Not sure if you want handpoke or machine? Here’s some more info to help you choose.
The main differences between machine tattooing and handpoke are the time, the pain level, and the aesthetic. With machine tattooing the machine is driving the needle super fast, making tiny dots very close together which gives clean & smooth lines. With handpoke, there is no machine and the tattooer is pushing (‘poking’) the needle by hand, making a series of dots to create the line.
Machine works best for:
♡ bigger and more complex pieces
♡ large areas of black or colour
♡ complex shading and blending
♡ clean lines and bold colour
♡ very small pieces if they have super fine detail
Handpoke works best for :
♡ small and simple pieces
♡ a soft and imperfect aesthetic
♡ black & grey, or small patches of colour
♡ small and fiddly placements like the fingers or ears
Handpoke generally hurts less, but also takes longer. It’s a less intense pain, but more enduring.
Machine generally hurts more, but it’s also much quicker. It’s more intense but the experience doesn’t last as long.
The same needles and ink are used in both styles of tattooing, and neither should fade particularly faster than the other if the tattoo is taken care of while healing, and protected from the sun for the lifetime of the tattoo. Handpoke healing tends to be quicker and easier, as it generally causes less trauma to the skin (depends on the design). Every person’s body will heal differently, and either style of tattooing may need a touch up if any ink falls out during healing.
