7 Best Tattoo Ink For Stick and Poke in 2022 – Reviews & Guide

No doubt, tattoo artists have become more dependent on the machines. Yet, some still love to explore the artistry with the old stick and poke gear.

But the problem remains is that it is hard to find the best tattoo ink for stick and poke. You can’t just go use the first thing you see with them as there is a risk of getting a serious allergic reaction or even worse for using the wrong kind of ink.

So, should you stop the exploration of it? Not at all.

To help you reach your goal of becoming the stick n poke tattoo artist, I’ve got and found the best stick and poke ink.

Just check them out below.

What are The Best Inks For Stick And Poke?

If you’re in search to find the best pen ink for stick and poke then going through the list below will give you some idea of it.

Best For Versatile Use: Bloodline Tattoo Stick and Poke Ink
Whether you’re looking to do shading work or have crisp lines using stick and poke kit, go with the Bloodline ink.

Best For Rich Tones: MOM’S Stick and Poke Ink
When you’re looking to achieve results that will make people look at the work, then look no further and go for the Mom’s.

Best For High-Quality Texture: Stigma Stick and Poke Ink
No more have tattoos with bumpy and lumpy eyes after they get healed. Stigma solves the issue with textured ink that gets rid of the age-old problem for good.

Best Consistency Ink: Kuro Sumi Stick and Poke Ink
Don’t want to work with ink that’s too thick or that’s too runny? Then find the best consistency to work with using the Kuro Sumi colors

Best For Wide Color Variety: Dynamic Black Stick and Poke Ink
If you need a wide variety of colors to work with, then Dynamic tattoo ink is the one to bet one with eyes closed.

Best For Ease Of Use: Wormhole Natural Plant Stick and Poke Tattoo Ink
Inking can get really difficult because of the quality of the ink. With the Wormhole one, you don’t have to think about any of that anymore. It makes getting the ink to the skin easier than it has ever been

Best For Mixing With Other Pigments: Black element Stick and Poke Ink
If you need ink for mixing with other brands tattooing pigments, try out the Black element.

Top 7 Stick and Poke Ink – Reviews

1. Bloodline Stick and Poke Ink: Best for Versatility

Specification:

• Ounces: 1Fl. Oz
• Manufacturer: SkinCandy tattoo ink
• Dimension: 4x1x1 inches

Right out of the block, the Bloodline stick and poke tattoo ink comes to be one of the best in the business. With this 1 oz bottle, you will get a premium quality all-purpose ink that leaves marks that you will want to show around proudly.

The thick black ink goes deep into the ink to provide those vibrant and dark colors that will come across to be super cool to look at with those sticks and poke tattoo designs.

But it isn’t ready for use right out of the bottle for those outlining works. For that, you’ve got to cut down the ink thickness with 3:1 distilled water. Or you can instead of that use witch hazel or Listerine, whichever you feel comfortable using.

Thinning the ink with those, it is easier to get better work done while shading. And being a made in the USA product, you can trust on its quality. The thing will hold its own and not fade away like most inks. Instead, the one here will go 3-4 shades darker with time after the stick and poke tattoo of yours heal.

If you don’t want to have a mess in your parlor working with tattoo ink, it is the one to go for. It is smooth and doesn’t get splashed around like others. And the most important thing of all, it sticks well to the skin to provide those stunning artwork on the body.

Highlighted Features:

• Offers an all purpose black color
• Has a thick texture
• Comes in a 1 oz bottle
• Gets 3-4 shades darker after healed
• Transfers to the skin quite smoothly

2. Mom’s Stick and Poke Ink: Richest Color Tone

Specification:

• Ounces: 1 Fl. Oz
• Manufacturer: Millennium Mom’s
• Dimension: 3.5×2.6×1 inches

Another black ink that tattoo artists use as a stick and poke inking is the Mom’s one. Even before getting into the quality of the ink, the thing that will get your eyes captivated is the bottle inside which the thing comes in.

The packaging of it is stunning. And even more stunning is the fact that like the earlier one, it also gets made in the USA.

