Single Needle: How Deep Should You Go? (0.5mm-1.2mm)

Summary

In this tattoo informational video, the artist addresses a common question about needle depth in tattooing, particularly for light gray shades. They clarify that the standard 1-2 millimeter depth is for larger needle groupings, not single needles, which should only go 0.5-1.2 millimeters deep to avoid skin damage. The artist demonstrates this with a ruler and needle, emphasizing the importance of skin stretching during tattooing. They also discuss techniques for darker tones, using a poking scribbling motion for deeper ink penetration without going too deep.

Takeaways

• 📏 The standard depth for tattooing with multiple needles is between 1 to 2 millimeters, but this is not suitable for single needle tattooing.
• 🤔 Factors such as machine type, needle gauge, and voltage can affect the penetration depth and should be considered for adjustments.
• 💉 For single needle work, the recommended depth is between 0.5 to 1.2 millimeters to avoid damaging the skin.
• 🪡 The analogy of a magician on a bed of needles is used to explain why single needles penetrate the skin differently than multiple needles.
• 🧍‍♂️ Tattoo artists should constantly stretch the skin while tattooing to reduce tension and ensure proper ink penetration.
• 🔍 The depth of 1.2 millimeters is considered deep for single needle tattooing, especially with a 12-gauge needle which is thicker and allows for better ink flow.
• 🚫 Going too deep with a single needle, such as the full 2 millimeters, can lead to skin damage and is not recommended.
• 🎨 For lighter shades, the artist may need to consider the risk of the tattoo fading due to the shallower depth required.
• 🖌️ The artist uses a poking and scribbling motion for the darkest parts of the tattoo to achieve depth without going too deep.
• 🔄 The healing process of a tattoo is similar for both single needle and traditional methods, with the key being proper initial healing.
• 🔄 Long-term tattoo preservation depends on proper healing, and tattoos will naturally fade over time regardless of the method used.

Q & A

What is the standard depth for tattooing with a single needle?

The standard depth for tattooing with a single needle is between 0.5 millimeters to 1.2 millimeters, which is shallower than the traditional 1 to 2 millimeters used for multiple needle groupings.

Why is the depth for single needle tattooing different from that of multiple needles?

Single needle penetration is different because it goes into the skin more easily due to less resistance, as opposed to multiple needles which need to account for skin resistance and therefore require a deeper penetration.

What is the significance of the 'bed of needles' analogy mentioned in the script?

The 'bed of needles' analogy is used to illustrate the difference in skin penetration between single and multiple needles. A magician can sleep on a bed of needles without harm due to the distributed weight, but would be injured by a single needle, highlighting the increased ease of penetration with a single needle.

What are the factors to consider when determining the depth for tattooing?

Factors to consider include machine type, needle gauge, voltage, and the specific technique being used, such as single needle or multiple needle groupings.

Why is it not recommended to go as deep as 2 millimeters with a single needle?

Going 2 millimeters deep with a single needle is too deep and can easily lead to skin damage, such as 'blowing out' the skin, which is cutting or damaging it excessively.

What is the recommended depth range for tattooing light gray tones with a single needle?

For light gray tones, the recommended depth range is the same as for single needle tattooing in general, which is between 0.5 millimeters to 1.2 millimeters.

How does the tattoo artist ensure accurate tattooing while using a single needle?

The artist should constantly stretch the skin while tattooing, which reduces skin tension and allows for more accurate and proper tattooing.

What technique does the artist use for rendering the darkest parts of a tattoo with a single needle?

For the darkest parts, the artist uses a poking or scribbling motion to get the ink in without having to change to a larger needle grouping, which helps maintain a consistent texture.

How does the artist's experience influence the depth range recommended for single needle tattooing?

The artist's extensive experience and portfolio of healed tattoos over the years support the recommended 0.5 to 1.2 millimeters depth range, showing that it is effective for long-term tattoo preservation.

What is the artist's approach to answering questions in the new series of videos?

