The Tattoo Shop

Every tattooist knows how important it is to have the best possible inks at their disposal. Not only will a quality tattoo ink provide vibrant, long-lasting results but they will also be much easier to use.

Here at the Tattoo Shop, we now have in stock a range of tattoo inks from two leading names, Kuro Sumi and Millennium. Both of these companies are known for providing quality inks and are used by professionals the world over.

Kuro Sumi, who is already well known for their outlining and shading inks, now produce a range of different colours. The tattoo inks from this Japanese manufacturer are vibrant and produce a good consistency, important for tattooing.

Millennium inks from MOMs have an extremely high pigment content. This ensures that the colours are bright and are easy to use due to an increased rate of flow. Millennium tattoo inks are available in a whole range of colours too.

Even better, both Kuro Sumi and Millennium inks can be purchased in boxed sets giving you amazing savings on purchasing individually.

Why not check out the full range of tattoo inks at the Tattoo Shop.

Back in June, we talked about how tattoos are gaining acceptance in everyday life, and how important it is to choose the right design. Today, I would like to expand upon this idea a little bit and talk more about tattoo design choice.

For many, getting a tattoo is an exciting time, but it is very easy to get fixated on a specific idea or tattoo design. It is important however, not to become blinkered. Therefore, always take the time to assess whether your chosen design is something you will be able to live with for the rest of your life.

To help anyone thinking about tattoo designs, here are our top five tips on choosing a tattoo that will stand the test of time:

1.Find a design that has a personal meaning

Choosing a tattoo design that has personal significance means there will be a much greater chance of you still being happy with it twenty years from now. Be careful when choosing a tattoo that incorporates a name. If there is a chance that a breakdown in relationship may occur then it is perhaps best to avoid these kinds of tattoos.

2.Find a traditional or timeless design

When looking at tattoo designs, it may be better to consider an idea that is less likely to date. There are many traditional styles and designs that are timeless. Choosing a traditional tattoo design will help ensure that, as you grow older, your tattoo will not look out of place.

3. Don’t follow trends

Due to the growing popularity of tattoos, there has been a shift in certain aspects of tattoo culture. Currently, stars, Sanskrit, and ambigrams, are amongst some of the “cool” tattoo designs, but who knows what next year will bring? Tattoos that are “in vogue” are not necessarily bad, but I would give a lot of thought to make sure you will not tire of them when trends move on. Always choose a tattoo because it is something you really want, not because it’s in fashion.

4. Research, Research, Research

I can’t stress this one enough. The more time and energy you can put into the choosing process the better as far as I’m concerned. Even if you have a design in mind, do some extra research to see all the different ways that particular subject can be portrayed. For instance, you may have decided that you want to invest in a dragon tattoo but what kind of dragon? The fact that there are so many options available means that the research process is invaluable.

5.Talk to a tattooist

Spend some time discussing your ideas with the tattoo artist that is going to carry out the work on your body. It is becoming more normal these days for artists to provide bespoke or customised designs whereas in the past, people would have been more likely to choose a stock design.

Although these tips may all seem like common sense, bearing them in mind may save you from wanting to undergo laser removal treatment or tattoo cover up at a later date. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to check out our design gallery, and featured artists sections for tattoo design inspiration. Finally, for those of you that already have tattoos, why not send us pictures of your tattoo designs.

We all know how hard it can be when first stepping out on the road to tattooing. In the beginning, we are filled with uncertainty and doubt as to whether we are doing it correctly. For some, there may be a mentor figure, experienced in the art that can help. But what do you do if such a mentor does not exist? Well, The Tattoo Shop may have the answer.

In order to help tattooists of all abilities, there is now a range of tattoo books and resources available to buy, that make it much easier to hone your skills and give you something to refer to when inspiration is needed.

For instance, take a look at the tattoo book page and you are presented with a range of books that cover different areas of the genre. Tattoo flash books, guides on the art itself and everything in-between can all be found here.

You might be asking yourself, why do I need all of this material? The answer of course is that you might not. However, isn’t it nice to know that should you need to find a book on a specific area of tattooing, you know exactly where to look. The Tattoo Shops aim is to provide an information resource for anyone who needs it and more importantly, at affordable prices.

The list of titles is constantly being updated so remember to keep checking back. After all, you never know, there might be a tattoo book that you just can’t wait to get your hands on.

We have just got our hands on the latest tattoo book from the USA that is designed to help give any budding tattooist wanting to start their apprenticeship a helping hand. Titled, ‘Basic Fundamentals of Modern Tattoo’ this book makes no claims about turning you into a professional tattoo artist in only a few weeks; instead, its aim is to teach you the core skills needed and real world useful information regarding the subject.

So what can you expect to find within this book? Well, you can learn the anatomy of your tattoo machine, how to use and tune it properly as well as which needles are best. It will also guide you through the processes of sterilisation in order to keep your equipment totally clean and show you what resources are needed for everyday tattooing.

As an added bonus, purchasing this tattoo book will give you access to the author’s website, which offers an interactive service specifically designed to offer more help and guidance as you progress through your apprenticeship. Plus, the websites knowledgebase is expanding continually keeping you up to date with current tattooing techniques.

The book is available to buy now in our online shop and we are lucky enough to be the sole UK distributer. Quite simply, this tattoo book is the perfect addition to any tattoo apprentices kit. Order it today and give yourself access to the wealth of information available.

