A vague statement claiming “support” and Nike’s willingness to offer “resources” to the field of tattooing led many to the conclusion that Nike will be opening their own tattoo schools or that they plan to begin producing tattooing equipment alongside their normal sports equipment and athletics apparel.

At present, no announcement about a Nike tattoo school, recognized tattoo artist “certificate” via Nike, or tattoo equipment line have been released.

Instead, this is likely an extension of Nike’s existing philanthropy programs, which regularly invests in mentorship and skill-building programs for young people.

Who is Ganga?

Ganga is one of the most well-known celebrity tattoo artists, regularly working with high-profile clientele like Post Malone, Drake, Lil Uzi Vert, and more.

“Pain-Free” Anesthesia Tattoos

In recent years, he and his team have advertised their “NoPain” experience, putting clients under general anesthesia while a team of tattoo artists tattoos them uninterrupted for day-long sessions. Stars like Post Malone and Tyga have gotten these “anesthesia tattoos,” with viral videos documenting the process.

Fashion Crossover

Tattooing and fashion have maintained close ties for decades from high fashion runways to individual artists creating successful clothing lines, the most notable being Ed Hardy. 

Ganga’s fine line and realism tattoo work gained him attention in the fashion industry, where he began designing his own apparel and appeared at the Met Gala, applying temporary tattoo designs to celebrities to help complete their red carpet looks. 

Nike X Ganga Collaboration

After dropping the limited edition apparel, Ganga announced a longterm partnership with Nike, indicating that proceeds from the collection (and likely future limited apparel drops) would be going toward supporting tattoo education through his already existing tattoo academies that currently offer 1-2 week in-person intensives. 

This aligns with Nike’s track record of partnering with similar education initiatives by providing a cash infusion to smaller projects.

Nike’s Optics and Philanthropic Partnerships

For Nike, the partnership with Ganga likely offers more benefit through the optics of the program than the revenue from a hyped collection that sells quickly.

Nike’s Public Reputation

Nike has been in hot water for years regarding alleged poor labor practices. Partnerships with programs focusing on mentorship and skill development for young people and underrepresented groups have helped to improve their image as a philanthropic brand. 

Current Nike collaborations include Pensole Lewis College (PLC Detroit), building pipelines for underrepresented footwear and apparel designers. IAIA internships place Indigenous art students at Nike HQ for real-world industry experience. Jordan Brand Wings funds scholarships and education pathways for underserved youth. Converse All Star Design Team offers global creators mentorship and collaboration opportunities. And Virgil Abloh/NikeLab launched the Chicago Re-Creation Center, a community hub blending workshops, mentorship, and design culture.

Competition with Adidas

Like Nike, most other sports brands have also branched out into streetwear and fashion. However, Nike is often seen as being a step behind in that category, especially in comparison to their biggest competitor, Adidas. In recent years, Adidas has been recognized as stepping up their design appeal, particularly when it comes to the younger demographic. 

Working with a popular tattoo artist like Ganga might be part of Nike’s efforts to gain relevancy as a streetwear brand - a move similar to the brand’s recent campaign with Travis Scott, emphasizing fashion over sports performance. 

Nike has also expanded their definition of “athlete” outside of “mainstream” televised sports like football and basketball with more visibility for skating, dance, and more where creativity and artistry is a central aspect of the sport. 

By working with Ganga and backing an education program through his academies, Nike will be targeting a connection with millennials (the most tattooed generation in history) and Gen Z - both of which care about doing social good and the preservation of one’s creative identity.

Response From the Tattoo Community

The language surrounding the collaboration that Nike is going to “elevate” or “legitimize” the tattoo industry has rubbed artists the wrong way. 

In an industry that already resists outside involvement, Nike’s entrance in the tattoo industry feels a bit forced and unwelcome, though not as jarring as it would have been if Nike had planned to construct tattoo schools under their own name.

The Concept Behind Ephemeral Made to Fade Tattoo Ink

Ephemeral tattoos are applied like traditional tattoos with a tattoo machine. 

However, Ephemeral tattoos also use special ink designed to fade within nine to 15 months, something especially appealing to first-time clients struggling to commit to permanent tattoos. 

And while the concept sounded great, many clients found their tattoos lasted far longer than expected - with many people going on 3 years now. Instead of avoiding regret, they were left frustrated, especially clients who got “joke tattoos” and were counting on the fading process to get rid of the design.

Will Ephemeral Tattoos Fade Completely?  

2 years post-tattoo via dazeddigital.com

The problem came down to poor testing. The chemical engineers who created Ephemeral utilized medical grade polymers that are created to break down. However, they don’t seem to be dissolving the way they were intended. Because the temporary tattoos don’t fade as advertised, the company can’t guarantee how long tattoos will actually last. 

The reason traditional tattoo ink “fades” is because the body naturally ‘attacks” ink particles. Ink is a foreign substance to the body, meaning your body tries to break the ink down and carry it away as a waste product. However, ink breaks down slowly - and in general, ink particles are too large for the body to get rid of it. (This is why ink “spreads” overtime without actually fading completely).

And while Ephemeral ink seems to fade faster than normal ink, many clients are beginning to worry that their made to fade ink isn’t going to fade at all. Most clients who still have their Ephemeral tattoo after several years have half-faded ink with no indication of how long it’ll take to fade entirely. 

Ephemeral’s response to this issue has been that everyone’s skin is different, so they’ll have different fading times. However, they have changed their estimated “fade time” from one year to three years.

Additionally, Ephemeral has closed their designated tattoo studios, instead allowing Ephemeral tattoo artists to use their ink in traditional tattoo studios.

Should You Offer Ephemeral Ink as an Artist?

Even though Ephemeral tattoos are temporary, they’re still applied by real tattoo artists with tattoo machines. This means that, as a tattoo artist, you can offer Ephemeral’s ink to your clients.

However, given their recent unpopularity (and the very real threat of an Ephemeral tattoo lawsuit in the near future), it might be worth passing up that option. Like other specialty inks (UV ink, ink mixed with ashes, etc.), you can’t make any guarantees to your clients about what the healing process will be like. 

And from a technical perspective, the ink isn’t reliable. It doesn’t fade evenly, which can leave behind blurry, patchy designs that look unintentional. Removing or covering these tattoos can also be more complicated than expected, making them more trouble than they’re worth.

The Importance of Picking a Design for the Long Haul

Tattoos are meant to be a lifelong commitment. And while not every tattoo has to be wrapped with layers of meaning, it’s important to pick a tattoo design that you know you’ll like for a lifetime to avoid regret or laser removal.