The artist aims to make the videos shorter and more focused on one specific topic or question, providing direct and concise answers based on years of experience in tattooing, particularly with single needles.

Outlines

00:00

📏 Tattoo Needle Depth Explained

In this paragraph, the speaker addresses a common question about tattoo needle depth, specifically for light gray shades. They clarify that the standard depth of 1 to 2 millimeters is not suitable for single-needle tattooing due to the different skin penetration compared to multiple needles. The analogy of a magician on a bed of needles is used to illustrate the point. The recommended depth for single-needle work is given as 0.5 to 1.2 millimeters, and the importance of considering machine type, needle gauge, and voltage is emphasized. The speaker also demonstrates the depth with a ruler and a single needle cartridge, highlighting the difference in depth for a 10 gauge versus a 12 gauge needle, and stresses the need to constantly stretch the skin while tattooing to reduce tension and ensure proper ink insertion.

05:01

🔍 Fine-Tuning Tattoo Depth for Different Tones

The speaker continues the discussion on tattoo needle depth, focusing on the implications for different shades in a tattoo. They advise against going too deep with a single needle to avoid skin damage, which could 'blow out' the tattoo. The recommended depth range of 0.5 to 1.2 millimeters is reiterated, and the speaker shares their personal experience and portfolio as evidence of the effectiveness of this range. They also discuss the long-term healing and permanence of tattoos, noting that as long as the tattoo heals properly initially, it is likely to remain over time. The paragraph concludes with advice on handling darker tones with a single needle, suggesting a poking and scribbling motion to achieve depth without going too deep, and a commitment to answer more questions in future videos.

Keywords

💡Tattooing

Tattooing is the process of inserting ink into the skin to create a permanent design or image. In the video, the artist discusses various aspects of tattooing, including needle depth and skin penetration, which are crucial for a successful tattoo. The theme revolves around the technical details of tattooing, particularly with a focus on single-needle techniques.

💡Needle Depth

Needle depth refers to how deep the tattoo needle penetrates the skin. The video emphasizes the importance of appropriate needle depth to avoid damaging the skin or causing the tattoo to fade. The artist explains that the traditional one to two millimeters depth is not suitable for single-needle tattooing and suggests a range of 0.5 to 1.2 millimeters instead.

💡Single Needle

A single needle is a tattooing tool with one individual needle point, as opposed to a grouping of needles. The video discusses the differences in skin penetration between single and multiple needles, noting that single needles penetrate more easily and therefore require a shallower depth to avoid over-penetration.

💡Skin Penetration

Skin penetration is the act of the tattoo needle entering the skin to deposit ink. The artist uses the analogy of a magician and a bed of needles to illustrate how single needles, unlike multiple needles, can cause more damage if not used with the correct depth, as they do not distribute weight and can 'stab' the skin more easily.

💡Light Gray

Light gray in tattooing refers to the lighter shades used to create gradients or subtle tones in a tattoo design. The video script mentions concerns about the light gray fading if not inserted deeply enough, which leads to a discussion about the appropriate needle depth for different tones in a tattoo.

💡Machine Type

Machine type refers to the different types of tattoo machines that can be used for tattooing. The artist mentions that the machine type is one of the variables to consider when determining the appropriate needle depth for tattooing, as it can affect how the needle penetrates the skin.

💡Voltage

Voltage is the electric potential difference in a tattoo machine that powers the needle movement. In the context of the video, voltage is mentioned as a factor that can influence the depth of needle penetration and thus needs to be considered when tattooing.

💡10 Gauge

10 Gauge refers to the thickness of the needle used in tattooing, with a lower number indicating a thinner needle. The artist contrasts the 10 gauge with the 12 gauge needle they use, explaining that the 12 gauge is fatter at the base, which is better for ink flow and insertion.

