Tattoo shading is one of the most advanced skills for a tattoo artist. Proper shading gives the tattoo depth and brings the tattoo to life. For achieving a smooth shading, a tattoo artist requires good needles that suit the tattoo work precisely. Every shading work needs to have proper ink saturation and it cannot be uneven at all. Shading needles come in different shapes and sizes and so you need to choose the right needle for each tattoo individually.
Top 5 Tattoo Needles for Shading : Best by Feature
Buyer Guide: Important Things to Consider Before Buying a Tattoo Shading Needle
1. Type of needle
There are several types of needles that you can use to do tattoo shading. There are three basic shading needles – Magnum needle, flat shader, and round shaders. Each needle can be used for multiple purposes, but each type of needle is best for a specific purpose.
A magnum needle provides soft shading so it can be used to make grey shading and color blending. A flat shader uses more impact to saturate the ink so it is used for black shading and darker areas that do not require any softness.
A round shader needle is a smaller needle that resembles a liner needle, however, it is similar to a magnum needle and they are used for detailed areas and small tattoos.
2. Tattoo technique
A tattoo artist may use several different shading techniques for his tattoos. The type of needle highly depends upon the technique as it determines the depth of the needle and the amount of trauma that is caused to the skin.
The pendulum technique and swing technique is used most commonly for getting a soft shade and color blend, while a packing technique is used for getting darker shadows and color fills.
For soft shading techniques, a tattoo artist prefers curved magnum needles, as it causes less trauma to the skin, but for a color filling technique, he may choose a flat shader needle or a round shader needle even though it causes more trauma to the skin.
3. Width of the needle
Magnum needles are the most commonly used needles for shading, the larger the size of the needle, the wider it is. The width determines how much space the needle is covering at one go.
If an artist is tattooing a bigger surface, then a larger magnum needle is ideal, however, if he is tattooing a smaller surface a small magnum needle or even a round shader may be ideal.
4. Shape of the needle
As mentioned earlier, shader needles come in different sizes and shapes. The two basic shapes are round and flat. A round shader is round in shape and helps you tattoo rounded areas, whereas a magnum or flat shader needle is wide and has an edge, therefore they are ideal for tattooing angled spaces or sharp corners.
5. Taper of the needles
Each tattoo needle has a specific amount of taper on the end. The length of the taper determines how much ink gets saturated in the skin. A needle with a long taper is ideal for getting less saturated grey tones, while a needle with a short taper is great for dark saturated areas.
Best Tattoo Shading Needle: Top 5 picks
1. Dragonhawk 20Pcs Extreme Cartridges Disposable Tattoo Needle Standard
Best for : Color blending and grey shading in large areas.
Dragonhawk Extreme Cartridges 12 11 RM needles are perfect for tattoo shading as it delivers just the right amount of ink and creates seamless blending. A curved magnum needle is most preferred for creating shadows and color blending.
Curved magnum needles, as opposed to flat magnum needles, are better at delivering an even tone throughout the area. These needles are best for covering large areas and sharp edges as the needles are flat in shape.
Dragonhawk Cartridge Needles are made from high-quality materials and they are sterilized before packing in individual packages ensuring the most safety.
Key Features and Specifications of Dragonhawk Extreme Cartridges Disposable Tattoo Needles:
- These cartridge needles are compatible with pen style, rotary, and coil machines.
- The cartridges are equipped with a membrane that prevents ink spit back and helps keep the needle depth correct even after a long session.
- Dragonhawk tattoo needles are made from 316 medical grade stainless steel and they are checked to ensure extreme sharpness.
- These needles have a longer taper that allows better ink flow and creates an optimum saturation.
Pros and Cons of Dragonhawk Extreme Cartridges Disposable Tattoo Needles:
Pros:
- Dragonhawk needles are available in multiple sizes.
- The cartridges are made with a no-slip technology ensuring you optimum working capacity.
- The needles are extremely stable and allow you to have complete control.
Cons:
- You receive only 20 pieces of needles, so you may run out easily.
Why should you choose these tattoo needles for shading?
Curved magnum needles are the best for shading in general, you can do different types of shading with these needles. Curved magnums bend with your skin so that the ink can penetrate at the same level, this way the shading is going to be even and smooth throughout the area.