If you offer Ephemeral ink, make sure that your client chooses a design that they’re comfortable with as if you were going to tattoo with permanent ink.

Clients looking for a truly temporary tattoo might want to look into something with a topical application that is guaranteed to come off in a few weeks.

Austin-based Blackdot Studio has created an “automated tattooing system” that uses a machine to precisely apply a tattoo design. Blackdot claims that this means tattoos can be applied with exact accuracy, making tattoos less painful and offering more artists the opportunity to have their art applied to skin. 

This new method is stirring up conversations about the future of tattooing—will it replace traditional methods, or just offer an option for clients looking for a novel experience?

Extreme Precision

The Blackdot device is meant to use surgical precision to apply tiny “black dots,” similar to the digital printing process (just on human skin). Each deposit of ink is the width of a human hair - extremely small, even when compared with the smallest needles available to traditional tattoo artists. 

One reason artists don’t work with such tiny needles is because it is very easy to go too deep in the skin if the tattoo needle is too thin, as there is not much surface tension available to “bounce back” against the needle.

Blackdot's Vision for Tattoo Artists

As opposed to replacing tattoo artists, Blackdot’s goal is to give artists (whether they have experience in tattooing or not) a simple way to apply their art on skin. 

For artists like John Craig, a traditional artist, the Blackdot device can be used to recreate their art on skin without having to learn how to apply a tattoo. For tattoo seekers who want to carry artists’ work to a new medium, this is a potential route.

Blackdot has also mentioned use of “generative art” as a way to expand their offerings, collaborating with artists like Tyler Hobbs, who uses algorithms and coding to create intricate designs as well.

Any Artist Can Work From the Client’s Preferred Tattoo Location

One benefit to “machine tattooing” like this is that tattoo artists can deliver tattoos, even if their client is halfway around the world. 

Additionally, Blackdot offers artists the opportunity to become “Blackdot Certified Artists” who will create limited edition collections, earn royalties, and be able to sell their designs around the globe. Current partnerships include artists like Tyler Hobbs and Omer Tunca.

Blackdot’s “Tradable Tattoos”  

Blackdot’s “Tradable Tattoos” program is meant to allow artists to trade designs with other artists. It’s also a way for tattoo seekers to claim designs by their favorite artists. While the process isn’t fully detailed on the Blackdot website, it seems that the system is similar to trading NFTs.

Missing Pieces in the Blackdot System

New technology is being adopted into the tattoo industry all the time. The invention of rotary machines, the use of iPads, the introduction of AI - every new advancement has faced extensive criticism from artists within the industry. And overtime, every breakthrough innovation has found its place in the industry as artists adopt technology as a way to increase and improve their creative output.

However, Blackdot has received some backlash from the tattoo community, citing genuine issues:

At present, tattooing customers that choose Blackdot can expect to pay thousands of dollars for, in most cases, a “microtattoo.” This is impractical for most clients, especially those who live far away from Blackdot’s East Austin studio location.

While Blackdot uses an innovative approach, the initial tattoos released on their website and Instagram show extremely detailed and tiny tattoos.

Many artists and clients have critiqued one of their most popular tiny designs - Blackdot’s famous Mona Lisa tattoo. Designs that small and detailed tend to “blur” over time as the skin changes and the body breaks down the ink. 

Essentially, the client with that tattoo - or any other with the same level of detail in such a small space - will end up with a grayish blob on their arm as time progresses.

Blackdot makes a point about partnering with artists, and it continually touts its dedication to lowering barriers for artists. With an automated system to do the tattooing for them, artists across different mediums can help people who love their work get it tattooed.

Additionally, the precise and consistent results of a well-tuned machine could potentially lower the risk of getting a “bad” tattoo, dealing with blowouts, and more. 

Final Thoughts - Traditional Tattooing vs. Blackdot’s Futuristic Vision

While the process still needs to be refined, machine-created tattoos are likely in the tattoo industry’s future. Several attempts have been made so far, and each iteration has improved by leaps and bounds.  

However, we’re a while away from robot tattooing being a viable option for the average tattoo client. At present, the prices for Blackdot tattoos are too high to draw in a large clientele, with much of the online conversation surrounding the company focusing in on the cost. 

Top Tattoo Trends 2025

From delicate fine line tattoos to bold blackwork designs, the trends set to dominate the tattoo world in 2025 reflect the diverse tastes of today’s clients. Whether you’re an artist looking to stay ahead of the curve or someone planning your next tattoo, these styles offer something for everyone. 

Let’s dive into the tattoo trends that will make waves in 2025:

Microrealism

Tiny Tattoos

Topping the “Tattoo Trends 2024” lists, tiny tattoos, or micro tattoos, are loved for their subtlety, and won’t be going anywhere in 2025. These small designs—like stars, flowers, or words—are often hidden in plain sight on the wrist, ankle, or behind the ear.

Their minimalist appeal makes them ideal for first-timers or anyone seeking personal, understated designs while still wanting visible tattoos. 

For artists, mastering these tattoos showcases precision and attention to detail, attracting a steady stream of clients.

Fine Line Tattoos

Fine line tattoos are a staple trend in modern tattooing, and their popularity is only expected to grow in 2025. Known for their delicate and intricate designs, these tattoos use a single needle or thin needle configurations to create minimalist body art. 

Clients are drawn to the elegance of fine line tattoos, which often include floral motifs, script, and geometric patterns. 

Blackwork

Blackwork tattoos are known for their bold use of solid black ink to create striking designs. 

Clients love black ink tattoos for their dramatic aesthetic and timeless appeal. The high contrast of black ink ensures these tattoos stand out and last a lifetime. They also tend to have a lot of details, requiring masterful shading and precision on your part as the artist.

Sticker Sleeves

“Sticker sleeves” have been getting popular especially with younger clients, creating a patchwork of self-expression (as opposed to traditional full sleeve tattoos).   

Butterfly Tattoos

Butterfly tattoos have always been popular, but they’ve gained new life recently, symbolizing transformation and beauty. 

These designs appeal to clients seeking both meaning and style, giving artists a chance to showcase versatility with realistic or creative interpretations.

Lower Back Tattoos

Once iconic in the early 2000s (and often called “tramp stamps”), lower back tattoos are making a stylish return in 2025, blending nostalgia with modern designs.

Cybersigilism

Cyber sigilism is a bold trend for 2025, combining futuristic designs with symbolic elements. These tattoos feature abstract shapes, glitch-like patterns, and intricate linework for a modern, tech-inspired look.