💡Stretching the Skin

Stretching the skin is a technique used by tattoo artists to tighten the skin before tattooing, which reduces tension and allows for more accurate ink placement. The video emphasizes the importance of this technique in conjunction with single-needle tattooing to prevent over-penetration.

💡Mid-Tones

Mid-tones in tattooing are the medium shades between light and dark within a design. The artist discusses the appropriate needle depth for mid-tones, which falls within the 0.5 to 1.2 millimeters range, as it provides a balance between not going too shallow or too deep.

💡Darker Darks

Darker darks refer to the deepest, most intense shades in a tattoo. The video explains that for these shades, the artist might push the depth to 1.2 millimeters with a single needle, but also uses a poking scribbling motion to achieve the darkest effects without causing skin damage.

Highlights

The video discusses the depth of needle penetration in tattooing, emphasizing the difference between single and multiple needle groupings.

Traditional tattooing depth is generally between one to two millimeters, but this is not suitable for single needle work.

Single needle penetration is easier due to less skin resistance, so a deeper penetration can damage the skin.

The recommended depth for single needle tattooing is between 0.5 to 1.2 millimeters.

A visual demonstration is provided using a ruler to compare the depth of 1.2 millimeters to a single needle.

The artist uses a 12-gauge needle for better ink flow and insertion, which is thicker at the base.

Skin stretching is an important technique to reduce tension and allow for more accurate tattooing.

Over-penetrating with a single needle can lead to skin damage and cutting, which is not recommended.

The artist shares personal experience and portfolio to support the recommended needle depth range.

Long-term tattoo healing is discussed, with the notion that if the tattoo stays after initial healing, it will remain over time.

Different tones in tattooing require different depths; mid-tones fall within the 0.5 to 1.2 millimeters range.

For the darkest parts of a tattoo, the artist uses a poking scribbling motion with a single needle to avoid skin damage.

The artist emphasizes the importance of not going lighter than 0.5 millimeters to avoid the risk of fading.

The video promises to be shorter and more focused on specific questions in future episodes.

The artist appreciates the audience's questions and plans to answer more in upcoming videos.

The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to check the artist's Instagram for a portfolio of single needle tattoo work.

Transcripts

hi welcome back to my informational

tattoo videos um let me do something a

little different for this video compared

to

the other ones um i'm gonna try to make

these videos about one specific topic

versus how i normally do it where i have

all these specific topics jam-packed

into one

video

with one overarching subject that

relates to all these little bits

so

let's begin um ink orchestra asks

i was wondering i look

in a lot of review that the needle have

to go in between one and two millimeters

but in the video it looks like you don't

go into that

deepness particularly for the light gray

so when you brush the skin you don't go

as deep for the grade

here basically asking will it not fade

and also asks what are the different

depths that i use when i tattoo this

kind of piece so what are the you know

he asked about the light gray

uh but also asks you know how i do for

the other tones including the darker

gray so

regarding the one millimeter to two

millimeter range that's basically

the long time standard depth that you're

supposed to go to

uh i know you're supposed to consider a

machine type um you know needle gauge uh

voltage and all that

again this is a general range you should

consider all those variables but know

that it will affect the range and don't

just take it as you know uh as just that

so one to two millimeters does that work

for single needle does that work for

what i'm doing in these videos

no the answer is no it does work for

traditional you know uh normal tattooing

which is the larger needle groupings

but because single needle skin

penetration is different than multiple

needles

recall back to when i made a video about

and i use the analogy with the magician

and the bed of needles if it's a bed of

needles a magician sleeps on it it's

fine because the weight is distributed

and he won't get

stabbed but if he laid on one needle it

will go straight through him

this applies to single needle as well so

when you penetrate the skin it goes in a

lot easier

so going two millimeters right

um

it's a little too it's it's too deep

to be doing that with single needle

but why does two millimeter work for

multiple needle groupings is because it

also accounts for

the um the bounce back of the skin

resisting the multiple needles so that's

why you gotta go a little deeper so the

many needles can penetrate

the

skin so

what would i say for single needle then

0.5 millimeters to to 1.2 millimeters

so that's the number i would use for

single needle

okay so here is a ruler

you can see two millimeters right there

past the 15.

