Stick and Poke style tattoos are one of the earliest forms of tattoos. Traditionally stick and poke tattoos were done by tribal people to symbolize their culture. In the modern-day, it has been adopted by many as a form of at-home tattoos, that they can do by themselves.
However, apart from a DIY tattoo technique, many tattoo artists specialize in stick and poke tattoos and offer stick and poke tattoos to customers. Stick and poke is a form of tattoo where a needle is used directly on the skin by hand without any machine. This form of tattoo takes a long time, and it can be quite painful to sit through, however, the results are quite impressive and unique.
Top 5 Tattoo Needles for Stick and Poke : By Best Performing Feature
Buyer Guide: Key factors to consider before buying stick and poke needles
1. Liner Needles
Stick and poke tattoos are primarily made up of lines. These lines are created by poking little dots onto the skin in the shape of the line. This method is quite tedious and one requires to go over the line several times to ensure that the line is saturated enough. Therefore, the main type of needle used for stick and poke tattoos is liner needles.
Hand poke tattoo artists may use a thin needle such as a 1201RL for creating soft delicate tattoos that look faded out and semi-transparent, and for thicker lines, they usually use a needle such as 1205RL. If you are using a thinner needle then you may require to go over the line multiple times to make it saturated, this is why thicker needles are usually preferred.
2. Shader Needles
Since stick and poke needles are usually very small, therefore they do not require much shading. Shading needles that are commonly used for stick and poke tattoos are Round shaders and small magnum needles. Usually, these needles consist of 3 or 5 needle heads.
Since stick and poke tattoos are done by hand, these needles allow the ink to spread to a larger area than with a single needle. These needles help tattoo artists to create small shading and details, but they are not used for blending or for creating depth.
3. Needle type
Tattoo needles are mainly of two different types, cartridge needles, and long needles. These long needles without a casing are usually used by traditional tattoo machines. Stick and poke tattoos are done by hand, so these long needles are ideal for holding and poking into the skin. Some artists may use a pen-like device to hold the needle while working with it, while some may use the needle directly.
4. Sharpness
Unlike a machine, your hands are not capable of creating enough mechanical force necessary to pierce through the skin fast or effectively. This is why it is important to choose extremely sharp tattoo needles for stick and poke tattoos. A sharp needle ensures that it pierces through the skin enough to be able to deposit the ink underneath.
Top 5 Best Tattoo Needles for Stick and Poke
1. Looney Zoo Hand Poke and Stick Tattoo Kit
Best for : Linework, small tattoos
Looney Zoo Hand Poke and Stick Tattoo Kit is for every beginner who is interested in stick and poke tattoos. It does not only contain tattoo needles but everything that is required for stick and poke tattoos.
It contains a pair of gloves, a poking pen device, tattoo ink, ink cups, medical tape roll, tattoo ointment cream, tattoo needles, popsicle sticks, medical cloth sheets, disposable razors, and a detailed instruction sheet that guide you through how to stick and poke tattoos.
These needles are of high quality and packed individually for your safety. This kit will help you create DIY tattoos at home all by yourself.
Key features and specifications of Looney Zoo Hand Poke and Stick Tattoo Kit:
- The instruction sheet that comes with the kit is easy to follow.
- These needles are the perfect size for both larger tattoos as well as very small tattoos.
- All the equipment provided in the kit is of professional quality, so even if you are making the tattoo at home, you’re getting the best quality.
- The needle pen device is easy to use with the needles.
Pros and Cons of Looney Zoo Hand Poke and Stick Tattoo Kit:
Pros:
- The kit includes everything you need for your stick and poke tattoo, so you do not need to buy any additional equipment.
- All the equipment including the needles is of high quality.
- The needles are great for saturated linework.
Cons:
- There is no variety of needles.
- This is a beginner kit, so it does not contain a lot of needles.
Why are these best tattoo needles for Stick and Poke?
This Stick and poke tattoo kit is beginner-friendly and it contains everything you need including high-quality needles. These needles are great for making small and medium-sized tattoos that are mainly made up of linework.
