Have you heard about this? The reasons why someone may decide to self-tattoo are many.

One is linked to experimenting and learning, wearing one's designs on the skin.

But, it is necessary to clear up some doubts on the subject, such as whether self-tattoos are recommended or not and if they can have consequences.

We have decided to clarify some doubts and central points in this type of tattoo. Let’s see.

Why choose a self-tattoo?

Some tattooists may think that self-tattooing is an excellent idea to practice on their skin and not on others.

But this is only partially recommended, especially for beginners who are most likely to want tattoos.

However, experienced tattoo artists believe that self-tattooing is possible if you have the necessary knowledge. In this, we can see conflicting opinions.

Some say that one of its “benefits” is that you can feel the needle and the puncture, and thanks to this, you can measure its depth, literally in your own flesh.

Or that, for example, you can see precisely how day-to-day healing is.

And thus, you can experience the evolution of the healing process. When you tattoo other people, you miss this transformation.

But you can also see this if you go to a professional to get tattooed. Therefore, it is not the best reason to choose self-tattooing.

The real cons

Not everything is rosy. Many experienced tattoo artists warn that self-tattooing is a trap, especially for beginners. Let's analyze why.

1- Field of vision may be compromised.

Depending on the tattooed area, you will lose part of the field of vision that you would have if it were someone else's body. This aspect will limit the movements, and you’ll have to get used to working with this reduced vision.

No matter how much you use super-even and powerful lighting, some annoying shadows will appear at some point.

2- Pain can work against you.

Although we indicated above, that feeling the pain of the needle itself can have its benefits, it can also have its cons. You probably don’t want to raise your hand and interrupt the stroke out of pain.

If it were someone else tattooing you, you likely wouldn't hesitate to make the passes with the machine. However, when it comes to yourself, the relationship between skin sensitivity and pain is drastically different, which makes it a unique experience.

3- Anxiety.

Whether due to fatigue, not tolerating the puncture, or for many other reasons, the anxiety of willing to finish quickly can play against you.

As mentioned on several occasions, accelerating the process never works. Especially when it comes to self-tattoos. Here, time is slower and may take you much longer than usual. For this reason, you have to be patient.

4- Not being able to properly stretch the skin.

For example, if you tattoo one of your arms, you will lose the possibility of tightening the skin well because you will only have one hand. Therefore, if you have a lot of experience, our advice is not to auto-tattoo your arms.

As a result, you may make the mistake of going over the same place repeatedly to make a line look good.

You’ll make a more significant and more severe wound, and the ink for passing over it several times and the ink won’t necessarily be correctly applied, it doesn't work that way.

Tips and recommendations

Before choosing a self-tattoo, consider the mentioned considerations. You need to make a conscious decision and contact specialized colleagues.

Let's clarify the central aspects: Do not choose a self-tattoo unless you are an experienced tattoo artist.

Why do we say this? Because you can easily lose control of your machine and make the tattoo look terrible. In addition, you can get injured.

This is why self-tattoos are not recommended for beginners.

Besides, never neglect asepsis and hygiene.

A common mistake is to believe that in self-tattooing, you can avoid specific requirements and skip some fundamental safety issues. Big mistake!

In the same way, you should take care of your client's hygiene. You should do it when tattooing yourself to avoid cross-contamination and infections. You must use gloves, disinfectants and plastic wrap on everything you use to tattoo yourself.

And finally, practice a lot on synthetic skin.

We won’t get tired of saying it. Before making any tattoo, you must practice on other surfaces, not once, but a thousand times. This way, you will master all the elements, not only the technique.

If you want to know more about them, we invite you to read the article Synthetic skins for tattooing.

So now, consider all these factors if you are thinking about self-tattooing. Drop us a comment if you have questions, and share this article!