🥇 Best Tattoo Needles 2022 - Update [Reviews & Guides] | InkedWay
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The Best Tattoo Needles to Buy and Use in 2022 (Pre-made and Cartridges)

Tattoo designs consist of thin and thick lines, solid ink, and smooth color gradients. A certain tattoo needle is used for each purpose. So tattoo artists always have several sets or even a few dozen in their arsenal. The result of the tattoo depends on how accurately the tattooist chooses the type of tool.

If you want to know more about the types their purposes, check out our review of the best tattoo needles on the market.

Updated January 1, 2022

KWADRON NEEDLES – THE BEST TATTOO NEEDLES BRAND

Kwadron Cartridge System is The Best Tattoo Needle Cartridges.

Kwadron is well established and has been wowing most tattoo artists for several years. They are constantly making and introducing new products to the market; they have a wide line of tattoo needles in different configurations, both cartridge and premade.

Kwadron is the #1 choice if you have a rotary tattoo machine and are looking for the best cartridge tattoo needles. They are compatible with most well-known machines, including Cheyenne Hawk, FK Irons, Dragonfly, and others. These needles are suitable for absolutely everyone: both experienced artists and beginners. Kwadron brand products are thoroughly tested and certified.

Pros

  • The highest quality and most stable tattoo needles with different configurations available on the market
  • The best price-quality ratio
  • 100% safe and sterile
  • Wide range of configurations
  • Reasonable price
  • Awesome design
  • Great fit for all tattoo machines
  • Perfect soldering
  • Sharp and precise needles
  • Lowest defect rate

Cons

KWADRON TATTOO NEEDLES BOX OF 50. BEST FOR COIL TATTOO MACHINES

Kwadron Tattoo Needles Box of 50 is the Best for Coil Tattoo Machines.

Kwadron needles are of high quality and feature a wide range of configurations, including very thin (0.25mm) and textured needles.

The perfect soldering of sharp, yet supple long needles of above-average hardness ensured a high degree of trust of tattoo artists in this product and the first place in our rating.

KWADRON CARTRIDGE SYSTEM. THE BEST TATTOO NEEDLE CARTRIDGES

The manufacturer was able to achieve excellence in the production of not only traditional tattoo needles but also cartridges.

They are reliable, precise, and affordable. Their body is made of high-quality medical plastic, and the needles themselves are made of special stainless steel. Their diameter ranges from 0.25 to 0.35 mm. One box contains 20 pieces of cartridges. A variety of cartridge configurations allows you to choose the best option even for the most demanding professionals. The Kwadron has a system of needle stabilization, and a low friction level means that the needles stay sharp for a long time. Also, there is no way for the ink to get into the grip through the backside of the cartridge cover.

There is a range designed specifically for permanent makeup – it comes in white and pink packaging. The classic range is nicely presented in black packaging with gold letters.

Verdict

Kwadron is a premium product that can be purchased at an affordable price. The highest quality product available on the market today!

CHEYENNE – BEST QUALITY TATTOO NEEDLES

Cheyenne Best Quality Tattoo Needles.

Cheyenne cartridges are a premium product. They are available in more than 40 configurations. With the various configurations of Cheyenne lining, shading, and coloring cartridges, the limits and borders of artists’ creative freedom have been erased. They are easy and efficient to use. The body is made of high-quality plastic. The needles are precise and of high quality.

The cartridges are sterile and have a membrane, making them 100% safe for you and your machine. The membrane prevents ink from getting into the engine of the tattoo machine and protects your customers.

Pros

  • 100% sterile and safe
  • Easy and effective to use
  • Robust and reliable
  • Needles are sharp, precise, and defect-free
  • A huge number of configurations
  • World’s first cartridge tattoo needle systems

Cons

  • The most expensive on the market

heyenne offered 3 different ranges, which differ from each other in design and price:

  • Safety
  • Craft
  • Capillary

Below we will tell you about the best products in each of these ranges.

CHEYENNE HAWK NEEDLES. 0.3 MM 3 ROUND LINER BUGPIN LONG TAPER

Box of 10 Cheyenne Hawk Needles 30mm 3 Round Liner BugPin Long Taper.

These needles are among the best for lining. The first and revolutionary range of cartridge needles was introduced by German manufacturers. They are still the best on the market, and all manufacturers are trying to repeat this success.

THE BEST TATTOO NEEDLES FOR SHADING

CHEYENNE CRAFT CARTRIDGE NEEDLES. BOX OF 10 — 9-SHADER

Cheyenne Craft Cartridge Needles Box of 10 9 Shader.

