A Pound of Flesh. We started by scanning the skull and getting a 3D rendering. Then we were able to scale it down and edit the rendering into an ink cap with a hole in its head—morbid sounding, I know. We had to create the base with the 3D rendering as well. Countless hours went into manipulating the 3D scan to get it shaped into a version of the ink cap we thought might work. When we got the final 3D rendering printed, we finally started creating the actual mould... then more struggles began.

The first mould we made could only produce four skull caps at a time and would have ended up making the skulls cost way too much to compensate for production. So after a couple of months of re-designing the mould, we were able to get a couple of moulds done to be able to bring the cost down and bring to life what you see now. Lots of people have tried to create these skull caps but no one is getting the detail close to what we have been able to do. I'd say we owe all our success to dedication!

With the cutie doll ink caps, were you aiming for cute or creepy?

Honestly... a little bit of both. I think we were pretty successful.

Roughly how much ink do your heart, skull and cutie doll ink caps hold?

 They hold just as much ink as standard #16 size ink caps.

What’s the next big idea for your awesome ink caps?

The next big idea is our Sphynx Cat ink caps, inspired by the tattooable Naked Cat by A Pound of Flesh. We're pretty stoked about that one, especially since our Marketing Director Kayleigh Tanthorey owns a real live sphynx cat, so it's almost like an homage to her pet, too. As far as what else is on the horizon: we're cooking up ideas for other fun shapes and eco-friendly supplies we can't mention just yet, but stay tuned!

What else could you use ink caps for?

Ink caps are pretty versatile for artists of all kinds. Aside from their basic function, you could count on them to hold paints or calligraphy inks for other artistic endeavours. And for PMU artists (or just make-up enthusiasts) they're also good containers for making custom shades of makeup - or just holding small samples of cosmetics like foundations and lip pigments. We're trying to keep this in the artistic realm, obviously, but if you want to think "outside the ink cap" you could technically also use them to hold small amounts of herbs and spices in your next cooking project... but I digress.

What’s the tattoo scene like around Saferly headquarters?

Our team at Saferly is a vibrant and diverse group of individuals that has way too much fun. Whether it's testing out products, blaring lo-fi beats, or shooting videos of slow ink pours into skull ink caps, we always seem to have a great time day in and day out.

Which tattoo artists are doing amazing work right now?

Though I might not want them tattooed on myself, I am enamoured by the glitter realism/pointillism work of Amanda Graves.

Do you have any tattoos, and if so, any favourites?

I do have a few (but could always use more). My current favourite is a staircase/portal/doorway done by Diego Chacone.

How has the industry changed since you started at Saferly?

I would say the biggest change is that artists have so much more to choose from. An artist can really customise their setup not only according to their needs but according to who they are as a person and artist too.

What part of your work have you been most proud of?

Empowering creative people is always something I'm proud of.

What trends do you think we’ll see next in tattooing?

In terms of supplies, I see environmentally safe and biodegradable supplies continuing to grow in popularity. As far as tattoos go, anime tattooing seems to surge in popularity every passing year and it's having a profound influence on all kinds of tattoo styles and themes.

What are your interests outside of work?

Outside of work, I am an artist/illustrator. I’ve been doing that since a very early age. In addition to that, my partner and I have just started to make our own hot sauces!

What’s next for Saferly, and for Laurent Hrybyk?

Saferly will continue to lead the way in providing artists with the largest, most varied selection of supplies for a customised, more efficient, super-safe setup. Also, as I mentioned above, there are a few more novelty caps in the works! As for myself - I will continue to help further the Saferly brand vision... while making hot sauce and drawing in my free time.

Huge thanks to Laurent for chatting to us about Saferly, and spilling all the secrets about the ink caps we love so much.

Find Saferly ink caps in heart, skull and cutie doll head shapes on the Killer Ink shop, and follow Painful Pleasures on Instagram and Facebook to see the new designs as they come out!