The continued acceptance of tattoos over the last few years has led to an explosion in their popularity and an increase in the number of people now feeling like they too can express their individuality or have a personal reminder by choosing their perfect tattoo design.

People from all walks of life are now taking the plunge as many of the stigmas that have surrounded tattooing for many years are now becoming less apparent. Whereas once over, tattoos were frowned upon in many circles, nowadays they have become a commonplace sight in our communities. Everyone from young people to older generations have all found the freedom that can be experienced with a new tattoo.

Whether it is a simple design or a large piece, you are likely to spot someone who has had work done, pretty much wherever you go as more people are indulging and feel comfortable showing their artwork to the world.

The important thing to remember is that although tattoos can be removed, it is better to think about the tattoo process as permanent since removal can be a lengthy, expensive process. Choose a tattoo design that you are not going to get bored of and be sure that it is something that you love or means a lot to you since it will be with you for the rest of your life.

Nevertheless, getting a new tattoo can be a thrilling time and for me personally, something that I actively look forward too. I actually spend quite a lot of my free time looking at tattoo designs and I have even spoken to many people who wished they had their own tattoo equipment so that they could indulge in the art themselves.

Tattooing is an art form that needs to be taken seriously and buying your own tattoo machine is not something to be taken lightly. That being said, adorning your body with a new tattoo design can be a wonderful experience or even a time of remembrance depending on the reasoning behind it.

For some, tattoos have personal meanings behind them to remember something that is important or pertinent. For others, they are just an outlet to express themselves or their love of this amazing art form.

Have you ever wished for ONE HOW TO TATTOO BIBLE that takes you from learning how to tattoo all the way to owning your own successful shop…and all the details and secrets in between?

Well…your wait is now over!

The Ultimate Tattoo Bible - Click here to order

Dear Budding Tattoo Artist:

As you may know or not know, The Ultimate Tattoo Guide and all of it’s companion guides have been considered some of the best references learning the art of tattooing online. Not only do you learn all the FUNDAMENTALS, you also learn all the TIPS, TRICKS, and SECRETS of what will make you a quality tattoo artist.

One guide that shows you how to go from being a tattoo “rookie” to a pro, complete with not only HOW to start your own lucrative tattoo business…but the secrets behind it!

After much demand and many requests from fellow tattoo artists who have loved all the guides in The Ultimate Tattoo Guide Series, I’ve decided to put ALL of the guides into ONE MASSIVE GUIDE.

That’s right…FIVE SOLID HOW TO TATTOO GUIDESIN ONE TATTOO BIBLE!

All the information you need from EVERY ASPECT OF TATTOOING IS HERE…

• The complete “how to” tattoo process regarding placement, using your tattoo machine, depth, colors, needles, etc.!
• Everything about your tattoo machine and the different types!
• How to do the RIGHT type of transfer and all the tips and tricks behind making it flawless! Even how to MAKE stencils!
• Needles 101: Which ones to use and when!
• Inks, color theory, proper mixing, and more!
• The best ways to practice tattooing for the best results!
• Black and grey shading complete with “how to” photo’s!
• Tip after tip on the best methods of tattooing (nearly 100 tips total!)
• The secrets on how to make your OWN tattoo business succeed!
• A complete tattoo business plan to get you up and running!
• Discover what types of inks and machines the PROS use!
• Everything you need to know about tattoo safety and sterilization!
• The tricks to perfect outlines and making sure your tattoos don’t fade!
• Learn the different TYPES of shading and how to do it (Illustrated)!
• Find out the best supply houses and even where you can get online certification and courses on in-depth tattooing!
• CRITICAL mistakes you want to avoid when tattooing…I will show you how to avoid them!
• A complete list of all the items you will need to have in your own tatto shop!

All the above info PLUS TONS MORE INFORMATION!

This is only a TINY FRACTION of the information found in
this massive tattoo bible!

A One-Time, Very Limited Price of $89!

Fresh from the USA, we are now stocking Stable Inks.

Stable inks have been specially developed for the highest quality and workability. From eye catching solid fields, to subtle muted tones and delicate pastel hues, these tattoo inks are created for high flexibility to achieve the results you desire.

Stable inks also contain 99.9% pure glycerin, which is vegan safe. Joe Capobianco uses Stable Ink:

Posted by JOE on 08/06/04

Hey there, I’ve been using the Stable colors, with my own stuf for a few months now, with pretty good results. I’ve been mixing my own powders for about 5 years now. I use both Spaulding, and National powders. As for skin tones I use brown mixed with lotus pink, ussually mixed right in the machine, while dipping cup to cup. I also have a pre mix, which is brown, lavander, and white. Again certain tone are acheived, by dipping during the tattoo. Hard to explain without an example.
Hope this helps…
JOE

Buy stable tattoo inks at the tattoo shop now >>

Man being tattooed

This week see the launch of our new Tattoo Design Gallery. The gallery contains photographs of tattoo designs from around the world, our first instalment shows designs in the following categories:

• Celtic Tattoos
• Chinese, Japanese & Asian Tattoos
• Polynesian Tattoos
• Tribal Tattoos

Do you have a tattoo photo that you would like to show off? Email it to us tattoodesigns@thetattooshop.co.uk and we will add it to the site.

See a tattoo that you like, or maybe even one that’s not quite to your taste? Why not leave a comment and let us know what you think!

Welcome to the Tattoo Shop tattoo resource & blog. This section is where we will post useful information and news that will be of interest to both tattooists and those interested in being tattooed.