The second launch of the cartridge needles came out under the name Craft. The manufacturer tried to solve the problem of the high cost of the first cartridges and released to the market a series of cool and also high quality and 100% safe cartridges. The shaders are worth special mention among them.

Craft Shaders are, according to most professional tattoo artists, the best for coloring. They are very easy to work with, well apply tattoo ink into the skin, and make the tattoo dense, thick, and saturated after one run. Design-wise, these cartridges are as high-quality as other products of this manufacturer: they don’t backlash, they are easy to use, and there are very few defective elements in batches.

CHEYENNE CAPILLARY CARTRIDGE TATTOO NEEDLES. MAGNUM (0.35MM 9 MAGNUM)

Cheyenne Capillary Cartridge Tattoo Needles Magnum (0.35mm 9 Magnum).

The manufacturer’s latest development is called the Capillary. Various configurations are available, but the Magnums deserve special attention: the brand offers us the best innovative and most productive Magnum tattoo needles on the market. Amazing comfort during work and high-quality tattoos are achieved due to the tattoo ink reservoir inside the design, which increases the flow of ink. Each needle ensures an even distribution of tattoo ink, even on a very large number of needles. This is why these Capillary became the best needles for tattoo color just a couple of months after entering the market.

CNC POLICE CARTRIDGES

CNC Police Cartridges.

It is the latest innovation from one of China’s most trusted manufacturers: CNC cartridge needles. These needles have an amazing striking design, but among their advantages, they have more to offer than a great design.

They look outstanding and we love the red color. The tips and the builds overall feel very light and don’t feel bulky at all.

The needles themselves are quality constructed. Moreover, all configurations do their job perfectly, so this is the one brand you need to check out.

None of the needles move or shake in the tube upon use. It feels very stable. The Finger Ledge is designed to comfortably put your finger on the tip while tattooing. The membrane is soft so it moves smoothly and easily. The needles are very polished and sharp so they ink very accurately, and exactly where you planned to apply the tattoo ink.

When you look at the round liners you can see very tight needle grouping. There are semi-textured needle cartridges – STX and polished ones.

We highly recommend this product to anyone looking for softer, but still membrane-protected, tattoo needles. They are affordable, very accurate, of high quality, and deserve the best praise from beginners and professional tattoo artists around the world.

Pros

  • Consistent stable needle
  • Smooth and safe membranes
  • The build offers comfort to the users
  • A large number of different configurations are available to meet all your needs
  • No adverse behaviors or shaking while operating
  • Outstanding designed and constructed

Cons

  • Not all configurations are always available

DRAGONHAWK TATTOO NEEDLES LINERS AND SHADERS 200 PCS. BUDGET PICK

Dragonhawk Tattoo Needles Liners and Shaders 200 Pcs Budget Pick.

If you use traditional tattoo needles and are looking for the cheapest option, then this set of 200 pieces of shaders, liners, and magnums will suit you best.

This tattoo needle set is made of stainless steel, and the needles are cleanly soldered. Each needle is individually packaged, sterile, and ready to use. The versatility of the kit makes it the best purchase for such an affordable price and easy to work with. They are very handy and easy to use. Therefore, we recommend Dragonhawk Tattoo Needles for coil tattoo machines and if you are on the budget.

Pros

  • Most affordable price
  • Versatile kit of shaders, liners, and magnums
  • A large number of needles per kit
  • Sterile and safe
  • Precise and stable operation

Cons

  • For some people, there may not be enough Magnums (only 40)
  • A lot of defective needles in batches

THE BEST TATTOO NEEDLES FOR LINING

BISHOP DA VINCI V2

Bishop DA VINCI V2.

The box feels super-premium; inside the box, you get 20 carts which is pretty standard. The cartridges themselves come individually blister-packed. They are all EO gas sterilized.

The design. From top to bottom the tray that holds the needle is individually tailored to each grouping to reduce side to side movement. The addition of a stabilization bar will reduce up and down movement together. This will help reduce the ink spray and give you a much more accurate tattoo. The rinse hole is now a fancy diamond shape but still large enough to rinse out any ink. Also, the liners have got a little tiny vent hole which helps encourage ink flow and stops any vacuuming. It has a wide spout for better needle glide. The needle tips are larger than the needles themselves, making them easier to slide inside, preventing extra friction, and making the impact smoother.

DA VINCI V2 undergoes an 8-step quality control when manufacturing each needle, and thanks to their perfectly smooth surface, there is less trauma to the skin.

There is a nice good click when you assemble it with the tattoo machine. They stand nice and tight, there is no movement. On the sides of the cartridge, they’ve got two little finger grips that help to remove the cart when your hands are a little bit slippery so they pop in and out super easy.

