How to Load a Tattoo Needle

So, you bought your tattoo gear, got it all set up, and then realized that you have no idea how to load the tattoo needle onto the gun. It happens. Some people have pretty absurd ideas about how tattoo guns work, and some think that you don’t need to load a needle at all, that the gun has them built in. Not so. Here are the steps to take to load a tattoo needle onto a tattoo gun.

Things You'll Need

• Tattoo needle
• Tattoo machine
• Small screwdriver

Instructions

1. Decide what kind of needle you need. Before you load the needle, consider what kind of needle you need to use in the machine. There are several types of needles that can be used for several different jobs. For example, you would want to use a shader needle with multiple heads to cover a large area of the tattoo. If you need to do a thin strip or line on the tattoo, you will only need to use a liner single head needle.

2. Locate the needle fastening area on the tattoo machine. This will have a little metal screw on the top middle of the machine. This is where you will be loading the needle.

3. Place the base of the tattoo needle with the metal hoop around the adjustment screw on the top of the tattoo machine.

4. Tighten the fastening screw on top of the tattoo needle with a small screwdriver. Make sure the adjustment screw is tight. You don’t want to start tattooing, and make a mistake due to a loose needle.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use sterile needles. If you don’t have an autoclave to sterilize them yourself, then only buy needles that come wrapped in plastic so that you can know for sure they are sterile.