handpoking
Handpoking, also called hand-poke tattooing or stick-and-poke tattooing, is a method of applying body art by inserting pigment into the skin with a handheld needle rather than a tattoo machine. This approach is used for simple lines, small fills, and experimental designs and is practiced by hobbyists, traditional artisans, and contemporary tattoo artists.
Practitioners use a sterile needle attached to a rod or held directly in the hand, dipped in
Historically, handpoked techniques have appeared in many cultures and predate electric tattoo machines. In modern times
Safety and regulation vary by jurisdiction. Handpoked tattoos carry risks such as infection, scarring, ink spread,