Best for Lining: 1007RL, 1009RL, 1205RLT, 1207RLT, 1205RL.

Pros

  • Premium quality
  • 8-step quality control when manufacturings
  • Sterilized and safe
  • Pop in and out super easy
  • The skin is much less traumatized
  • Got two little finger grips

Cons

  • a little pricey

TYPES OF TATTOO NEEDLES

A needle is a steel rod with sharp elements soldered on its end. Their number varies from 3 to 18. This needle type has been used since the late 19th century when the first tattoo machine was developed and patented. The tattooist manually sets the needle in the tips and adjusts the depth of the inking.

The second type of needle was developed in 2010. It is a cartridge that can be changed in seconds, and even while it is running. The cartridge needle type is more expensive but significantly more convenient and hygienic because the rubber membrane separates the cartridge from the machine’s body and inside construction.

The inventor of the company Cheyenne was German and introduced this new rotary machine, a grip, and a tip with soldered needles. The Polish Kwadron cartridges are slightly cheaper than the German ones.

The size of the tattoo needles determines the number of stabbing elements soldered onto the rod. The more there are, the larger the mark they leave. The size is chosen according to the thickness of the drawing. However, only a powerful machine can “pull” big needles. For example, the American Bishop Rotary is lightweight and powerful at the same time.

HOW MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF TATTOO NEEDLES ARE THERE?

TATTOO NEEDLE CLASSIFICATION BY PURPOSE

  • Liners. They are designed for fine artwork, drawing clear lines and small details. The stabbing elements are soldered into a tight bundle. Letters, contours, bright details, accentuating elements are made with liners.
  • Shader. They are intended to fill large areas. The stabbing needles are bundled together loosely.

CLASSIFICATION BY SOLDERING TYPE

  • Round Liner, RL. Round soldering: The number of needles determines the thickness of the lines. The best lining needles and are used for fine details and permanent makeup.
  • Round Shader, RS. Round soldering. The needles for shadings do the coloring and shading.
  • Round Shader, RS. Round soldering: The needles for shadings do the coloring and shading.
  • Flat Shader, FS. Flat soldering: Needles placed in a single row. They distribute the color perfectly and provide a depth of tones. They are suitable for coloring.
  • Round Magnum, RM. Flat soldering: Needles are of different lengths. The short ones are at the ends of the row. The long middle ones get deeper into the skin. The tattoo comes out sans serif. The best tattoo needles that perform soft coloring.
  • Magnum, M1: Flat soldering with the tips staggered in a row. They are used for smooth color gradients, shadows.
  • Magnum Special, M2. Flat soldering: The needles stand parallel with two rows. They perform deep coloring. One of the best brands producing Magnums is considered to be the FK Irons.

CLASSIFICATION BY SHARPENING

Besides the bundle shape distinction, there is a classification made between needles with differently sharpened ends.

  • L. It has a thin long tip; makes the thinnest piercing, passes easily through the skin, and is the least painful. It is used to draw very thin lines.
  • M. It has a medium length and thickness needle tip. It is a versatile needle and does almost all types of tattooing.
  • S. A thick needle with a short sharpening cylinder makes a large diameter piercing. It inserts the maximum amount of pigment under the skin. It is painful and used for solid shading.

Diameter of piercing elements

Tattoos are inked with needles of several sizes, according to a certain diameter:

6 = 0,2 mm

8 = 0,25 mm

10 = 0,3 mm

12 = 0,35 mm

14 = 0,4 mm

The thicker the needle, the faster the coloring. Mostly 0.3 and 0.35 mm diameters are used.

Polished and textured needles

All tattoo needle tips are polished and well sharpened. They easily pierce the skin and enter to a depth of 1,5-2,0 mm. But the smooth polished surface is not able to capture a lot of ink. That’s why you have to work longer, making more piercings.

The textured needles are used to minimize the handling and maintain the quality of the tattoo. They are also polished. But the tips have notches that hold more ink. They better cover the skin in a single puncture but can cause more trauma and pain. Textured tips are used for coloring large body areas.

Tattoo needle marking

Well, that’s easy. The marking consists of a one- or two-digit number and two letters. The letters are the type of soldering. The number is the number of soldered needles. Manufacturers indicate the diameter and type of sharpening on packages.

FAQ

BOTTOM LINE

A good quality tattoo needle is one of the basic working tools to achieve a high-quality tattoo and still feel comfortable and enjoyable in the process. Investing in this tool is not something that should be questioned. This review has shown you the best tattoo needles and now you can safely provide the highest quality to your clients.

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