While most of us are more familiar with the modern tattoo machines that dominate the industry, not so long ago the only way to get ink under the skin was with a stick and poke tattoo. In recent years, this oldest of old school approaches has seen a resurgence, as celebrities and tattoo enthusiasts have chosen the painstaking process for their latest bit of ink.
Along with this stick and poke revival, people are choosing to tattoo more visible parts of their body like the hands, fingers, and neck, but that doesn’t mean that stick and poke pieces can’t go in more traditional locations. In fact, the understated style of this approach makes it equally appealing on the forearm, wrist, or shoulder as it is on the hands and fingers.
Providing a cross-section of styles and designs, this collection of tattoo ideas will give you a good sense of what is possible with this revitalized ancient method.
1. Aesthetic Stick and Poke Tattoo
While homemade designs that are reminiscent of prison ink may be the first thing that comes to mind, it doesn’t mean that ink applied this way can’t be visually appealing. In fact, aesthetic stick and poke tattoos that utilize clean lines and balanced composition are becoming increasingly popular as talented artists turn their attention to this ancient approach.
2. Minimalist Stick and Poke Tattoo
A “less is more” approach to design is perfectly suited for this labor-intensive approach to permanent body art. Just a few, well-placed lines can be used to create minimalist stick and poke tattoos that can hold up next to more complex, machine-applied designs.
3. Simple Stick and Poke Tattoo
While complex designs most certainly can be applied using a stick and poke method — check out traditional Japanese tebori — simple stick and poke tattoos are by far the most popular designs for this time-consuming approach to ink.
4. Stick and Poke Tree Tattoo
Trees are powerful symbols that can hold a variety of different meanings for different people, however, life, family, and tradition are common themes for these designs inspired by nature. When applied in this old-school style, stick and poke tree tattoos make up for the simplicity of style with deep symbolic meaning.
5. Edgy Stick and Poke Tattoo
Part of the modern resurgence of this ancient method comes from folks sitting at home, bored and giving themselves tattoos of some unique and wild art. These edgy stick and poke tattoos have become popular among the latest generation of streetwear-inspired trend makers and 21st-century punks reviving the DIY aesthetic.
6. Stick and Poke Butterfly Tattoo
While the bright colors and complex patterns found on butterflies might not be the most obvious choice for a tattoo approach characterized by monochrome simplicity, stick and poke butterfly tattoos can be surprisingly successful in the hands of a talented artist.
7. Stick and Poke Flash Tattoo
Harkening back to the simple designs that form the foundation of American traditional tattoos, stick and poke flash tattoos often draw on the same live-fast-die-young themes of death and glory that have made modern tattoo culture what it is today.
8. Meaningful Stick and Poke Tattoo
At the end of the day, tattoos are as much about the meaning behind the ink as they are about the design itself. Whether the name of a loved one or a simple memento mori skull, meaningful stick and poke tattoos come in all shapes and sizes.
9. Funny Stick and Poke Tattoo
Part of the appeal of stick and poke tattoos is the DIY aspect of the process that means anyone can give themselves a bit of ink without coughing serious dough to go get inked in a proper shop. Because of this, folks often let their sense of humor show in their designs, making funny stick and poke tattoos increasingly popular.
10. Tiny Stick and Poke Tattoo
Unlike tattoos applied with a machine, the process of injecting ink beneath the skin by hand takes hours, even for small designs. This makes tiny stick and poke tattoos a great choice for someone that wants a little bit of ink but doesn’t want to sit around all day getting pricked.
11. Japanese Stick and Poke Tattoo
Modern Japanese tattoo artists are more likely to use a machine than the old-school hand-poked process known as tebori, although there are still some masters in Japan that specialize in this ancient art form. Capable of creating jaw-dropping scenes straight out of mythology and folklore, stick and poke Japanese tattoos are by far the most extreme and complex examples of this old school method.
