Handpoke vs Machine

Tattooing is an art form that has existed for millennia in different cultures

Tattooing is an art form that has existed for millennia in different cultures, with an immense amount of meanings and techniques that vary by country and by era. In recent years, we have seen a transformation in how the public perceives tattoos, leaving behind the prejudices of the 20th century and making way for a new, more appreciative look towards this type of art. This cultural change is due in part to the new styles and techniques that have emerged and gained a lot of popularity in recent years, such as fine line and micro-realism, which in turn have been accompanied by a huge technological advance, with the introduction of new machines and products specially made for this new era of tattooing.
A tattoo technique that has been gaining popularity in recent years is the handpoke or stick-and-poke technique; tattooing "by hand", without a machine, only with the needle attached to some type of support that is comfortable for the artist.

How does the handpoke technique compare to a tattoo with a machine?

First, it is important to note that a handpoke tattoo is still a tattoo. It is as permanent as a machine tattoo, uses the same materials, and like any other tattoo requires care to stay in good condition. The main difference is that the artist is the one who injects the ink dot by dot into the skin manually, without the use of the machine and power supply that make the mechanical movement of the needle.

This means that the process will take longer. For this reason, if you want to get a handpoke tattoo, it’s recommended that you choose a small design without too much solid filling. Large tattoos or tattoos with full coloring can be done with this technique, but the time it will take will be considerably longer than with a machine. Another point to consider before deciding which technique you prefer is how machine made versus handpoked tattoos look. Generally, by the very nature of the technique, handpoke tattoos have a more organic and "dotted" look than a machine tattoo.

For example, for small and very detailed designs such as micro-realism, it is advisable to do it with a machine instead of handpoke. This is not to say that handpoked tattoos are messy, it is simply a different technique and therefore produces different results. And of course, it is not a fixed rule! The final result also depends on the personal style and level of experience of the artist.

Benefits of the handpoke technique.

Despite the fact that handpoke tattoos require more time and patience, this technique continues to gain more and more popularity due to the number of benefits it has.

• Treatment of the skin

The first thing to mention is undoubtedly how gentle this technique is for the skin. As it is a manual job, there is not that “hammering” of the needle characteristic of machine work, so the skin is much less damaged. This usually also creates a softer sensation, although the level of pain that each person feels is something individual and does not depend solely on the technique used.

• Cicatrization

Because the handpoke technique is gentler on the skin, the healing process is typically faster than a machine tattoo. The colors also tend to heal more vibrantly!

• The experience

The reason why many prefer this technique, both tattoo artists and clients, is because of the type of experience that is created when doing a job in handpoke. The relationship between the artist and the skin can feel closer than with the machine, since the contact is direct. Many people enjoy this feeling of working so close to the skin.

• Irregular placement

One benefit of handpoked tattoos is that it works nicely for mini tattoos on areas like the ears and fingers. This is because with this technique, the artist has more control over the force he uses and the depth of the needle.

However, it is important to note that tattoos in areas such as fingers, palms, and feet tend to wear out faster and can get completely erased because the skin in those areas is different from the rest of the body, and the constant friction of clothes, handwashing, etc. makes it wear out faster.

CUCU Studio © All right's reserved

To sum up…

No technique is superior to another, it all comes down to personal preference! If you are not sure which technique you should use for certain tattoos, you can always consult with your artist for a professional opinion.

Have you got a handpoke tattoo? How was your experience? Do you prefer it to machine tattoos?
Tell us about your experience!

Handpoke vs Machine

Tattooing is an art form that has existed for millennia in different cultures

Tattooing is an art form that has existed for millennia in different cultures, with an immense amount
of meanings and techniques that vary by country and by era. In recent years, we have seen a transformation in how the public perceives tattoos, leaving behind the prejudices of the 20th century and making way for a new, more appreciative look towards this type of art. This cultural change
is due in part to the new styles and techniques that have emerged and gained a lot of popularity
in recent years, such as fine line and micro-realism, which in turn have been accompanied by a huge technological advance, with the introduction of new machines and products specially made for this new era of tattooing. A tattoo technique that has been gaining popularity in recent years is the handpoke or stick-and-poke technique; tattooing "by hand", without a machine, only with the needle attached to some type of support that is comfortable for the artist.

How does the handpoke technique compare to a tattoo with a machine?

First, it is important to note that a handpoke tattoo is still a tattoo. It is as permanent as a machine tattoo, uses the same materials, and like any other tattoo requires care to stay in good condition. The main difference is that the artist is the one who injects the ink dot by dot into the skin manually, without the use of the machine and power supply that make the mechanical movement of the needle.

This means that the process will take longer. For this reason, if you want to get a handpoke tattoo, it’s recommended that you choose a small design without too much solid filling. Large tattoos or tattoos with full coloring can be done with this technique, but the time it will take will be considerably longer than with a machine. Another point to consider before deciding which technique you prefer is how machine made versus handpoked tattoos look. Generally, by the very nature of the technique, handpoke tattoos have a more organic and "dotted" look than a machine tattoo.

For example, for small and very detailed designs such as micro-realism, it is advisable to do it with a machine instead of handpoke. This is not to say that handpoked tattoos are messy, it is simply a different technique and therefore produces different results. And of course, it is not a fixed rule! The final result also depends on the personal style and level of experience of the artist.

To sum up…

Despite the fact that handpoke tattoos require more time and patience, this technique continues to gain more and more popularity due to the number of benefits it has.

• Treatment of the skin

The first thing to mention is undoubtedly how gentle this technique is for the skin. As it is a manual job, there is not that “hammering” of the needle characteristic of machine work, so the skin is much less damaged. This usually also creates a softer sensation, although the level of pain that each person feels is something individual and does not depend solely on the technique used.

• Cicatrization

Because the handpoke technique is gentler on the skin, the healing process is usually faster than a machine tattoo. The colors also tend to heal more vibrantly!

• The experience

The reason why many prefer this technique, both tattoo artists and clients, is because of the type of experience that is created when doing a job in handpoke. The relationship between the artist and the skin can feel closer than with the machine, since the contact is direct. Many people enjoy this feeling of working so close to the skin.

• Irregular placement

One benefit of handpoked tattoos is that it works nicely for mini tattoos on areas like the ears and fingers. This is because with this technique the artist has more control over the force he uses and the depth of the needle.

However, it is important to note that tattoos in areas such as fingers, palms, and feet tend to wear out faster and can get completely erased because the skin in those areas is different from the rest of the body, and the constant friction of clothes, hand washing, etc. makes it wear out faster.

CUCU Studio © All right's reserved

Benefits of the handpoke technique.

No technique is superior to another, it all comes down to personal preference! If you are not sure which technique you should use for certain tattoos, you can always consult with your artist for a professional opinion.

Have you got a handpoke tattoo? How was your experience? Do you prefer it to machine tattoos?
Tell us about your experience!