Popular on the forearm or shoulders, cyber sigilism attracts clients seeking unique, unconventional art, especially among younger clients.

Why to Keep On Top of Tattoo Trends

While tattoos are meant to last a lifetime, ironically, keeping on top of the “trends” is important for tattoo artists. This is for a few different reasons:

You Can Earn Extra Income From a Tattoo Trend

Tattoos trend when clients and tattoo enthusiasts start to get similar tattoos, inspired by seeing those tattoo designs on other people or online. 

When a tattoo artist hops on the trend early and their work gets popular, then other people want to go to that artist to get the exact same thing. While doing the same popular tattoo ideas can get repetitive to you as an artist…the tattooers who master trends make bank because there’s a constant supply of customers who want that type of tattoo.

Understanding Tattoo Trends Can Get You Hired As a Tattoo Artist

If you know what’s trending and can prove that you tattoo those trends well, a tattoo studio owner is going to connect the dots and realize that you have the skills to bring in clients who are looking for those popular designs and styles.

Why It’s Important to Tattoo Designs That Are ALWAYS Popular

Tattoo trends can help boost your career. However, trends come and go. Keeping the skills to pull off a style in your back pocket makes sure that you always have clients month after month, year after year. 

These “evergreen” styles will continue to make you money even as trends fluctuate. Two of the biggest tattoo styles that has remained popular overtime are Traditional and Realism.

Traditional Tattoos

Traditional tattoos have never really “dipped” in popularity. There is always a consistent client base for traditional tattooing. 

Traditional tattoos allow you to keep up with pop culture trends in their own way. Pulling from designs in popular tattoos and adopting them for Traditional can be a great way to offer “trending” tattoos while staying within the Trad style.

Realism Tattoos

Realism is the most popular style in the tattoo industry. No matter where you go in the world, if you can tattoo realism, you will have clients. 

Prepare for a Tattooing Career with the Artist Accelerator Program

Adapting to new tattoo styles is possible when you’ve built your skills on a proper foundation. 

However, finding the straight-forward information you need to progress is difficult. And with so much out there online, it’s hard to avoid picking up bad habits from incorrect and outdated resources.

This is one of the biggest struggles new tattooers face, and too many talented artists have given up their goal of getting into tattooing because of the years it would take to unlearn their bad habits. 

That’s why aspiring artists are learning to tattoo with the Artist Accelerator Program’s structured course. As a student, you learn every step of the tattooing process from professional artists with the experience and advice you need to build your skills and create incredible tattoos. 

With the Artist Accelerator, you can stop wasting time searching through incorrect information. You just get the clear, easy-to-understand lessons you need to start improving fast… along with support and personalized feedback from professional artists in our online Mastermind group.

Over 5000 students have already gone through the course, with many of them opening up their own studios. If you want to join them and learn the skills you need to start tattooing full time faster…

Key Findings: The Twin Study 

There were three main findings in the study:

How Tattoo Ink Travels in the Lymphatic System

Tattoo ink is deposited in the dermis, and some particles are small enough to be absorbed by the lymphatic system (which filters waste and fights infections). Immune cells will then try to break down the ink particles, but many are too large and will stay trapped in the lymph nodes. 

This can trigger chronic, low-grade inflammation (linked to different diseases, including lymphoma). 

It also causes chemical exposure, since some inks contain heavy metals and carcinogens, which could affect immune function when stored in the lymph nodes.

Understanding the Numbers: Relative Risk of Cancer vs. Absolute Risk in Tattooed Individuals

It’s important for clients and artists alike to understand that tattoo ink might pose a risk. But for those concerned with the dangers, it’s also important to understand the difference between relative risk and absolute risk. 

The study indicates that tattooed individuals with large tattoos (bigger than a palm) were “3.91 times more likely to develop skin cancer.” This is a statistically significant cancer risk, however this is also the relative risk. 

Cancer Risk & Behavioral Patterns in Tattooed Individuals: Correlation vs. Causation 

While there is correlation between the tattooed twin and a higher risk of cancer, with the amount of time it takes for cancer to develop, it is - at this point in time - difficult to definitively imply causation and point the finger at tattoo ink as the only risk-increasing statistic in the tattooed twin. 

The Danish twin study allows scientists to compare people with similar genetics and environmental factors. However, it does not take into account lifestyle factors that might diverge between the siblings like smoking, drinking, and sun exposure - which can cause an increased risk of cancer overall. 

The original study does take this into account in their statement: “Studying this link is challenging because cancer can take years to develop. This means that exposure in youth may not lead to illness until decades later, making it difficult to measure a direct effect. “

Are Tattooed People More Likely to Engage in Behaviors That Increase Cancer Risk?

While tattoos have become more mainstream in the most recent decade (widening the pool of personality types getting tattooed), there is still a perception of tattooed people displaying more “risky” behavior than those without tattoos. 

This isn’t completely without foundation. 

Studies have shown that young people with tattoos are more likely to engage in activities that can increase cancer risk including drug, tobacco, and alcohol use. 

Additional Effects of Tattoo Ink & Previous Studies

The Twin Study is not the first to dissect the effects of tattoo ink on the body. 

One study released in August 2022 found that tattoo ink can be considered carcinogenic, especially in certain circumstances. Outside of the effects on the lymphatic system, it appears that the main dangers associated with tattoo ink are the ink particle size and the laser removal process.

Ink Particle Size 

Tattoo ink particles tend to be large - too large for the body’s natural defense systems to break them down effectively. (This is how we create the permanent effect tattoo ink has. If all the particles were small enough to be broken down, the tattoo would fade due to the body’s natural defenses.) 

However, at the time of writing, tattoo ink production is just now beginning to be regulated. Because of this, ink particle size has not always been monitored. If a tattoo ink particle is smaller than normal, it could migrate through a cell’s membrane and damage the cell. (Damaged cells in the right conditions can cause cancer.)

Laser Tattoo Removal Process

Much of the tattoo ink is injected into the skin and stays there. However, there appears to be a significant increase in lymphoma risk when the ink undergoes laser removal.

Tattoo Ink and Carcinogenic Heavy Metals

Some tattoo inks have been discovered to have cancer causing substances. Chemicals and certain heavy metals determine the color of the tattoo ink, and they can be dangerous. This is why the UK’s Tattoo Ink ban was proposed. 

Some hazardous components included barium, copper, mercury amines to create white, blue/green, and red inks respectively (though most manufacturers have switched out mercury for cadmium to produce red ink). 