Since this kit does not include shading needles, you may add dot shading or omit it completely. This is great for starting your hand poked needle journey, as you can easily use this kit at home to give yourself or your friend a tattoo.
2. DGT Premium Tattoo Needles 50pc Box (1RL)
Best for : Very thin linework, tiny tattoos.
DGT Premium Tattoo Needles are single needles in the size 1201RL, they are excellent for small stick and poke tattoos as they are sharp and thin. These needles deliver good ink flow, which means you would not have to dip the needle back in every time you poke with it. This is a box of 50 needles, which means you will have a lot to work with. The needles have been sterilized using E.O gas, ensuring your safety. These liner needles can be used directly or they can be used along with a stick and poke pen.
Key Features and Specifications of DGT Premium Tattoo Needles:
- You get 50 needles in each box so it will last you quite a while.
- The needle diameter is 0.35mm or 12gauge.
- These needles have a taper of 2mm, which provides good ink flow.
- DGT Premium Tattoo Needles are sterilized using E.O gas and packaged individually.
Pros and Cons of DGT Premium Tattoo Needles:
Pros:
- These needles can be used with or without any poking pen device.
- The needles are very sharp, ensuring you a clean tattoo.
- Needles are sterilized to ensure safety.
Cons:
- The needles can sometimes slip when you hold them with your hands.
Why are these best tattoo needles for Stick and Poke?
These single needles are great for tiny miniature tattoos that are barely there. These needles will give you a soft line and it may fade over time. This is why they are commonly used for very small detailed tattoo work that looks delicate and soft.
You will have to go over the lines several times to make the lines saturated, but the results are very beautiful soft tattoos.
3. Wormhole 5RS Tattoo Needles 5 Round Shader #12 Standard Disposable & Sterilized Tattoo Shading Needles
Best for : Standard lining, dot shading
Wormhole 5RS Tattoo Needle in the size 1205RS is great for adding shading in stick and poke tattoos. To use this type of needle for stick and poke, you have to be careful about the technique.
These needles help you add several black dots at once to create shading. Hold the needle vertically over the skin surface and poke at a 90° angle to create several dots at a time.
The number of individual needles on your round shader is the number of dots you will get on your skin. They are barely visible with the naked eye, so the dots make it look like shading.
Key Features and Specifications of Wormhole 5RS Tattoo Needle:
- Each needle is made from 316 medical grade stainless steel so they will not rust.
- The needle tips are burr-free and sharp and the soldering is clean and level.
- Wormhole Tattoo needles are checked under a microscope individually to ensure the highest quality.
- Needles are available in different sizes as well, such as 1207RS, 1209RS, etc.
Pros and Cons of Wormhole 5RS Tattoo Needle:
Pros:
- These needles are sterilized using E.O gas to make sure no contamination takes place.
- Each needle comes in individual packages with expiry dates on them so that you do not use a bad needle.
- The needles have a 3.5mm taper allowing for good ink flow.
Cons:
- Since the needles are very sharp, there is a chance of bleeding due to them.
Why are these best tattoo needles for Stick and Poke?
These round shader needles are great for adding shading to your stick and poke tattoos as well as for filling. Since the round shaders are bigger than round liners, they cover a larger area than liner needles.
This is why these are commonly used for filling in small tattoos. Stick and poke tattoos are not very large, so these needles are just perfect for dot shading and for color filling.
4. One Tattoo World 50-pcs Sterilized Tattoo Needles Individually Packed 7RL Round Liner
The selling point for One Tattoo World Tattoo Needles is their precise needles. These high-quality needles in the size 1207RL are perfect for creating relatively thick lines in stick and poke style. The three-needle combination produces a thicker line compared to a single needle.
These needles can also be used for creating dot shading, which is a form of shading that involves creating a lot of dots in varying frequency to create shading. The needles are designed to be used for stick and poke, therefore you can be assured that your tattoo will be perfect.
Key features and specifications for One Tattoo World Tattoo Needles:
- These needles are made from stainless steel and they are checked to make sure that they are sharp.
- One Tattoo World Precision Needles can be used with any stick and poke pen devices.
- The pack comes with 50 needles so you will not run out easily.
