Stick and poke tattoos are a substitute version of professional tattoos that you make at home or over a friend’s house instead of having it professionally done. These tattoos are made by getting a clean needle, dipping it in ink and pricking the skin deep enough so that the ink sinks in and stays. You continually prick with ink until you finish whatever design you want. Most people use professional tools and India ink but it is possible to use a sewing needle and ink from a pen or other cheap substitutes. This is not advised and can put you more at risk for infections.

Pros:
Advantages of doing your own stick and poke is the inexpensive cost of it. You can easily get sterilized supplies for the tattoo online in a cheap and short amount of time. These tools include professional tattoo needles, tattoo or India ink or come pre-packaged as a stick and poke tattoo kit.

Another reason for doing your own tattoo is the sheer fact that people think they’re cool.

“I think they’re cool but I personally wouldn’t get one because of the risks. ” said Nerissa Rivera.

You have the liberty to make your own design and have as much fun with it as you want. There are no restrictions because you are in charge of what you create.

Nathan Arriola, who has a stick and poke tattoo said, “I think they’re useful because now I know what to expect when I get one professionally done.”

Cons:
No matter how much fun these homemade tattoos are, they can cause a lot of pain depending on your pain tolerance. Since you are stabbing little dots into your skin it also takes a long time to complete a simple design.
This type of tattooing can cause a blood-borne infection that can lead to Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, according to Dr. Herveen Sachdeva, Toronto’s Associate Medical Officer of Health, cited in an article in Global News, on May 5, 2015.

If you’re considering getting a stick and poke tattoo, make sure to use rubbing alcohol to disinfect the needle and your skin, as well as lighting the tip of the needle with fire to kill bacteria.