What’s Next in Tattoo Research: Does a Tattoo’s Size Affect Cancer Risk? 

The leaders of the study emphasized that further research should be conducted to account for the size of the tattoo in relation to how much ink is delivered to the lymph nodes (and whether or not this raises the risk of cancer in individuals with more ink). 

The researchers also plan to move forward with investigating how “ink particles affect the function of lymph nodes at a molecular level and whether certain types of lymphoma are more linked to tattoos than others.”

The Psychology of Tattoos

Tattoos are becoming extremely popular, so popular that a recent study showed that 38% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have one or more tattoos. 17% percent of Americans have multiple tattoos. 

Tattoos are becoming a very important part of Western culture and are likely to continue to gain popularity. The increasing interest in tattoos has led organizations like Psychology Today to look into why so many people are getting them. 

The current psychological theory suggests that most people who get tattoos say they did to remind themselves of a period of personal struggle or as a form of self-expression. A lot of tattooed individuals said that they get tattoos as a way to show their personal history and honor the people and things that have brought meaning to their lives.

Self-Expression 

Self-expression is how people communicate their personal feelings, thoughts, and ideas. Some of the most common forms of self-expression are art, music, writing, dance, and now, body art. 

Tattoos are a way to show personality traits, tell a personal narrative, or simply show the world your sense of style. Using tattoos as a way to express oneself helps people improve their self-esteem and feel comfortable in their own skin. 

Dr. Joseph Pierre, a professor in health care sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles, says that tattoos have two ways of presenting something to the world that has previously been hidden. 

First, showing off tattoos, means showing off skin, which has been discouraged throughout history, especially for women.

Second, Pierre also says that tattoos are a great way for people to express something about themselves without having to talk about it. Art has been a way to make a point about something without using words for thousands of years. Tattoos are a way for people to communicate about issues and experiences that mean something to them without actually having to say it.

Body Image

Body modifications like tattoos are a very popular way for people to change their body image and present themselves in a way that feels more natural. Professor Verin Swami at Anglia Ruskin University has found that people’s feelings of anxiety and discomfort with their bodies immediately decrease after getting a tattoo and are still lower after multiple weeks. 

People who express themselves through tattoos are more likely to have positive feelings about their bodies, which suggests that tattoos are a great way to improve body image. According to Swami, people feel closer to their bodies after getting a tattoo, which helps to improve their overall mental health.

Love for Art

While tattoos often have deep and emotional meanings, they are also a way for people to show their love of art and design. Tattoos show not only personal style, but also people’s preference for types of art and the things that catch their eye. 

Some people get tattoos that may not have significant meaning to them just because they like the artist’s style and think the design looks cool. Others choose to get tattoos in the style of famous historical artists that they have always admired. 

Tattoos are a way for people to show their opinion of art as a form of communication, and people often use them as a way to make their bodies a living, moving piece of art.

Fashion

Tattoos are quickly becoming a very popular type of fashion accessory. Since the 1970s, fashion designers have been looking to tattoos for inspiration for their collections. More recently, tattooed individuals are finding increased opportunities as fashion models. 

Tattoos are a way to be creative with the way you show your style. Tattoos, like makeup and hair, are ways to communicate your personality visually. Tattoos can inform someone’s sense of fashion and even be what people use to build their personal look.

Rebelling Against Social Norms

Body art like tattoos, piercing, and scarification are used by a lot of people as ways to challenge social norms. Tattoos can show that someone belongs to a particular group, but they can also be a symbol of wanting to be different from the current society. 

Many young people are challenging what it means to be an average person in their society with body art. Over thousands of years, people have wanted to challenge what those in power say is acceptable for the human body, and tattoos are a current way of doing that.

Stigma Against Tattoos  

Tattoos have had tons of different meanings throughout their long history, but many people have had negative attitudes toward them. Psychology Today found that most people who don’t get tattoos choose not to either because of their religion or for social reasons like not wanting to disappoint their family, having trouble finding a job, etc.

In a lot of places, tattoos have been associated with criminality and gang activity, and they are still banned in some parts of the world. Because of this, some people feel that tattoos are an act of rebellion or that a tattooed person is somehow dangerous. 

Finding Community

Tattoos are a good way to show group affiliation like cultural identity. Many people get a tattoo to show where they or their families come from, celebrate their culture, or show what kind of community they belong to. 

There is a community within the people who get a tattoo as well, and it can be a cool way to meet new people in social settings. People who have tattoos are often happy to talk about them with people, and tattoos can help people make new connections and meet new people.

Personal Meaning  

David Vega tattoo

People getting tattoos - especially for the first time - usually have some sort of story behind the design they want. 

Your job as an artist is to also be a storyteller. If your client has some sort of experience or meaningful story behind the tattoo they want to get, look for ways to help powerfully tell that story through your design. 

Not only will this show your client that you understand them and care about the “why” behind their tattoo, but it’ll also get you lots of repeat customers who love your work.

Memorials

Many tattooed individuals get tattoos in order to memorialize someone or something that has meant a lot to them. Portraits of a beloved family member or pet are very common tattoos that help a person remember something they have lost. 

There are a lot of different tattoos that can memorialize someone besides portraits including quotes, handwriting, or images that remind someone of that person. One way that people use tattoos to memorialize someone is to get the same tattoo that a loved one used to have.

Life Lessons

People use tattoos as a way to remind themselves of life lessons they have learned over the years. Inspirational quotes or song lyrics that speak to how people want to live are common choices for tattoos with personal meaning. 

Clients often get tattoos to symbolize certain periods in their life where they learned a lot or changed as a person so they can look back on them to see how far they have come. Tattoos are also a symbol of commitment, and for some people, can be a way to show a strong interest or connection to something that is important enough to carry with them permanently.

Getting Past Traumatic Experiences

Tattoos are also a way for people to improve their mental health after going through a traumatic experience. In their studies of tattoo behavior, Professor Swami found that tattoos can be a powerful way for people to start healing from domestic abuse. Swami found that people view getting tattoos as a way to reclaim their body from the people who hurt them. 

A recent study from the University of Washington showed that tattoos can help with the mental health of people who have gone through cancer treatment. Tattoos can help with emotional recovery and regaining a sense of control over your body. 

Researchers have also found a lot of people getting what are called “pandemic tattoos,” which are tattoos people are getting as a way to celebrate making it through the coronavirus pandemic and re-entering public life.

The Experience

One of the most common reasons that tattooed individuals want to go back for more is because they enjoy the experience that comes with getting a new tattoo. 