and if we compare

or if we

see

on the

single needle cartridge here two

millimeters is about

about this one

this is pretty long for me to go

deep into the skin with

this is about 1.2 right here

so yeah

okay so that's about 1.2 right there if

you can see me pulling it out see how

deep it went

yeah i hope you saw that so

for me

that's already pretty deep

for what i do when i tattoo so and plus

this is a

remember this is a

10 gauge so this is a very

slim needle what i use is i use a 12

gauge so it's a little fatter on the

base

because uh it's better for ink flow and

ink

insertion

so this is actually much easier to slide

in but if you can imagine i'm using a 12

gauge

going that deep that's only 1.2 if we

were to go a full two millimeter in

that's way too deep and you're likely

gonna blow out considering

you know um

this is a single needle so also to note

that

when you're tattooing you're typically

stretching the skin

and then tattooing and you should be

doing that constantly as a tattoo artist

so this reduces the skin tension and you

can tattoo properly and more accurately

so consider the penetration of the

single needle

and the reduced skin tension while

stretching

then you will know that

going too deep will easily blow out when

you're using a single needle

damaging the skin

cutting the skin

you know

so that's why

i recommend a much

lower

depth range than the traditional one to

two millimeters two millimeters as you

saw it was just it was just too deep so

imagine stretching

using a single needle

and then going two millimeters you go

ahead and you try it and you'll

you know you're going to regret it so

and

this is just a this is just my

thinking of what the range should be i

don't have there's not a lot of single

needle

tattoo artists out there that are that

experienced like i am that i can bounce

back these you know uh ideas with and

then we can all get together and

standardize something no

this the whole fine line thing is new

and especially in fine lines single

needle is even more uncommon so

i'm basically

alone here right in in making these

claims right

but

i have a lot of experience on my side

and i have

um you know um

my heel portfolio to back me so if you

go to my instagram and look at my heel

portfolio i've been doing this this

range my my 0.5 to 1.2 range for years

now and if you look through all my heel

photos you can see that they've healed

then you might ask what about long term

like 10 years later down the line of

course of course that's going to affect

healing just like the effects for

traditional

but the rule of thumb here is that

as long as the tattoo heals

initially

if it goes away it goes away forever but

if it stays it's going to stay and do

its

you know

healing over time so of course it's

going to stay fresh

first month

years years years later down the line

it's going to fade like all tattoos will

fade single needle traditional bold

everything will heal the same it's just

that these little

ink pixels are much less with single

needle

so

yeah so so keep all that in mind and

so what what about the other

other tones like the mid tones and the

darker tones

so

mid-tones of course is within the 0.5 to

1.2 that's all in the middle that's the

easiest because you're not worrying

about going too shallow or too deep but

for the darker darks

if i'm using a single needle

1.2

is the darkest is the deepest i'll go

i'll push it a little bit

to get even darker maybe but i'm worried

more about blowing out and skin uh

damage at that point

and if i were to go even lighter

than 0.5 i'm pushing the lighter

gray rendering but i'm also considering

that oh it might fade

so what okay so back to the point

the darkest darks if you look at my

videos

skip to the parts where i'm rendering

the really dark parts you'll notice that

i

do a

poking scribbling motion to get the ink

in

i adopted that technique because i'm too

lazy to change to a three round liner or

maybe a seven mag to pack in the black

because i just like sticking to one

thing and then if i

i don't know i feel like it's a more

consistent texture anyways

um so that's what i would do for the

darker darks

um

that should answer the question these

videos are going to be shorter and

more to the point so

for my next video i'll answer a

different question

um

yeah you guys been sending me

such amazing questions

that really gets my brain thinking about

what i've gathered for the past years

and years and years of tattooing

especially single needle so i'm going to

answer another one

soon