But once you start looking past those things and check the ink, it won’t let you down either. The smooth homogenized mixture that comes inside the bottle flows real smooth inside the skin pigments to create those popping arts on the body.

Unlike other cheap inks, the higher pure pigment content of it ensures the tattoos you will be getting using them will be more vibrant. They will certainly stand out, that’s what Mom’s ink guarantees.

And the color won’t be like those which have no consistency throughout the skin. In every area of the skin, it will provide the same color depth. Whenever you use it for tattooing, you can be sure of getting the same results.

What’s even more impressive is that the work done by those won’t vanish. The rich tones produced by the Mom’s ink will stay on the skin for a long time. The ink will remain as bold as the day first you’ve got it if not get even darker with time after the area gets healed.

No need to worry about it running down while using. It isn’t at all watery like some of the other ones out there that you can find. So, applying it is also easy. No surprise tattoo artists love it so much.

Highlighted Features:

• Provides a homogenized carriers for easy flowing
• Gives the purest pigment content for the most vibrant colors
• Ensures a consistent color and quality inking result
• Offers a rich tone tattoo that lasts for a long time
• Time-tested ink is favorite among professional tattooists.

3. Stigma Black Color Stick and Poke Ink: Highest Quality Texture

Specification:

• Ounces: 4 oz
• Manufacturer: Solong
• Dimension: 6.46×1.65×1.54 inches

Break the stigma of having ink on the body with the help of the Black color scale tattoo ink than none other by Stigma.

How appropriate the name is, isn’t it?

That said, the small ink bottle is on par with some of the best. With a simple rotating bottle cap on top of it, you can seal the hole or have it open for getting the black color poured for those stick and poke kits.

This one here is a 100% true black. It gives those pop-out black pigments on the skin which exactly both the tattooist and the guy getting inked hopes for.

But unlike others, it doesn’t only do that. With a slight change of color, this one can achieve results like a light, medium, or dark black with the gradation of other colors in it.

Whether you’re doing shading or lining work, it is the perfect ink to have by the side. And the good thing is, this is safe to use. With pigments that got irradiated and sterilized, there is no risk of inserting it on the skin.

Highlighted Features:

• Provides 4-color results: dark black, light black, medium black and true black
• Gets made using pure natural botanical ingredients
• Pigments doesn’t fade away easily
• Tattoo ink gets absorbed real fast to make quick healing
• Offers sterilized pigments

4. Kuro Sumi Stick and Poke Ink: Great Consistency

Specification:

• Ounces: 1/2 oz (each)
• Manufacturer: Kuro Sumi
• Dimension: 8x6x4 inches

No doubt, black is the color of choice for anyone getting inked on their body. But there are other artworks where you would need more colors in your arsenal. Keeping that in mind, I’ve got the Kuro Sumi colors to give you.

What makes it different from the rest is that it doesn’t just come with one standard black color ink bottle. No. Here you will get a set of 7-colors that any tattoo artist might require for their inking.

Great thing about the colors here is that they are cruelty-free. So, everything that Kuro provides is made from 100% organic ingredients. And yes, they get made in the USA. That means, when you will be using this, you will be making America great again.

Using them is also great fun. With the darker colors, you can see that they take to skin quite well. And the colors pop out real good on the body. Whether you love to use the old way of inking with the stick or just go with the modern machines, the Kuro Sumi kit is good for both kinds of use.

Highlighted Features:

• Includes 7 set of colors
• Colors include: black, white, blue, red, yellow, orange and green
• Inks get made with all organic ingredients
• Has minimal fading over time
• Gets made in the United States

5. Dynamic Black Stick and Poke Tattoo Ink: Exciting Color Varieties

Specification:

• Ounces: 1 oz
• Manufacturer: Dynamic
• Dimension: 4.65×1.3×1.18 inches

If a wide range of color variations is what you’re looking to get, then Dynamic got you covered. With over 30 color variants, the brand has every shade there is you will ever need to make those artworks on the people’s body come to life.

