Home tattoo kits are the safest option, are inexpensive, and include both supplies and instructions. Find a reputable brand of tattoo ink to ensure it doesn’t contain any toxic ingredients. Don’t use sewing needles, straight pins, or safety pins. They are not sterile, even if they are new. It is extremely dangerous to use any of these objects to tattoo yourself. You may end up in the hospital. They don’t hold the ink well and generally aren’t the right type of needle. You need to be as professional as possible if you are going to do this yourself. [2] X Research source Don’t use old needles. Don’t share needles. Doing either of these will put you at serious risk for infection. Also, be sure to safely dispose of the needles when you’re done.
Keep a non-permanent, non-toxic marker around for drawing potential tattoo ideas. [4] X Research source It’s a good idea to keep ink caps, a shallow bowl, or saucer handy to pour India ink into. Ink caps are inexpensive and can help prevent you from wasting ink. Sterilize with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide that is 91-99% alcohol. It’s important to make sure everything you use is clean. Wash any bowls or saucers you’ll be using in hot, soapy water and peroxide/rubbing alcohol, and then cover them with plastic wrap. For extra protection, wear gloves that are very well sterilized when handling any of the supplies you’ll be using. Wash gloves (if using) and hands multiple times throughout the whole process.
After you shave, sterilize your skin with rubbing alcohol. Dab it on with a cotton ball and make sure it’s evaporated before continuing.
Since you’ll be tattooing yourself, make sure the place you choose is easily. You WILL be poking for a few hours. Awkward or hard to reach places on the body, such as your chest or shoulder, are never good ideas for stick ’n’ pokes on yourself. Stick ’n’ pokes work much better with simple and tiny tattoos. If you want a complex tattoo, you’re better off going to a parlor.
Once the needle is sterile, wrap it in cotton thread. Start about 1⁄8 inch (0. 3 cm) away from the tip and wrap the thread back and forth about 1⁄4 inch (0. 6 cm) up the needle until the thread has formed an oval shape. This will absorb some of the ink as you dip your needle into the saucer. [6] X Research source
The skin may swell up a bit as you poke it which may cause the resulting tattoo to appear spotty. You may have to do touch-ups when the swelling goes down if you want smooth lines throughout the tattoo. Wait to do touch ups until after the tattoo is completely healed, which can take up to two months.
Avoid cleaning a fresh tattoo with alcohol – use soap and water, instead.
Leave the wrap on for 1-3 hours, but no longer than 6. [9] X Research source
Don’t soak your tattoo and don’t run it under hot water. It won’t feel nice, and it take the ink out of your skin. [11] X Research source Avoid picking at the tattoo as this could cause some of the ink to bleed out, causing messy lines and even scarring. Make sure to remove the bandage and wash the tattoo after a couple of hours.
Moisturize your tattoo 3-5 times a day depending on the size of the tattoo. If your skin starts to look dried out, use a small amount of lotion. [12] X Research source Don’t apply anything that’s too greasy, like vitamin E, aloe, or Vaseline.
Keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight, as this can cause the ink to fade. It will also burn like a bad sunburn. Avoid pools of water such as baths, hot tubs, pools, lakes, oceans, etc. They are full of bacteria, which can lead to infection. [14] X Research source Avoid any activity that is high-contact or induces excessive sweating, like working out. [15] X Research source Wear loose clothing so your tattoo can breathe. Tight clothing prevents this.
You can minimize the risk of infection by keeping your supplies clean and taking care of your tattoo. Still, it is possible your tattoo could become infected. If you suspect that your tattoo has become infected, consult your physician. [17] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source Make sure that you aren’t picking or scratching at your tattoo, either.