The experience of picking a new idea, working with an artist, and getting the actual tattoo done is appealing to a lot of people. Sometimes, people get tattoos without personal meaning, just because they like the actual process of getting a tattoo.

Getting to Know the Artist

Some people like to get tattooed because of the experience of getting to chat with their artist. Either they want to get to know the person behind the design, or they want to talk off some of the nervous energy that comes with getting tattooed. 

Enjoying the Pain  

Some people get body modifications because they simply like the way it feels or enjoy the experience of overcoming the pain. Historically, tattoos and scarification have been used to mark someone as a warrior, and the act of getting through the pain proves someone’s strength. 

This concept has stuck around into the current tattooing world, with things like the Brutal Black Project. The Brutal Black Project is a tattooing experience where the point is to cover the body with black ink as painfully as possible. This experience is built to allow clients to test their limits and feel what it’s like to overcome something really extreme. 

While not everyone who gets tattooed wants to do something that intense, people have reported enjoying the pain of tattoos as well as the release of adrenaline and dopamine that comes from getting a new tattoo. 

Some people like to use tattoos as a way to get over a fear, either of pain, needles, or doing something that others might see as taboo.

Prepare for a Tattoo Career with the Artist Accelerator Program

Understanding tattoo psychology is an important step in your journey towards a tattoo career, but it can also be pretty eye-opening to how difficult tattooing can be. Without the right knowledge, it’s impossible to level up your skills and become a professional tattoo artist. 

However, finding the straight-forward information you need to progress is difficult. And with so much out there online, it’s hard to avoid picking up bad habits from incorrect and outdated resources.

This is one of the biggest struggles new tattooers face, and too many talented artists have given up their goal of getting into the tattoo business because of the years it would take to unlearn their bad habits. 

That’s why aspiring artists are learning to tattoo with the Artist Accelerator Program’s structured course. As a student, you learn every step of the tattooing process from professional artists with the experience and advice you need for your tattoo career. 

With the Artist Accelerator, you can stop wasting time searching through incorrect information. You just get the clear, easy-to-understand lessons you need to start improving fast… along with support and personalized feedback from professional artists in our online Mastermind group.

Over 2500 students have already gone through the course, with many of them opening up their own studios. If you want to join them and learn the skills you need to start working full time faster…

Most Tattooed Man in the World - Meet Lucky Diamond Rich 

Lucky Diamond Rich is an aboriginal Australian performance artist and Guinness World Record holder for being the world’s most tattooed man. 

Rich, who was born Greg Paul McLaren in New Zealand, has covered his body in over 1000 tattoos and various piercings, including a full-body suit of white ink. Lucky Diamond Rich was given his middle name by friends who described him as a “rough diamond”.

Collecting Tattoos 

Lucky joined the circus at age 16 and would juggle chainsaws, ride a ten-foot unicycle, and swallow swords. After he got his first tattoo of a small juggling club on his hip, he waited over two years to get tattooed again.

At 18, he continued getting more and more tattoos with the money he made as a street performer. He wanted the way he looked to be part of his performance art. 

At 28, Lucky Diamond Rich got his first full-body suit of black ink, which he would later go over with a layer of white ink as well as multiple layers of color. He now has tattoos covering his entire body including the skin between his toes, his eyelids, his ear canals, and even his gums. He has also had his teeth replaced with silver veneers.

As the most tattooed man in the world and one of the world’s most distinct-looking people, Lucky Diamond Rich says that he does not regret a single one of his tattoos. Now that his entirebody is covered, Lucky Diamond considers himself to have only one tattoo.

Even with the tattoos, he doesn’t feel different to anyone else. In addition to working as a performer, Lucky Diamond Rich has also worked as a support worker for an alcohol and drug rehabilitation center in Australia.

Most Tattooed Woman in the World - Charlotte Guttenberg

In 2015, 69-year-old Charlotte Guttenberg overtook the Guinness World Record for being the most tattooed woman. She has over 98.75% of her body covered in tattoos, including the back of her head.

Most Tattooed Senior Citizen

Gutenberg and her partner have also been crowned the most tattooed senior citizens in the male and female categories.

Charlotte Guttenberg did not get her first tattoo until her 50th birthday, and she immediately knew that she wanted to get a full suit to cover her entire body. 

Now, Charlotte wants to use her personal re-brand as a way to promote people’s self esteem, as well as the beauty and history of tattoos.

Other Heavily Tattooed People

Julia Gnuse

Julia Gnuse previously held the world record for being the most tattooed woman. A rare skin disease that resulted in scarring led her to have almost her whole body tattooed.

Rick Genest  

Rick Genest, also known as Zombie Boy, was one of the most tattooed people before his death in 2019. He had his full body tattooed as a living skeleton and worked as an actor and model, even appearing in Lady Gaga’s music video for the song “Born This Way.”

Prepare for a Tattooing Career with the Artist Accelerator Program

Learning the details of tattooing is an important step in your journey, but it can also be pretty eye-opening to how difficult tattooing can be. Without the right knowledge, it’s impossible to level up your skills and become a professional tattoo artist. 

However, finding the straight-forward information you need to progress is difficult. And with so much out there online, it’s hard to avoid picking up bad habits from incorrect and outdated resources.

This is one of the biggest struggles new tattooers face, and too many talented artists have given up their goal of getting into tattooing because of the years it would take to unlearn their bad habits. 

That’s why aspiring artists are learning to tattoo with the Artist Accelerator Program’s structured course. As a student, you learn every step of the tattooing process from professional artists with the experience and advice you need to build your skills and create incredible tattoos. 

With the Artist Accelerator, you can stop wasting time searching through incorrect information. You just get the clear, easy-to-understand lessons you need to start improving fast… along with support and personalized feedback from professional artists in our online Mastermind group.

Over 2500 students have already gone through the course, with many of them opening up their own studios. If you want to join them and learn the skills you need to start tattooing full time faster…

However, working in tandem with artificial intelligence might become the “fast track” to a career in tattooing. In this article, we’ll break down why that is, and what tattoo artists - and the industry as a whole - can expect to see from the rise of artificial intelligence.

How Artificial Intelligence Works

Before looking at the effects of artificial intelligence on tattooing specifically, it’s important to know what current AI is capable of doing. This will make it easier to pinpoint where its impact will be felt the most in the tattoo industry.

Written Content

To create written content with an AI program (like Jasper, image below) you simply feed it a few key phrases, videos, or articles. Tell the generator that you want a blog post similar to those existing pieces, and it will spit out completely original content in a matter of minutes. 

