Inside My Tattoo Set Up: How I Prepare for Every Session

Intro

Before starting tattooing, there’s a lot of preparation that goes into making sure everything is safe, sterile, and ready for you. Many clients never get to see this part of the process, so I wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes look at my personal set up. Every tool and product I use is chosen carefully for quality, hygiene, and performance, here’s what you’ll find on my work table before your session begins.

The Machine & Power

I work with a Bishop Wand, one of the most reliable tattoo machines in the industry. Its smooth performance allows me to create fine details and smooth shading, which is key in my black and grey realism work. To keep everything running consistently, I use a Critical Universal Battery Pack, which allows me to tattoo wirelessly, giving me freedom of movement and keeping cords out of the way for a cleaner, safer setup.

Needles & Cartridges

For every client, I use Kwadron, sterile, single-use cartridges. They’re individually packaged, opened fresh in front of you, and disposed of immediately after your session. I use a variety of groupings depending on the work:

• Round liners for fine lines and details.

• Magnums and curved magnums for shading and smooth gradients.

• Round shaders for softer blends and filling smaller areas.

Kwadron needles are industry-leading for their sharpness, consistency, and stability. The precision they provide is what allows me to execute the high level of detail in my realism tattoos.

Inks & Grey Wash

For deep blacks, I use Panthera XXX Tribal Black, a trusted industry standard known for its longevity and solid healing. For my grey wash system, I prepare my own mixes using Dynamic ink diluted with Witch Hazel. Witch Hazel is gentle on the skin, reducing redness and swelling, while still providing a smooth carrier for shading. This allows me to create soft gradients and high-contrast details that hold up beautifully over time.

Skin Protection:
Ink-Eeze vs. Vaseline

While many tattoo artists traditionally use Vaseline during tattooing, I prefer Ink-Eeze Tattoo Ointment. Here’s why:

• Specifically formulated for tattoos: Unlike Vaseline, which is a general-use petroleum product, Ink-Eeze is designed to protect tattooed skin during the process.

• Infused with vitamins and natural extracts: It helps soothe irritation and reduces redness, making the experience more comfortable for you.

• Lighter texture: Ink-Eeze doesn’t clog pores or oversaturate the skin, which means less ink gets trapped and wiped away, giving me a clearer view of my work.

• Healing benefits: It works both during the tattoo and in the healing stage, keeping the skin moisturized without being greasy.

In short: Ink-Eeze is cleaner, healthier, and more effective than Vaseline, which is why I choose it for all of my clients.

Additional Products

• Bactine Spray – A topical antiseptic that helps reduce pain, irritation and swelling during longer sessions, making the process more comfortable for you.

• Stencil Prep (Proton) – Applied before placing the stencil, it ensures the design stays firmly in place on the skin throughout the tattooing process.

• Alcohol & Green Soap Solution – Used to clean and disinfect the skin before starting.

Hygiene & Safety

Everything on my worktable is single-use or fully wrapped in protective film:

• Razor – To shave and prepare the area so the stencil applies smoothly.

• Sharpie marker – For freehand adjustments directly on the skin.

• Ink caps – Small disposable cups that hold ink during the session.

• Machine wraps, barrier film – These keep all equipment fully protected, preventing cross-contamination.

• Paper towels – Always new and clean, used throughout the process.

• Disposable gloves – Medical-grade nitrile gloves for safety.

Everything is organized and laid out on a clean, wrapped workstation, so that the moment you sit down, everything is ready and sterile.

Why This Matters

Every bottle, cap, and tool you see is part of making sure your tattoo is not only beautiful, but also done in the safest environment possible. Cleanliness, organization, and professional-quality products are non-negotiable in my process. This level of care allows me to focus fully on the art, giving you a tattoo that heals well and lasts a lifetime.

Closing

When you come in for your session, you can feel confident knowing that nothing is left to chance. From the machine I use to the smallest ink cap, everything is prepared with precision, professionalism, and your safety in mind.