And the best part, unlike some of the other inks, these aren’t just suitable for one type of inking work. Instead, you can use them for lining and shading work which is perfect for any artist as they get more freedom working with them—no need to change between colors in the middle of the work anymore.

Being pre-dispersed ink, these are good to use right out of the bottle. The thinner consistency of these requires no more mixing to do. However, they will offer you bold and bring colors to the skin. No matter the pigmentation of the person’s skin, the colors will stand out. And they will last for a long period, that’s guaranteed.

Not to forget, they get absorbed fast, making the healing process also faster than other inks. You won’t find many better than this.

Highlighted Features:

• Provides over 30 color varieties for inking
• Bottle comes with pre-dispersed ink
• Suitable for both shading and lining work
• Ink is vegan friendly
• Has a simple solution for use right out of the bottle.

6. Wormhole Hand Poke Tattoo Ink: Simple Application

Specification:

• Ounces: 1 oz
• Manufacturer: Wormhole
• Dimension: 4.53 x 1.14 x 0.91 inches

Most tattoo inks come with the problem of leaking. The ink gets wasted more than getting inserted in the skin.

Wormhole solves that problem with a spiral design ink bottle that stops such leaks for good.

But it isn’t just the bottle that makes it so great. It is its natural plant and organic pigment ingredients that make it so attractive for tattoo artists. Here, there are no allergic ingredients that might cause the clients rashes or any such allergic reaction of such sort.

Plus, it got no animal-based glycerin used like most inks you can find in the market. Therefore, even vegans will feel comfortable letting it be used on the skin. And with no damage or irritation to worry about, that already makes too good of a proposition to avoid.

For ink artists, it is fun to work with the Wormhole. Its small particles flow through the skin easily to leave a long-lasting, bright color on there. So, if you’re in search of the purest and smoothest of ink to work with at the parlor, then open up the bottle of Wormhole.

Highlighted Features:

• Has a spiral design mouth for avoid leaking
• Offers an easy to color water-based pigments
• Gets made using natural plants and organic pigments
• Provides true black color
• Color lasts for a long time even when exposed to sunlight

7. Black Element Stick and Poke Tattoo Ink: Perfect for Mixing

Specification:

• Ounces: 1 oz
• Manufacturer: Elements tattoo supply
• Dimension: 1x1x4 inches

The last one on the list comes from Element Tattoo. It is their black lining shading nighthawk outlining one.

What makes it unique is the fact it gives you the darkest black color there is. At least, in the ink industry, not many can match the deep dark blackness of it. To add to that crown, the luxury of getting it mixed with any other brand tattooing pigments make it even more likable.

Don’t know about others, but artists love that. Also for the reason that it goes hand in hand for use with those freehand stick and poke tattoos.

Made from all-natural and organic ingredients, using it won’t cause any side effects like rashes or any other allergic reaction like such. And being free of acrylic and solvents, there is no risk of it drying up like the cheap inks found in the market.

Not to forget, its super impressive healing time makes it perfect to use for inking as clients can get those bold, bright artworks on their skin displayed around without waiting for a long period.

Plus, it gets made in the USA. If that adds some more motivation to opt for it, then knowing that won’t harm.

Highlighted Features:

• All purpose ink for both shading and outlines work
• Comes in a 1 oz bottle
• Gets made in the USA
• Has a seal top for easy transportation
• Got an easy twist top cap for easy storage

 

Best Stick And Poke Tattoo Ink Buying Guide

Not all inks get made the same way. And most of them don’t get the same purpose.

Though they get made for inking, they are not suited for all types of inking techniques. For the stick and poke one, this couldn’t be more true.

Therefore, if you’re in the market to find the best ink for stick and poke tattoos, this can be a big task than you could ever imagine.

That’s why I’ve come up with this buying guide. Just note down the points and keep them in mind while looking for the inks, and you won’t have trouble picking up the best one.

Color Quality:

The first thing that needs consideration is the quality of the colors you’re getting. It is a vital thing that you can’t overlook. That’s because the quality of the ink will determine how the tattoo will come out after you’ve done the inking.