- Needles have been sterilized using E.O gas and packaged individually to protect you from cross-contamination.
Pros and Cons of One Tattoo World Tattoo Needles:
Pros:
- These precision Needles are specifically made for self tattooing and stick and poke.
- The 3 needle combination is great for creating saturated linework and for dot shading.
- One Tattoo World Needles are also available in other sizes.
Cons:
- The needles tend to bend easily so you have to use a pen or a stick to hold it up for stick and poke tattoos.
Why are these best tattoo needles for Stick and Poke?
1207RL needles are great for making all types of linework. These needles will give you a thick line so the tattoo will be quite prominent. Unline a single needle, the 7 needle combination will give you saturated dark linework. These needles can also be used to create solid tattoos that are filled in, such as text or small shapes, etc.
5. Beoncall 100pcs Assorted Mixed Size Tattoo Needles
Best for : All types of stick and poke tattoos. (Value for money)
Beoncall Assorted Mixed Size Tattoo Needles contains round liners, round shaders, and magnum needles. All the needles can be used for stick and poke tattoos, and the wide assortment is great for different techniques.
The different sizes of round liners are great for creating lines of different thicknesses and for creating dot shading. Round Shaders can be used for shading as well as filling in small areas with ink.
Magnum needles are not commonly used in stick and poke but they can also be used for creating shading and filling small spaces with ink.
Key Features and Specifications of Beoncall 100pcs Assorted Mixed Size Tattoo Needles:
- Each package includes 5 pieces of 3rl, 5rl, 7rl, 9rl, 5rs, 7rs, 9rs, 5m1, 7m1, 9m1 needles.
- These needles are made with high-quality medical-grade stainless steel.
- Beoncall Tattoo Needles are sterilized using E.O gas and packaged individually to make sure no contamination occurs.
Pros and Cons of Beoncall Assorted Mixed Size Tattoo Needle:
Pros:
- Different needle sizes allow you to create different types of tattoos.
- These needles are great for detailed work.
- These needles can be used with any stick and poke pen or stick.
- Beoncall Tattoo Needles have good ink flow and so the lines are saturated.
Cons:
- These needles are slippery so you would have to use a stick or pen tool to attach it with.
- You only get 5 of each type of needle so you may run out easily.
Why are these best tattoo needles for Stick and Poke?
The wide variety of needles in this set of 100 needles allow you to experiment with different sizes of needles. This kit contains all kinds of needles so it is good for professionals who offer hand poked tattoos. This is a value for money needle assortment, as it contains all types of needles for a very low price.
Comparison of Top 5 Best tattoo needles for stick and poke
| Sharpness | Type of needles | Ink deposition | Best for | |
| Looney Zoo Hand Poke and Stick Tattoo Kit | Sharp | 12 Gauge 5 round liner (+ accessories) | High | Linework, Dot shading. |
| DGT Premium Tattoo Needles 50pc Box (1RL) | Sharp | Single Liner Needle | Low | Detailed soft tattoos. |
| Wormhole 5RS Tattoo Needles 5 Round Shader #12 Standard Disposable & Sterilized Tattoo Shading Needles | Sharp | 12 Gauge 5 Round Liner | High | Linework, Dot shading. |
| One Tattoo World Tattoo Needles 7RL Round Liner | Sharp | 12 Gauge 7 Round Liner | High | Thick linework, filling. |
| Beoncall 100pcs Assorted Mixed Size Tattoo Needles | Sharp | 12 Gauge 3rl, 5rl, 7rl, 9rl, 5rs, 7rs, 9rs, 5m1, 7m1, 9m1 | High | All tattoos. |
Final Thoughts:
Stick and poke is a great tattooing technique that is unique and fun. This method of tattooing is perfect for small tiny tattoos and for making DIY tattoos at home that are meaningful. When tattoo needles were not commonly available, many people used to use swing needles for these tattoos, which is quite unhygienic.
Now with the rise of stick and poke as a professional tattooing method, more and more companies have started making professional quality equipment that one can use to make them at home safely. So as you can see from our list, there are many options to choose from, so take your pick and start your stick and poke journey in a safe and hygenic manner.