This tattoo needle is, therefore, best for shading a larger area. Since magnum needles are flat in shape, they are best for shading in corners and angled areas as well.
2. Hawink Tattoo Cartridge Needles #12 Standard 9 Round Shader M-Taper
Best for : Shading small areas, detailed shading.
Hawink Tattoo Cartridge Needles in the size 12 09 RS, is a round shader needle that is best for shading small areas and for making details. This round shader needle has 9 individual needles which make it ideal for shading in a rounded area.
Round shaders are also very helpful for portraits and realism tattoos as they can provide really small details. These needles usually work similar to magnum needles, except they are round in shape.
Hawink Tattoo Cartridge Needles are made from high-quality steel and plastic that give you a better tattooing experience.
Key Features and Specifications of Hawink Tattoo Cartridge Needles:
- The cartridges are made from high-quality plastic material that is comfortable to hold and work with.
- These cartridges contain a membrane function that prevents ink from spilling or spitting back.
- A semi-transparent window in the cartridge helps you look through it and observe the needle.
- Hawink Needles are compatible with coil machines, rotary machines, and their own Hawk machines.
Pros and Cons of Hawink Tattoo Cartridge Needles:
Pros:
- High-quality silicone helps keep the needle elastic.
- The cartridge has a semi-transparent casing that allows you to see the needle through it.
- These needles are available in multiple sizes.
- Hawink needles are sharp and made from high-quality materials.
Cons:
- The cartridge is not fully transparent so it may be difficult to see the ink inside.
Why should you choose these tattoo needles for shading?
Hawink Tattoo Cartridge Needles in the size 12 09 RS is a great needle for shading in small areas that require details. The round shape of the needle helps you get into small spaces that cannot handle wide magnum needles.
These needles can be used like magnum needles so they are perfect for color blending and grey shading as well.
3. EZTAT2 Revolution Tattoo Cartridge Needles 08 Bugpin 9 Magnum Long Taper
Best for : Smooth blending.
EZTAT2 Revolution Tattoo Cartridge Needles in the size 08 09 M1 is perfect for making portraits and for shading small areas. These needles are extremely closely packed so you do not see any needle streaks or lines at all.
This makes it an ideal needle for working on portraits and realism tattoos. The flat magnum shape is also ideal for achieving gradient shading, which is useful in realism tattoos. EZTAT2 Needles are compatible with most tattoo machines.
Key Features and Specifications of EZTAT2 Revolution Tattoo Cartridge Needles:
- EZTAT2 Tattoo Cartridge needles come in many different sizes so you can choose according to your need.
- The clear casing on the tattoo needles allows you to see the needle through it so that you can have better precision.
- These needles have low profile housing and allow for better ink flow.
- These needles have smooth sharp edges which reduce the trauma to the skin.
Pros and Cons of EZTAT2 Revolution Tattoo Cartridge Needles:
Pros:
- Needles are made from high-quality steel to ensure maximum sharpness.
- These needles have a long taper that allows slow ink flow, helping you achieve better grey tones.
- A membrane system prevents ink spit back.
Cons:
- These needles are quite expensive.
Why should you choose these tattoo needles for shading?
Bugpin magnum needles are the best for achieving the smoothest shades and the best details. This kind of needle is perfect for realism tattoos, portraits, etc. They help you achieve super smooth soft blends.
These needles also cause the least trauma to the skin, thus ensuring that the tattoo is long-lasting. EZTAT2 Revolution Tattoo Cartridge Needles in the size 0809RM is, therefore, best for hyper-detailed shading work.
4. ATOMUS 30pcs Assorted F Flat Disposable Sterilized Tattoo Needle Mixed
Best for : Color or Gray filling in large areas.
ATOMUS Flat Disposable Sterilized Tattoo Needles are great for getting dark shading and filling in spaces. Flat needles are best used for large spaces that need to be filled with a solid color.
These needles deliver high saturation shading that is ideal for thick lining, color fills, and tribal tattoos. ATOMUS Flat Needles are made from high-quality surgical steel and they have a clear plastic casing that allows you to see the needles through it.
Key features and specifications of ATOMUS 30pcs Assorted F Flat Disposable Sterilized Tattoo Needle:
- This box of needles comes with three different sizes of flat needles – 7F, 9F, and 11F.