So, the thing that buyers need to focus on is the ink tag. By looking at it, one can easily identify the ink they’re getting is whether a stable pigment based on or those pre-dispersed ones.

The difference between the two is that the first one, the pigment-based ink got bigger particles. Therefore, the solution of it is thicker. That means, to use them you’ve got to mix with other blends and tones. Otherwise, the particles in their true form coming inside the bottle won’t be able to give the variations in pigmentation, tone, shade, and things like that which is vital for making a tattoo on the skin stand out.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are the pre-dispersed ones. With those, you will get a thinner solution which makes it easier to use with carriers of others. And they come most of the time ready to use out of the bottle. Though, they aren’t the best option for mixing or diluting colors.

Non-allergic:

With some of the inks made with chemicals and other stuff, there is always the chance of the person getting inked having some kind of allergic reaction. That can be real trouble for the artist.

To avoid any such thing from happening, opting for inks that get made of natural ingredients should be on your priority list. Using them will ensure that you won’t run into a lawsuit causing some kind of allergic reaction to the client.

So, I will advise keeping that in mind and opt for non-allergic, natural ink options for sure.

Vegan Friendly:

Then there is the other thing that you should consider and that is getting a spot of ink that’s vegan friendly. Those inks will have a milder scent and that will have the earthy aroma to it which won’t bother both the tattooist and the guy getting inked.

But don’t just go and get anything that has a vegan-friendly label on them. Make sure to check out the scent and also it is advisable to go and make sure whether it got tested or animals or not.

Do that bit to make sure you can have a clear consciousness if you’re someone who advocates for veganism.

Skin Type:

Not all inks will pop out on all types of skin. With various levels of pigmentation in a person’s skin, there are times when some inks will come out bright and colorful as if they’re screaming out loud to be seen.

While for some, they won’t even get noticed because the skin type doesn’t allow the ink to stand out.

That’s why, before picking up the stick n poke tattoo ink, make sure that it would work on most skin types so that you don’t have to worry about disappointing the customer with dull artwork on their body.

Longer Lasting:

If the ink you’re getting wears out fast, then that’s not a good sign. Getting inked is one of the most painful things there is. Many will say that. Therefore, no one who is planning to get inked on their body with their favorite design would want to go under the needle frequently to get that thing on the body.

They would want to have the artwork that will last a lifetime or at least 5-10 years minimum. Keeping that in mind, tattoo artists, especially the ones who do stick and poke tattooing should get inks that will not fade away. And that will remain on the skin for a long time in the same bright and colorful way.

The number one reason for inks getting faded is the exposure to sunlight. This is why you should opt for the ones that offer the UV-resistant feature which will help them counteract the issue.

Healing:

The other aspect that many others forget to talk about is the healing process. It might not seem like something related to the ink, but it is. The hand poke tattoo ink you’re using will have some kind of properties that can help with the healing.

That’s why you can find inks which after application don’t seem a lot of time to set within the skin. While some others take a lot of time to get that swelling to go away. So, keeping that in mind, when you’re out there looking to buy ink, make sure to get those that make the process a bit faster.

Types of Stick and Poke Tattoo Ink:

Those who work with the stick and poke techniques need to be quite careful when it comes to choosing the ink. They can’t just get any ink they find and use it for the tattooing. It can have negative side effects that might lead to some serious problems.

So, what ink should they use? Now, that’s the question that needs some answering. And that’s what you’ll find here.

Indian stick n poke ink:

There aren’t many options when it comes to inking using the stick and pokes. The only and the safest option that one can go for is by using Indian ink.

So, what’s the Indian ink you might ask?

It is a deep black ink that got no toxic ingredients in it. As it stays away from using harmful elements, it makes for the perfect ink to be used with the stick and poke. There is no risk of getting allergic reactions or anything like such that might put the artist in trouble. So, if you’re planning to go with the old tattooing style, then go and get yourself the best quality Indian stick and poke ink like some of the ones up here.

