


Magnums deliver a lot of ink, making them ideal for large areas of color. These sets have a longer taper that’s either the same or greater than the taper found on round shaders. Magnum needles are the go-to for almost all shading work. Just like round needles, these are written out with the number of pins in front, like 7FL or 5FS.Īlso like round needles, flat needles use their twin-sized tubes, so a 7FL needle will use a 7F tube.

Larger flat needles can be used for color fills and deliver more quickly with just one pass.įlat needles are marked FL (Flat Liner) or, less often, FS (Flat Shader) for short. This means clearer, darker lines with just one stroke. These needles are the most popular for lining because their shape lets them deliver more ink to the skin. Flat Tattoo Needlesįlat needles are needles that are soldered in a straight line to a needle bar. Round needles use the same size tube, so if you’re using a 9RL needle, you’ll use a 9R tube. If you're just starting out, you'll want to focus on round shaders in sizes 3, 5, 7, and 9 for some shading and filling in small areas. The number in front tells you have many needles are used in the configuration, so a 9RL has 9 needles placed in a circle configuration, a 7RL has 7 and so on. You'll almost always see them written with their number in front, like 9RL. Round needles are marked RL (Round Liner) or RS (Round Shader) for short. Round shaders are great for all-purpose color fill and basic shading. Loose round liners are used for thick, bold outlines like those found on Japanese-style tattoos. Round liners are packed tightly (close together), which makes them perfect for technical work, small lines and details. Round needles can be liners or shaders, depending on how close together they are placed.

Round needles are needles that are soldered around a central shaft in round patterns. There are an infinite number of needle styles, but they all fall into four basic categories: Round Tattoo Needles Remember, you never reuse your tattoo needles: you should use a fresh needle every time. This guide will walk you through basic needle features and what to look for when you're buying them. You'll need different groupings and sizes. You'll use tattoo needles more often than any other item. Which ink is best? Which needles are always good? Today we're launching a series to help you make the most informed decision possible. If you're new to tattooing, it can be hard to find the supplies you like.
