Does social media pressure artists to work faster?

It can. Tattooing requires patience, and rushing sessions to match online trends can compromise quality.

Is it safe to prioritise photos over client comfort?

No. Adjusting sessions, lighting, or positioning purely for content can increase discomfort and fatigue. Client safety should always come before content.

Do viral tattoos reflect good studio practices?

Not necessarily. Viral content usually highlights visuals, not hygiene routines, setup discipline, or long-term healing results.

Should tattoo artists show more of the process online?

Only if it doesn’t interfere with safety or workflow. Process content can be educational, but it should never distract from proper setup, hygiene, or execution.

How Tattoo Artists Choose the Right Cartridge for Their Work

03 February 2026

Tattoo Cartridge Needles and how to Choose What Fits Your Style

When you start tattooing, everything feels important: the machine, the tattoo ink, the voltage, the needles, the tattoo supplies you use every day. And honestly, at the beginning, it should feel that way.

But choosing the right cartridge is not about finding the best one. It’s about understanding how different tools react to your hands, your pace, and your clients’ skin.

This isn’t something you learn from a box label or a product description. It’s something you build over time, session by session, mistake by mistake.

The Beginning: Try Everything (and Pay Attention)

Most tattoo artists start the same way, testing everything they can get their hands on.

Different brands.
Different groupings.
Different sizes.

One week, a tight round liner feels perfect. The next week, it feels unforgiving. Sometimes a cartridge works smoothly, sometimes it fights back.

That’s normal.

Every session gives feedback:

How fast does it deposit ink?
Does it feel aggressive or smooth?
Does it respond better to lower voltage or more power?

At this stage, there’s no wrong choice. One difficult session doesn’t mean a cartridge is bad. Skin type, placement, technique, and even fatigue all play a role.

Apex Cartridges Sample Box - great option to try different needle cartridge sizes.

Adaptation: Hands, Machine, Skin

After some time, something changes.

You stop fighting the tools and start adapting to them.

This is when many tattoo artists realise a key truth: the same cartridge behaves very differently on different skin.

Soft skin reacts quickly.
Tough skin needs patience.
Some cartridges glide on arms but feel too sharp on ribs or thighs.

Learning this takes time:

adjusting hand speed
adjusting voltage
choosing groupings that respect the skin instead of forcing it

A cartridge that works perfectly for lining one area may feel wrong somewhere else. Understanding this relationship between needle and skin is one of the biggest steps toward consistency.

In the early years, many artists say, “I don’t really have a style yet.”But slowly, preferences start to form

The Right Needle Saves Time (and Skin)

The same tattoo done with the wrong cartridge may take longer, heal worse, or lose quality.

A common mistake is using very small groupings for everything. Choosing a cartridge that matches the scale of the tattoo:

saves session time
reduces overworking
improves healing

Fine details need precision, but not everywhere. Bigger areas need appropriate groupings. Matching needle size to the job is part of respecting both the art and the client’s body.