Stick and Poke Ink Alternatives:

You might think, using the stick and poke tattooing is limiting your work. That could have been true if it was in the past. Yes, there isn’t much alternative while looking for the ink. But there are some options that you can get today if you’re not finding the perfect stick n poke tattoo ink.

What’s the alternative? Let’s find out.

You can go for any tattoo ink from known brands to use with your stick and poke equipment. That’s right.

Nowadays, many high-quality hand poke inks get made without any presence of toxic ingredients in them. Therefore, they are safe to use for inking in those old methods of tattooing.

So, use any real tattoo ink that has natural ingredients and you will be fine. Or if you can, make the ink at home for use. If you want the latest ink kit then check out stick and poke tattoo kits here.

How to Make Stick and Poke Ink At Home?

Ok, do you want to make your tattooing ink? If you’re interested in that, then here you can learn how to do that exactly.

Just follow the steps mentioned below and you’ll be just fine.

To make stick n poke tattoo ink at home, there is a need for a couple of things. Actually, two things are all you need. One is wood ashes and the other is water.

Wood ashes offer a pure carbon-like substance that can give that black color profile that ink has. Makes a lot of sense as the tattoo inks used today are based on carbon. And to suspend the ink from that wood ash, there is the need for water. Though using it isn’t something many would prefer. But at home, there isn’t any better option than using sterile distilled water.

However, poking through the skin will always have the risk of getting infected with bacteria. That’s why, the other option that you can go for, which is preferred by most is vodka.

That’s right!

Vodka has the alcohol mixed in water. Using it in a small amount to create the mixture of wood ashes to create the ink will be safer than using water. Add small amounts because if the ink remains thicker, you can always add an extra bit of vodka for thinning it.

If you’re planning to use homemade ink, then it is better to make a fresh batch of it for use instead of storing it away. Though, you can store it in a sealed container if you want.

FAQ’s:

What ink is safe to use for stick and poke?

The safest tattoo ink option for stick and poke is the India ink.

Can you use sharpie ink for stick and poke?

Though many of the markers get advertised for not having any toxic element in them. There is the risk of letting the ink go to the bloodstream which can be very fatal. Not to mention, the fumes extracted by the sharpie can also cause trouble if you accidentally inhale it during the process.

Can you use bic pen ink for a stick and poke?

To be honest, you can use the bic pen ink but you shouldn’t.

Can you die from a stick and poke?

There is the risk of letting some unwanted bacteria reach the bloodstream or inside of the skin that can be dangerous for the health. Unless if you’re not using the wrong ink or not getting the stick n poke needles sanitized properly, then there is no such risk. But if it is otherwise, then ink poisoning can lead to something unfortunate.

Can you stick and poke with eyeliner?

Technically it can be done but it is advised no to as it can lead to some serious infection or even worse.

Is it illegal to give yourself a stick and poke?

For now, there is no such law saying that a person can’t tattoo themselves. So, no, it isn’t illegal to give yourself a stick and poke tattoo.

Can you use non-toxic ink for a stick and poke?

The answer is no. If somehow you manage to insert it too deep into the tissue and have it in the bloodstream, that can be dangerous to health.

Can I use food coloring for stick and poke?

There is no one stopping from you doing that. But stick to using Indian ink or the real tattoo ink instead of these.

Can you use mascara for a stick and poke?

Mascara is quite thick. Therefore, it is advised not to use it for inking.

Can you use acrylic ink for stick and poke tattoos?

Never use inks that aren’t meant for it. So, no. Don’t use acrylic ink with the stick and poke devices.

Conclusion:

There you have it. The stick and poke ink reviews to find the best tattoo ink for stick and poke.

With a wide variety of options out here, you can find the right type no matter what you’re looking to get.

So, take some time, go through them once more, and have a clear idea of what you’re looking to achieve. And once you’ve got the clarity, pick the ideal one from here.

When you do that, don’t forget to share your pick and why you’ve got it below in the comment sections. Share your thoughts with others to guide others like you.