Poke and stick are the original methods of tattoo creation. Many people prefer this method of design creation, and the aesthetic appearance can help to make a design more unique. If you are planning to do this procedure you need to know more about the needles and supplies you are going to need.
We contacted several too specialists who performed this type of design. Those experts gave us tremendous recommendations for the best needles for poke and stick. We took the suggested needles and created a product review of the most frequently recommended items.
Top 5 Stick and Poke Tattoo Needles Comparison
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Reviews of 7 Needles for Stick and Poke
#1. Pirate Face Stick & Poke Tattoo Needle
This is a 100 pieces needle package that contains 10 needles of each of the following sizes. 3RL, 5RL, 7RL, 9RL, 3RS, 5RS, 7RS, 9RS, 5M1, 7M1. That gives you the appropriate needles for the majority of designs you might want to create.
All of the needles are made from medical-grade stainless steel. They are packaged singularly in sterile packages to protect your clients from any possible contaminations or contagions.
The RL needles are the liner needles that create fine lines and intricate details. The grouping of the needles is closer together so you can create tight lines that are crisp and precise.
The RS needles are used during shading. They are also used when you are blending colors and lines together. The grouping is a little looser than the lining needle grouping. These needles can be used for a lining when you are creating things like letters.
The M1 or MS needles are not configured in a circle grouping but in a straight line. They are designed to be used when you are color packing. In the line of needles, every other needle has a slight bend at the tip that allows the configuration to cover a larger surface area at one time.
Pros:
- Variety of sizes for different processes
- Sterile and safe
- Affordable
- Disposable
Cons:
- Dull very quickly
#2. 3RL Round Liner Tattoo Needles by One Tattoo World
These precision needles will allow you to create the perfect lines for your body art designs. They are perfect in the majority of tattoo machines and guns; giving you perfect lines that are not scratchy or distorted. They can also be used for poke and stick tattoo designs.
These high-quality needles are pre-sterilized and packaged singularly so your customer knows you are opening a new needle before doing their work. Safety and sterilization are a must in tattoo creations and having sterile needles allows you to be safer and protects your clients.
The needles are very sharp so they are less painful to the customers. They penetrate the skin quickly and they provide smooth designs with perfect aesthetics. These particular needles are designed for creating the tattoo outline and not intended for use when shading or color packing the design.
They are the perfect width to create a standard line used in many designs. They are affordable, durable, safe, and practical.
Pros:
- Sterile and will not pose a contamination threat to customers
- Easy to grip for more control
- Versatile and work in several machine types
Cons:
- They are so sharp that you must be careful to not allow the penetration to be too deep
#3. Poke and Stick Tattoo Kit by Looney Zoo
You get everything you need in this affordable kit to start creating poke and stick tattoo art. The kit comes with an instruction manual that walks you through the techniques used to create these unique tattoos.
The kit also includes a poke and stick tool that holds the needles you are using, disposable 9RL needles that are perfect for creating body art outlines, an ounce of black colored tattoo ink, four ink cups, a roll of medical tape, four popsicle sticks, four sheets of blended medical cloth, two pairs of latex gloves, the tattoo was and some A&D ointment cream to use during the tattoo aftercare, a red marker to mark the skin prior to work, and two disposable razors to shave away body hair that can interfere with the placement of the design.
This design kit is intended to be beneficial to artists of all skill levels so beginning artists and experienced artists will both find the kit useful. The needles are sharp and individually packaged to keep them sterile until you use them.
Pros:
- Individual packaging for sterile concerns
- Plenty of accessories included
- Great for beginners
Cons:
- The black ink is not the darkest black
#4. 100 Tattoo Needles by Yuelong
This is a variety package of tattoo needles. It is needles that are appropriate for lining, for shading, and magnum needles that are perfect for color packing. You can establish any tattoo design you wish because you will have a variety of needle styles in different sizes so you have more options available to you.
The needles are grouped into ten of each size needle. The sizes included are 3RL, 5RL, 7RL, 9RL, 3RS, 5RS, 7RS, 9RS, 5M1, 7M1. Each needle is packaged individually to maintain sterility and protection for you and your customer.
The needles are crafted from 316 stainless steel that can be used for coloring or shading. They are intended for use with a rotary tattoo gun, but you can use these needles in hand-crafted poke and stick designs. The needles are 5.5” in length.
They are affordably priced and do deliver the ink as well as more expensive items. Many people say that the needles are quicker to dull than some other varieties of needles, but this is a personal observation that cannot be verified without comparing the side of the needles by side during a tattoo.
Pros:
- Germ free needles in individual packages
- Stainless-steel material makes them easy to grip
- Assorted sizes for assorted processes
Cons:
- The needles tend to dull quicker than some other brands
#5. Hand Poke and Stick Tattoo Kit by Dragonhawk
If you are going to do a poke and stick tattoo then why not buy a complete kit rather than try to buy all of your supplies separately. This Dragonhawk kit comes with a hand poke pen that is unique, safe, and super easy to use. You will have more control over your needle and less setup or slipping possibilities.
The pen is reusable but the needles that you load into it are disposable. The needles are individually packaged so they are sterile. You clean the pen with sanitizer after each use to maintain sterile conditions.