While they’re not perfect, AI content generators use the same common phrasing humans use to guess what to write next. It’s similar to autocorrect - just at a much higher level. They do this by using GPT3, a program that allows AI to learn about a topic using articles and videos posted to the internet to then create its own content. 

GPT3 is the most capable - and lifelike - model to date, allowing AI to accurately understand niche topics. It has such a natural language cadence that GPT3 AI can be used to create realistic relationships, as seen in apps like Replika.

The Artwork

Some AI generators are dedicated solely to written content, while others also churn out images based on basic prompts. To create artwork with an AI program, you simply have to type in a command, and it will create a completely custom image in a matter of seconds.

Some generators will ask for additional guidance to help with the creation process. For example, they might ask for the “mood” you’re going for, as well as offer up names of famous artists to help narrow down the style you’re looking for.

Other generators will allow you to draw “rough sketches” of an image and it will then use that as a foundation to create a much more detailed image, saving the human artist hours of manual labor.

It is this ability to create incredible designs in a matter of seconds that is likely to become a major asset to tattoo artists in the near future.

Artificial Intelligence Could Become the Ultimate Creative Assistant for Tattoo Artists

It’s reasonable to estimate that it will be 2-3 years before AI-created art is good enough to replace tattoo designs. (See current results below.)

When asked to create a “Japanese tattoo design on a woman’s back,” Jasper AI created this image from scratch in seconds.

While AI currently does not have the capacity to create tattoo designs that flow with the body’s muscles (a major component of tattoo design), the most advanced AI systems currently in use have only downloaded a small percentage of the internet. 

Along with the millions of dollars of investment pouring into the development of the software, we can expect to see AI generators to become more sophistocated fast, meaning it is reasonable to estimate that within 2-3 years, AI-generated tattoo designs will have enough references to create designs that are professional quality (or better).  

That being said, once AI is able to digest the tattoo designs on Instagram, Facebook, and the like, it will have millions of references to use for any single design. Even if an artist has seen that many images, it is impossible for the human brain to hold - and use - so much information at one time, giving the AI generator a definitive leg up in the design process. 

So, what does this mean for those top artists - let alone new tattoo artists trying to break into the industry?

It means that it will become much easier for artists to unlock and enhance their creativity.

AI will never be able to replace human emotion or an artist’s personality and style. However, learning how to use those things to draw amazing tattoo designs can take years of practice, and many new artists have a hard time getting the ideas from their mind onto paper. 

If an aspiring tattoo artist is still building those drawing skills, an AI generator will be able to act as an assistant by giving them a solid design to work off. Because the generator will sample the work of top-performing artists, it is recreating the same process that new artists use to learn (mimicking their favorite artists) at a much faster rate. 

However, because these designs are still guaranteed to be unique (and not exact replicas of other artists’ designs), artists will be able to tattoo those designs right away or use the AI-generated image as a base for their own work. Instead of drawing from scratch, they instead have a good starting point that saves them several hours of frustration. 

This process will allow new artists to take their time learning how to draw, while still making it possible to earn a living as a tattoo artist. 

Why AI Will Benefit New Tattoo Artists Most

AI will enhance an artist’s ability to create by making the process faster while also needing less effort. For tattoo artists who have made a living off of their decades of drawing experience, this might be alarming. 

However, when used correctly, tattoo artists at all levels can use AI to further their career. That being said, new artists are likely to see the most direct benefits.

This is partially because “old-school” tattoo artists are known for rejecting the use of technology in tattooing, which means they get left behind while artists who hop on the train early are able to skyrocket their careers. We have seen this trend over and over throughout the years:

Rotary Tattoo Machines

While rotary tattoo machines have not replaced coil machines entirely, most artists opt for them. They are easier to use, easier to fix, and can create finer lines and smoother shades than the original coil machine design.

Tattoo Television 

Tattooing TV shows like InkMaster and Tattoo Nightmares pushed tattooing into the mainstream. What was once considered taboo was suddenly romanticized. 

People saw tattooing as a way to travel, find creative expression, and find freedom within a well-paying career. Suddenly, tattooing became “cool.” Tattoo shops popped up overnight in every city, and owners were easily making six figures simply from tattooing’s new popularity. 

Instagram

Tattooing 101 Instructor Brandon’s Instagram

Instagram allowed tattooing to go viral. With the invention of Instagram, tattoo artists suddenly had a free way to market their services and show off their work. This not only allowed them to find new customers, it also exposed people to artists all over the world, leading to more education on what good tattoos look like. 

The ability to see work from so many different artists caused a major shift in the industry. Instead of walking into the nearest shop, customers suddenly knew of artists who specialized in the style they wanted in the next town or city over - and they were willing to make the trip and pay more for that artist. 

iPad, Procreate, Photoshop 

Digital drawing streamlined the design process for tattoo artists. With digital tools that made perfectly straight lines and allowed for exact symmetry, many artists found that apps like Procreate and Photoshop made their drawing process easier, while also making their designs look better. 

Additionally, using digital tools allowed artists to easily resize their work and travel with the ability to make new designs, even if they left their traditional watercolors and pens at home.

AI is the Next Step of Evolution for the Tattooing Industry

Most of the next generation of tattoo artists will be “digital natives.” This means that they were learning to use advanced technology before they could walk. (Many people will be more familiar with the term “iPad babies.”) 

Because of their familiarity with technology, they will be likely to embrace AI as tattoo artists. Current tattoo artists will need to adopt the technology for themselves, or they will see themselves surpassed by artists who have only months of experience compared to their decades.  

No matter how experienced an artist might be, it is impossible to compete with someone who is using AI to create tattoo designs, social media posts and other marketing materials that attract customers, etc. 

Essentially, AI is likely to push many tattoo artists committed to the old ways of tattooing into early retirement. While many artists were able to continue working despite rejecting iPads or online marketing through social media, the gap between the “old ways” and the abilities of AI will become too large for them to hurdle.

What AI-Assisted Tattooing Looks Like

As new tattoo artists integrate AI into their workflow, we can expect to see a few changes:

We’ve discussed how image generation with AI will be able to help tattoo artists create incredible designs at their same skill level or higher in a matter of seconds. (Normally, large tattoo designs can take upwards of 6 hours to create.)

However, it’s important to understand how tattoo artists can use AI-generated written content as well.

Unless an artist is in the top 1% skill-wise, it’s rare that a client will search them out by name. Instead, artists that want to get ahead in the industry need to use marketing tactics to put themselves out there and get new clients. 

