What is handpoke tattoo/ stick and poke?

Handpoke or stick and poke tattoos are created without the use of a machine. I handpoke using professional grade sterile tattoo needles and ink.

There are many different variations of administering tattoos without a machine that have been in practice for thousands of years by indigenous cultures throughout the world. There are cultures that use tapping techniques, stitching, cutting, shoveling, etc.

I simply hold a tattoo needle in my hand to gently prick/push tattoo pigment into the dermis layer of the skin overlapping dots to create lines and shading.

HOW LONG DO Stick and poke / HANDPOKE Tattoos last? Do handpoke tattoos fade?

With proper administration and aftercare handpoked tattoos should last a lifetime and possess the same permanence as machine-made tattoos.

Making sure you are hydrated, keeping your tattoo clean and out of the sun, avoid soaking in any body of water during the healing process and moisturizing as needed can be crucial for the proper healing and longevity of your tattoo.

How is Stick and poke / Handpoke different than machine?

I would say the biggest, most obvious difference is time. My hand simply cannot move at the pace of a machine. Time can vary greatly based on boldness, size, intricacies, and placement of the design. I like to think that you trade poking time for healing time. I feel another significant difference with handpokes is that they tend to heal faster and with more ease than a machine tattoo.

Is handpoke painful?

I believe pain is relative, but the sensation of handpoke is like a gentle pricking compared to the common “cat scratch on a sunburn” that a lot of folks experience with a machine. Some say parts of the body that do not see much sun can be more sensitive regardless of method. In the end, I am still pokin with a needle into the dermis of the skin so some pain is inevitable.

what are your rates?

My rate is currently $150/hr ($150 minimum) for flash and $200/hr (minimum) for custom designs.