The kit comes with the razor you need to remove hair from the area, the medical tape you will need, the ink, ink cups, needles, the pen, sterile gloves, and more. Beginners will love that they will get all of the supplies they need without agonizing over whether they forgot something.
The supplies in the kit are all high-quality items that allow you to create a custom design with the same clarity and aesthetics as the ones you get from professional shops.
Pros:
- Safe and easy to use
- No experience needed
- Versatile kit with ample supplies
- Non-toxic inks included
Cons:
- The inks included are not very vivid
#6. 50 tattoo Needles Size 3RL by TC-TATTOO
The 50 needles in this kit are intended for use in creating lining and outlines. They are round needles that are sharp and individually packaged to maintain sterile use practices.
These needles are intended for use in tattoo machine compliance and will work with the majority of rotary devices. You can also use these needles in a poke and stick designs. The needles are perfect for making quick skin perforations and they are the most common size used in inlining.
You can use these needles for a first-time stick and poke creation or you can use them to re-line, darken, or clarify an older poke and stick design. They are highly effective at delivering the ink and they are sharp enough to stop you from having to exert great amounts of pressure on the needle while working.
Pros:
- Sharp with easy penetration
- Works with a lot of rotary devices
- Sterile and disposable
- Affordable
Cons:
- Not designed for shading
#7. Disposable Tattoo Needles by CINRA
These disposable tattoo needles are individually packaged to keep them sterile and to keep the tips sharp. You want a sharp needle so there is less pain during the body art design.
The needles are mixed in styles and sizes so you get products that can be used for lining, shading, or color packing. That means you can do a complete design without having to purchase several different needle packages. The sizes include 3, 5, 7, and 9 round liners, 3, 5, 7, and 9 round shaders, and 7 and 9 magnums. There are ten needles of each size.
These needles are created to have the ability to deliver a greater amount of ink at one time so your work goes faster and the client experiences fewer sticks and less pain. They are made from medical-grade stainless steel so they are strong, not likely to bend or break, and more capable of retaining a sharp tip throughout the procedure.
Pros:
- Variety of sizes
- Very sharp
- Hygienic
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Made for rotary machines and not poke and stick creations.
What Makes a Stick and Poke Needle Different?
Stick and poke needles are slightly different than the tattoo needles that go in the tattoo machines. The most obvious difference is the needles used in a stick and poke procedure are actually smaller in diameter than the ones commonly used in a tattoo gun or machine. If you want to remove your tattoos, check tattoo removal laser machine review post.
The stick and poke needles are different from common sewing needles. The most obvious difference is the tip of the stick and pokes needle is much sharper than the tip of the traditional sewing needle. You will also find that the stick and poke needle is crafted from a medical-grade stainless steel that retains sharpness for a longer period of time so it is less painful to use than the traditional sewing needle.
Traditional sewing needles are not sterilized but stick and poke needles are sterilized and generally, they are individually packaged.
Another big difference between the stick and poke needles and the sewing needles is a group of needles rather than a single needle. Where do you first want to use your stick and poke tattoo? Practice makes a man perfect, before start practicing check out tattoo practice skin reviews article.
What do You Need to do Stick and Poke Tattoo
You can create a stick and poke tattoo using very simple items that are inexpensive and easy to come by.
- A needle. A stick and poke needle is preferred but you can do this work with a sewing needle that has been properly sterilized.
- A pencil can be used to hold the needle. The eye section of the needle is inserted into the eraser of the pencil.
- India ink or your favorite brand of tattoo ink
- Sewing thread or dental floss. This is wrapped tightly around the sewing needle and used to soak up the ink you are going to use. If you have tattoo needles you do not need the thread or floss.
- Rubbing alcohol to wipe the skin and remove contaminants
- A marker to draw the design
- Unscented soap that is anti-bacterial to be used during the aftercare procedure
- An unscented lotion that is dye free to be used in aftercare
- Patience and a steady hand
FAQ for Stick and Poke Tattoo Needles
What size needle is best for tattoo lining?
The #12 needle is the most commonly chosen needle for the lining. It is a 35 mm needle and is actually one of the larger needles that are used in body art creations. Many artists prefer the #10 needle which is 30 mm when they are lining so they can create finer lines.
Can you use sewing needles for stick n poke?
You can use a common sewing needle to do a stick and poke tattoo. You must sterilize the needle. Most people apply heat to the needle using a lighter to sterilize it and then dip the needle in rubbing alcohol. You will also need to wrap the needle with thread or dental floss.
Can you put Vaseline on a stick and poke?
You can apply Vaseline to a stick and poke tattoo to stop the bandage from sticking to the tattoo and pulling the scabbing free. Vaseline is a petroleum product and you should be warned that petroleum products can cause the ink to fade faster so you might want to choose another ointment like A & D Ointment for this purpose.
Final Word
Stick and poke tattoos are traditional, they are less expensive if you do them yourself, and they create unique designs that cannot be achieved using a tattoo machine or gun.
To properly do a stick and poke tattoo you need to get the right needles for the work. The proper needles will be less painful and will deliver the ink faster so you can make the design you desire without blurring or scratchy lines.