However, for many artists, social media and marketing is a chore. 

AI-generated copy will allow tattoo artists to optimize their marketing efforts. With the ability to create captions, emails, video scripts, and more on demand with AI software, artists will be able to put out higher-quality posts that get them noticed in a fraction of the time it took them before.

Because AI will make it easy to target often-searched terms and phrases, tattoo artists will be able to double down on their marketing to create a bigger client list, build their brand (which translates to higher per-hour pay), and spend less time on the admin side of their business. 

Looking Forward: AI as an Admin Assistant

While still far off, it’s likely that AI will be able to handle the inboxes of tattoo artists in just a few        years. Having an AI bot handle questions from customers, pricing estimates, and more will save artists hours per week of being on their phones, trying to keep up with their growing inbox.

A major obstacle that keeps tattoo artists from growing their online presence - and resulting client list - is that it is very difficult to create new tattoos and designs quickly enough to satisfy most social media platforms’ fast-paced algorithms.

TikTok, the world’s fastest-growing social media platform, recommends posting one to four times per day. Instagram recommends posting at least once per day.

Artists using AI to generate tattoo designs will no longer find this an issue. Additionally, they’ll be able to find more time for actual tattooing without the hours-long process of creating custom designs. Provided they have basic technical skills, they’ll be able to create high-quality tattoos (with higher-quality designs), faster, boosting their production - and their careers. 

In the past, the only way to become a tattoo artist was to get an apprenticeship under a tattoo artist working in a shop. And the only way to get “accepted” by a mentor was to show a portfolio of high-quality tattoo designs that proved a potential apprentice’s artistic skills before they even touched a tattoo machine for the first time. 

While that process is becoming more flexible through online programs and in-person tattoo schools, AI-generated artwork will make it easier to get into tattooing because new artists’ time and attention can be focused on actually tattooing designs, and they will only have to know a little bit about drawing. This removes a massive obstacle for many aspiring tattoo artists, which means faster improvement for new artists.

As AI continues to get better, the more that ability to grow will accelerate.

What AI’s Effects Mean for the Tattoo Industry as a Whole

Because AI can assist artists who are still developing their artistic skills - and technical skills can be improved upon much faster - the bar to entering the industry will be much, much lower.

This will cause a number of effects within the industry:

Because the tattoo industry will be more accessible to aspiring tattoo artists, we can expect a flood of new artists entering the market. With an influx of tattoo artists armed with an unlimited number of great designs, a massive wave of new clientele will follow. 

This expected growth of the industry will be similar to the expansion seen after the rise of tattoo television, just at a larger scale.

Business owners will see the rise of new tattoo artists and clients as a major opportunity to get in on the ground floor before the industry experiences a major boom.

This means that new tattoo supply companies will come onto the scene offering new machines and equipment. This will likely drive the cost of supplies down, even among reputable brands.

However, the biggest change artists are likely to see is that fewer companies will require artists who order from them to be connected to a tattoo shop. At present, many tattoo supply companies will not sell their products to artists who cannot prove they work in a tattoo studio. 

But, as more artists start learning - and practicing - at home, companies who refuse to sell to such a large demographic of the industry will likely find themselves getting run out of business by bigger suppliers who will.

As the tattoo industry grows, it will gain more attention from both local and national governing bodies. Most likely, this will mean stronger regulation when it comes to safety (like the UK's 2022 Ink Ban) and training.

For artists seeking in-person apprenticeships, this is a good sign. If there are clear standards for what an apprentice must learn and standard timelines mentors have to follow, it is far less likely that an apprentice will be taken advantage of for free labor. This will likely curb some of the abuse that happens in apprenticeships as well, since there will be a government office that mentors will report back to. 

Despite more regulation, the industry can expect to see a decrease in in-person apprenticeships. Because so many of the artists entering the industry will need flexible learning plans due to full-time jobs, family obligations, etc., the current style of in-shop apprenticeships will no longer be the norm.

Because AI programs can develop hundreds of new designs at any time, tattoo artists will be much less likely to steal designs and copy them for their own clients. Creating custom designs will be easier - with none of the social repercussions that come from being labeled a “copycat” in the industry.

How Artists Can Best Position Themselves to Take Advantage of AI: Using Innovation to Launch Your Career

The tattoo industry as a whole can expect several benefits from the effects of AI, including a larger community of new tattoo artists, less harsh apprenticeships, and a growing acceptance of tattoos due to a larger clientele. 

Additionally, artificial intelligence offers tattoo artists benefits they can use as tools to reach their individual career goals faster. Here’s how artists can use AI to position themselves for success in the coming years:

Is Tattoo Ink Dangerous?

The recent UK ink ban has caused the United States and Canada to take a closer look at what ingredients go into tattoo ink - and whether they are actually safe for people to have in their skin.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no ink made particularly for tattooing. While there are popular “tattoo ink” distributors that offer tattoo artists sterile products to prevent infection (Solid Ink, Intenze Ink, and Eternal Ink, to name a few), the actual pigments that go into these inks are the same ones that go into many paints and textiles. 

Many of these pigments are known to contain heavy metals and other materials that you wouldn’t necessarily want to put into your body. However, the trace amounts of these materials found in the ink have not been proven to cause cancer (or any other illness). 

According to the study’s lead scientist, John Swierk, Ph.D., the biggest concerns we should have when it comes to tattoo ink causing cancer are actually the laser removal process and ink particle size. 

Lasering Certain Inks can Produce Carcinogens

Even though tattoo inks contain trace amounts of dangerous materials, they aren’t a real threat - provided they remain in their original, stable form. The true problem is when those ink particles begin to break down, which can be caused by the presence of certain bacteria or the laser removal process.

When ink containing azo pigments (these are the same pigments targeted by the UK ink ban) break down via bacteria or UV light, they release a nitrogen-based compound that may cause cancer. 

The Most Dangerous Ink Colors

Azo pigments are found in nearly every color of tattoo ink. Black and red ink normally do not contain azo pigments. Please note that this does not mean black and red ink is free of harmful material. One study found that 83% of black inks tested contained Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are known to be carcinogens.

Small Ink Particle Size Could Cause Cancer

Swierk’s team also studied the size of tattoo ink particles. Normally, tattoo ink particles are large. This is important because the body’s natural defense systems cannot break down those large particles effectively, which allows the tattoo to stay in place with minimal fading. 

However, if a tattoo ink particle is too small, it can make its way through the cell membrane and damage the cell. This type of damaged cell - under the right conditions - could cause cancer. 

