Hand-Poke Tattoos
What are hand-poke tattoos?
Hand-poke tattoos are an organic form of tattooing that manually inserts ink into the skin with a single needle by hand rather than using a tattoo machine. Modern hand-poke tattoos return to the original method of tattooing from more than 5,000 years ago, attributed to the Japanese style of Tebori, which means “carved by hand.” Synonymous with non-electric tattooing, hand-poke tattoos attach a single needle (or cluster of needles) to a solid pen-like grip stabilizing the needle like a writing utensil as the tattoo artist pokes ink into the outline of your chosen tattoo design.
At Atelier Eva, owner Eva Karabudak has gathered some of the best hand-poke tattoo artists from around-the-world, to provide a spa-like fine-line tattoo experience that is transforming the tattoo industry. Learn everything about hand-poke tattoos, discover the best ideas and the artists who create them.
Fine-Line Hand-Poke Tattoo Artists
Discover the best hand-poke tattoo artists. Click on any tattoo image to learn more about the artist, or visit our artists’ page to see their portfolio.
Do hand-poke tattoos last?
Yes - if a professional tattoo artist does your hand-poke tattoo, it will last 10 years and longer. This can extend even longer if you take care of it and get it retouched, especially after the first year. As with all tattoo styles, hand-poke tattoos can fade over time, but you can extend the vibrance, definition, and color of your hand-poke tattoo with awareness:
choose a skilled tattoo artist specializing in the hand-poke technique
following your tattoo session, allow your skin to heal fully
regularly nurture your skin with recommended aftercare products
avoid smoke and sun exposure
get your tattoo touched up after the first year
Note: do not expect tattoo longevity or artistic continuity from a non-professional D.I.Y. hand-poke tattooer.
Do Hand-Poke Tattoos Hurt Less?
Yes - the consensus amongst tattooees is that hand-poke tattoos hurt less than tattoos with tattoo machines. Though everyone experiences pain differently, hand-poke tattoos feel more like a series of brief stings that recede quickly. In contrast, tattoos with machines are described as a burning or cutting sensation. Learn more about the pain levels according to the area of the body you are getting your tattoo on and about your pain psychology threshold to prepare yourself for any tattoo experience.
What Do Fine-Line Tattoos Mean?
Fine-line tattoos focus on imagery with hyper-detail that reveals underlying meaning through a minimalist style to draw the eye into the significance of the artwork. The beauty of fine-line tattoos is that they are like fine works of art created primarily for aesthetics and from the innate desire for artistic expression with meaning derived from the eye of the beholder. Some fine-line tattoos are purposefully subtle so that their meaning is sacred to the individual, upon whose skin is the canvas. Other fine-line tattoos are intentionally symbolic or representative of meaning that is understood because of their likeness to fine historical artworks.
Single Needle Tattoo vs Fine-Line?
A single needle tattoo is just like it sounds i.e. one needle tattooing your skin. Single needle tattoos are also fine line tattoos, but the difference is that many fine line tattoos use three needles during your tattoo, while single needle tattoos use only one. Single needle tattooing is the thinnest of fine line tattoos, creating smaller and subtler micro tattoos with delicate and detailed artwork much like a drawing.
What is a Single Line Tattoo?
A single needle tattoo is a one-needle tattoo, which is the finest of fine line tattoos, and it is often synonymous with a request for a style known as a one line tattoo, where the fine line tattoo artist inks your skin with one continuous line that is artistic and fluid. One line tattoos or continuous line tattoos are impactful because the artist is truly free to create a one-of-a-kind drawing on your skin that is never duplicable because of the intersection of artistic continuity and in-the-moment inspiration.
Fine Line Tattoo vs Regular?
Fine line tattoos create thinner and more intricate tattoo lines using 1-3 round liner needles, whereas traditional tattoos create thicker bolder lines using 6-12 round liner needles. Both styles can incorporate black and grey or color ink, and both styles can apply to the same areas of the body. Fine line tattoos are said to fade more aggressively than regular tattoos, though both tattoo styles will fade with time, and may need touch-ups. The longevity of your tattoo in either style relies on the location of the tattoo, how well you care for your skin, and the excellence of the tattoo artist you choose.
What is a Thin Line Tattoo?
Thin line tattoos are synonymous with fine line tattoos but often a client is really asking for micro tattoos that are the smallest and thinnest of fine line tattoos, usually accomplished with a single needle. These minimalist tattoos are finer and confined to a smaller area of the skin and body while being appreciated for their subtlety, intricacy, originality, and meaning.
What is Line Art Tattoo?
Line art tattoos are minimalist monochromatic abstract artworks composed of simple geometric lines or one single continuous line.
What is a Simple Line Tattoo?
A simple line tattoo is a minimalist fine line tattoo that appears to have been composed with one single line.