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How to Shade Tattoos Like the Pros

Shading a tattoo takes a lot of skill and advanced technique, allowing the tattoo artist to illustrate very intricate detail and color in the ink. When tattoos are properly shaded by an experienced tattoo artist, a sense of depth in the tattoo can often be seen, showcasing visible shapes and textures in almost a way that can seem three dimensional.



Most tattoo artists get started in their careers through apprenticeships so they can get the hands on experience needed to eventually acquire advanced techniques like shading tattoos. Acquiring good shading technique helps separate the unskilled from the skilled, meaning that as a tattoo artist, the pursuit for developing those advanced skills should always be an important goal.

Things You'll Need

  • Tattoo machine and needle
  • Bowl of water
  • Black and colored ink
  • Sterile skin cleaner
  • Cotton swabs or wipes
  • Latex gloves
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Instructions

  1. Preparation

    • 1

      Put on latex gloves and sterilize the area of skin where the shading will begin by wiping it with a cotton swab and a mixture of water and alcohol.

    • 2

      Apply lotion to the skin in preparation to begin shading the tattoo. This will help to create a better gliding movement over the skin for the tattoo needle.

    • 3

      Adjust the tattoo needle depth according to the level of shade you want to produce. Darker shading requires a deeper injection while lighter shading requires a lower need depth.

    Shading

    • 4

      Dip the tattoo needle into your black or colored ink. If you need a lighter shade for specific section of the tattoo design, dip the needle into a bowl filled with sterile water beforehand.

    • 5

      Position the needle over the skin where the shading is required. Hold the needle like a paintbrush, holding it tilted for optimal shading. Do not hold the needle vertically.

    • 6

      Apply the tattoo need on the area of skin to release the ink onto the skin. Slower need strokes with the needle along the skin will produce darker shades while faster strokes will create lighter shades. Remember to maintain the tilted position of the needle at all times.

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