Even if you’re tattooing your upper thigh, you won’t have the same perspective as a tattooist. Tone and shading appear a certain way to the trained eye. Only a tattooist understands how shades look once healed, as the coloring they apply today impacts how the tattoo will look tomorrow. Therefore, if you’re an amateur, we do not suggest you tattoo yourself.
Before tattooing yourself, purchase supplies such as a tattoo gun and ink. Sterilize equipment to guard against infection.
Self-tattooing can lead to subpar tattoos. You might be skilled in other areas, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you have the skills to tattoo. Even a trained tattooist can have difficulty tattooing themselves due to the psychological problem of pain response causing uneven lines and shading. Additionally, finding a physically comfortable position to tattoo yourself properly can be challenging.
Despite the therapeutic aspect of tattoo-related pain releasing endorphins and potentially improving mood, self-tattooing is generally not recommended. It’s more complicated, has a greater risk of infection and complications, and unless you’re a professional artist, the result is unlikely to meet expectations.
Is it illegal to tattoo yourself? In NSW, for example, it is an offence to do any body art tattooing procedure for a fee or reward or operate a body art tattooing business without an appropriate licence. However, there are currently no laws saying a person cannot tattoo themselves.
As a new tattoo artist, tattooing yourself might not result in your best work, but many consider it a rite of passage when starting out.
Tattoos breach the skin, which means skin infections and other complications are possible—even years after getting the tattoo.
If you want to create your own tattoo, professional kits are now available that include all the necessary equipment for professional-looking designs.
Practicing tattooing on yourself takes years and requires improving your drawing skills to become a good artist. Self-tattooing is tricky because you can’t see what you’re doing well, making it easy to make mistakes and end up with an uneven tattoo. It is also challenging to reach all body parts evenly and more painful since you are essentially stabbing yourself repeatedly.
Surface tattoos from self-tattooing tend to fade faster than those from professionals, as the proper process involves penetrating deeper into the skin for longevity. Without professional experience, you won’t penetrate deep enough, and attempting to correct this can result in damage—similar to trying to cut your own hair and ending up with less than you planned. Now imagine that with a tattoo.
The most painful places to tattoo typically lack fat, where skin is close to bone, have sensitive skin, or are areas with nerve endings. The skill in tattooing is in pressing hard enough to deposit ink into the middle layer of skin without going too deep, no matter the size of the tattoo.