12. Big Stick and Poke Tattoo
Everything is relative and when it comes to big stick and poke tattoos, we’re talking about size. Barring the work of Japanese masters, you aren’t likely to see a full back piece applied by stick and poke, meaning a large tattoo is usually a design about 4’x4’.
13. Handstick and poke tattoo
The simplified designs of stick and poke tattoos are a result of the labor-intensive process of pushing ink under the skin by hand. However, when applied to smaller canvases, handstick and poke tattoos can be surprisingly appealing.
14. Stick and Poke Finger Tattoo
As work applied to the hands demonstrates, when it comes to hand poked work, smaller canvases are particularly suitable. This means stick and poke finger tattoos — particularly simple, geometric designs — a great choice for anyone that wants a flash of ink below the sleeve.
15. Arm Stick and poke Tattoo
One way that some folks get around the difficulty of producing large hand-poked designs is to go for quantity. By applying loads of small tattoo designs, unique hand-poked sleeves can be created, making arm stick and poke tattoos some of the eye-catching placements for these collage-like compositions.
16. Thigh Stick and Poke Tattoo
The thigh is another big canvas and in the world of DIY hand-poked ink. When seated, the thigh makes the perfect canvas for self-application and is often where aspiring stick and poke artists hone their craft before inking other people.
17. Foot Stick and Poke Tattoo
The feet are a popular placement for simple designs, thanks to the small size of the canvas of several smooth surfaces to choose from. Whether on the top of the foot or on the side, just before the ankle, foot stick and poke tattoos are a good choice for a small design.
18. Shoulder Stick and Poke Tattoo
The shoulder has been a popular placement for tattoos for decades and the appeal of this location is just as strong for hand-poked designs as any other style. For anyone looking to recreate the understated austerity of jailhouse ink, shoulder stick and poke tattoos are a perfect choice.
19. Neck Stick and Poke Tattoo
For those folks that aren’t shy about showing off their ink, the neck continues to be a popular choice. As this placement becomes less taboo, more and more people understand the appeal of neck stick and poke tattoos and the rough-around aesthetics of this old-school style.
20. Back Stick and Poke Tattoo
With traditional Japanese designs showing that there are endless possibilities with back tattoos, it’s unsurprising that this placement remains popular for other ancient methods. However, any number of different styles and approaches can be used to create a unique hand-poked design on the body’s largest canvas.
Stick and Poke FAQ:
What is a stick and poke tattoo?
As opposed to most modern tattoos applied using an electric machine, stick and poke tattoos use a simple tool to push ink under the skin, one poke at a time. With roots that go back to the origins of permanent body art, this approach has seen a revival in recent years.
How to do a stick and poke tattoo
The tool can be as simple as a pencil with a sewing needle attached or as ornate as the sashibos used by Japanese masters, but the process is pretty much the same. The needle is dipped in ink and then used to puncture the skin to create the desired shape and design.
What’s in a stick and poke tattoo kit?
There are a variety of stick and poke tattoo kits available these days, but most will come with a set of needles, some sort of stylus to attach the needle — sometimes as simple as a popsicle stick — ink, antiseptic, rubber gloves, and a shaving kit.
Can I get an infection from a stick and poke tattoo?
All tattoos are essentially wounds that are then impregnated with ink, so yes, any tattoo can get infected. However, stick and poke tattoos are often more likely to get infected because of the lack of sanitation and cleanliness compared to professional tattoo shops. However, extra steps to clean the skin and the space can be taken to lessen the chance of infection.
How long does a stick and poke tattoo last?
If properly applied, stick and poke tattoos will last a lifetime. However, given the DIY nature of many of these designs and the lack of experience of the artists applying them, stick and poke tattoos often fade after several years.
How to get rid of a stick and poke tattoo
If a stick and poke tattoo is properly applied, it will need to be properly removed just like a machine applied tattoo. This means that so-called fading creams or any other bogus treatment won’t work, making laser removal the only true way to get rid of a stick and poke tattoo.