- It’s compatible with all types of tattoo machines.
- Silicone gel technology replaces the iron spring giving the needle more stability.
- ATOMUS Flat Tattoo Needles come with a membrane that prevents ink from flowing back into the machine.
Pros and cons of ATOMUS 30pcs Assorted Flat Tattoo Needles:
Pros:
- These cartridges are semi-transparent, which gives you a better look at the needle for more precision.
- Three different sizes of needles allow for more versatility in your work.
- Made from high-quality steel ensuring complete safety.
- Sterilized using E.O gas to make sure they are safe for skin.
Cons:
- You only get 10 pieces of each type of needle.
- The cartridge body is colored making it a bit hard to see the ink inside.
Why should you choose these tattoo needles for shading?
Flat needles such as the ATOMUS Flat Needles are perfect for filling an area with the same saturation of ink. Flat needles provide an even saturation throughout the surface and so these are commonly used for color packing and filling.
These do not provide a lot of shading, but it is useful for hard lines. These needles are best used for color tattoos that require full-color shading and filling.
5. EZTAT2 50pcs Assorted Tattoo Cartridge Needles 0.35mm Regular Curved Magnum
Best for : All types of shading. Value for money.
EZTAT2 50pcs Assorted Tattoo Cartridge Needles are the perfect box of shading needles for a beginner. It contains several sizes of curved magnum needles that can be used for different purposes.
Curved magnum needles are perfect for most types of shading work so this pack of 50 needles provides beginners a chance to explore the different types of needles. The cartridge casing is clear so you can see the needle through it for better precision.
Key Features and Specifications of EZTAT2 50pcs Assorted Tattoo Cartridge Needles:
- This is a value pack of needles so you get a variety of needles in one box.
- These needles have low profile housing and are shaped inside that allows better ink flow.
- The needles use medical-grade steel and medical-grade plastic ensuring you complete safety.
- EZTAT2 50pcs Assorted Tattoo Cartridge Needles has a membrane to protect the ink from going back into the machine.
Pros and Cons of EZTAT2 50pcs Assorted Tattoo Cartridge Needles:
Pros:
- You get a large number of needles in the box.
- EZTAT2 needles have low profile housing.
- These needles have been sterilized by E.O gas.
- Needles are packaged individually for safety.
Cons:
- You get only 10 needles of each type so you may run out of them quickly.
Why should you choose these tattoo needles for shading?
Curved magnum needles are an all-purpose needle that can be used for most types of shading work. The large range of sizes in this box makes it useful for both details and large color filling jobs.
The EZTAT2 Tattoo Cartridge Needles 50pcs Assortment is a value for money box of needles as you get several different types of high-quality needles for a low price. Each needle is made from high-quality materials and they cost way less than other needles in the market.
Comparison Top 5 Best Tattoo Needles for Shading
| Needle Size | Ink Flow | Compatible with | Best used for | |
| Dragonhawk 20Pcs Extreme Cartridges Disposable Tattoo Needle (1211RM) | 12 11 Round Magnum | Medium | All machines | Color Blending, Grey Shading |
| Hawink Tattoo Cartridge Needles #12 Standard 9 Round Shader M-Taper | 1209 Round Shader | High | All machines | Precise and Detailed shading |
| EZTAT2 Revolution Tattoo Cartridge Needles 08 Bugpin 9 Magnum | 08 09 Bugpin Magnum | Medium | All machines | Smooth blending, Feathering |
| ATOMUS 30pcs Assorted F Flat Disposable Sterilized Tattoo Needle | 12 07, 12 09, 1211 Flat Needle | High | All Machines | Color packing, Filling |
| EZTAT2 50pcs Assorted Tattoo Cartridge Needles | 12 05, 12 07, 12 09, 12 11, 12 13 Curved Magnum | Medium | All Machines | All types of shading |
Final Words:
Blending and Shading is an integral part of every tattoo. To achieve the perfect shading, one must use the right needles for each tattoo. Sometimes an artist may require multiple different needles to complete a tattoo, so always choose the needle according to your need. As you can see from our list, each needle has different functions and so they need to be used for their particular purpose. So what are you waiting for? Choose the needles that you need and get started on your awesome tattoos.