Ink Particles Can Collect in the Lymph Nodes

The body sees tattoo ink particles as a “foreign invader” that needs to be destroyed. Even though it’s very difficult for the body to break down such large particles, it will try to do so by flushing out the material using the body’s natural “drainage” system, the lymphatic system.

Tattoo Ink and Skin Cancer

In addition to recent studies, there has been a longer-standing concern over whether tattoos cause skin cancer. 

Though we’ve seen that tattoo ink does contain potential carcinogens (as many food, makeup, and household cleaning products do), there is no conclusive evidence that simply having tattoos causes skin cancer. However, there is a risk for skin cancer if someone tattoos over a mole without the approval of their doctor. 

The Tattoo Ink Ban and New Safety Measures

As mentioned previously, the UK has recently put a ban on many ink colors containing azo pigments, giving artists a year-long grace period to find replacements. It is expected that the U.S. will follow suit with similar bans in the near future. 

This crackdown on ink ingredients has led many tattoo ink distributors to reformulate their ink using safer materials and to be more transparent in their labeling. (In the August 2022 study, Swierk’s team found ethanol in a tattoo ink, but ethanol was not listed on the label.)

This increase in safety, however, has led to an increase in prices, as many of the safer materials are more expensive to produce.

What Does This Mean for Tattoo Artists?

The findings of Swierk’s team are still in the process of being peer reviewed, and no action has been taken by the FDA at the time of writing. Tattoo artists in the U.S. and Canada are still able to use tattoo inks that they see fit. However, with this new information, it is likely that both artists and clients might want to re-evaluate which inks are used during the tattooing process. 

The findings of Swierk’s study are to be added to whatsinmyink.com as a resource for artists (and their clients) to review ink ingredients. 

While more scientific studies on tattoo ink (and subsequent improvements in the tattoo industry) will make tattooing a more medically-safe art form, safer - and more expensive - ink could lead to a rise in costs for tattoo artists, who often function as individual businesses. Because of this, tattoo artists can expect safer, easy-to-read ink that clients can trust - but they can also expect to raise their prices in the coming years to compensate for the increased costs.

Artists who have adapted to technology have been able to speed up their work process to improve faster and do more tattoos. Artists who have not, however, have ended up falling behind in the industry.

This is why it’s so important for new tattoo artists to know what technology is out there for them - and how to use it.

What’s New in Tattooing: iPads, Machines, Marketing, and More

The following list will break down the biggest advances in tech that tattooing has seen in the past several years. We’ll also include resources to help you get started with that technology yourself.

iPad + Procreate

The Procreate App on the iPad is the biggest game changer tattooing has seen from technology. This is because it can save artists several hours of work each week.

Social Media

Before social media, tattoo artists would have to wait for walk-in clients to get work. Overtime, as their work got better, those walk-in clients might come back and get more tattoos from that artist. However, building a client list and becoming an appointment-only artist this way took years. 

Today, artists use Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and more to build a following, which makes it easier to reach more people and get more clients. Because those people are familiar with their work, they’ll become clients, even if they are a new artist without much experience. 

Because of this, many new artists are getting popular online, which means they are getting the same type of clientele (and income) of much more experienced artists. Additionally, if they have followers across the country or worldwide, they can have work waiting on them whenever they want to travel. 

Because of technology, “going viral” in a single day can lead to months of work and a stable career.

Online Booking

In the past, clients would have to come into the shop to book an appointment with their artist. 

Today, you can connect your calendar to an online booking tool, and customers can book in with you without messaging back and forth trying to find a time that works. 

You can also collect deposits online, and even have clients sign waivers electronically in the shop. These automated processes not only save you time, but it allows you to have all your documents in one place without having to keep a ton of papers around.

Rotaries and Pen Machines

For decades, coil machines were the only tattoo machines artists used. While some artists still prefer to use them, coil machines need a lot of tuning. To be able to use one properly, you need to be a bit of a machine builder on top of being an artist.

However, in the last ten years, rotary machines and pen machines have become incredibly popular. Instead of having to manually tune the machine, rotaries and pen machines have made it easy to get set up and start tattooing right away. 

Additionally, because these machines are easier to use, they’re very beginner-friendly. This allows new artists to get to tattooing faster without having to worry about many settings.

Cartridges

Most artists today use cartridges and disposable grips while they tattoo. This saves artists hours of time. When they’re done with a tattoo, they can simply drop the used cartridges into a biohazard container. 

Before cartridges were available, tattoo artists would have to clean their tubes before running an autoclave every night to sterilize them.

On top of that, many artists would have to solder their own needles. This is a dangerous and time-consuming process, and it’s no longer recommended that artists make their own needles.

Online Ordering

Before artists could order supplies online, they’d have to order over the phone. Supply companies would send books of their products to tattoo shops, and artists would call in with a list of what they needed. 

Today, online ordering has made this process much simpler. It’s also now much easier for beginners to get supplies if they aren’t learning in a traditional shop setting.

Online Learning

Technology has made tattooing much more accessible. In the past, the only way to learn to tattoo was in a traditional apprenticeship. However, this meant that aspiring artists who couldn’t work fulltime in the shop had no way to learn.

Nowadays, artists are turning to online platforms to learn how to tattoo at home, on their own time. 

Become a Tattoo Artist With the Artist Accelerator Program

Having a career in tattooing is not only fulfilling, but it’s also the most stable way to make a living as an artist. However, for decades, the process to become a tattoo artist has been notoriously difficult. 

The apprenticeship process requires aspiring tattoo artists to work 50-60 hours a week without pay for 2-4 years. That, combined with the toxic culture of abusing apprentices, makes getting into the industry almost impossible for newcomers. 

That’s why we created the Artist Accelerator Program. Our online course provides a simple, structured way of learning to tattoo that has been proven to work by over 2500 successful students, with many of them having gone on to open their own shops all around the world. 

Inside the program, we’ll take you through every step of the tattooing process in 9 clear, easy-to-follow modules and support you along the way within the Tattooing 101 Mastermind online community.

In the Mastermind group, you’ll collaborate with other students, get answers to your questions, and receive personalized video feedback on your artwork and tattoos from professional tattoo artists. With this friendly community of both new and experienced tattoo artists, you’ll never be stuck again. 

When you join the Artist Accelerator Program, you’ll have instant access to the full course and the Mastermind community, as well as our 30-Day Flash Challenge and recorded interviews with tattoo artists from all over the world. 

Click here to learn more about the Artist Accelerator Program.