Tattoo Glossary
Every term you'll hear at a studio — from blowout to irezumi — explained without jargon.
A
- Aftercare
- The process of cleaning and moisturising your tattoo while it heals. The first 2–3 weeks are critical for how the tattoo looks for the rest of your life.
- American Traditional
- A tattoo style with bold black outlines, a limited palette, and classic motifs (anchors, roses, panthers). Ages exceptionally well.
- Apprentice
- A trainee tattooer working under a licensed artist. Apprentice tattoos are cheaper but variable — only book one if you've seen their portfolio.
B
- Banger
- A bold, eye-catching tattoo, often a flash piece. “Bicep banger” = a panther or rose on the bicep.
- Blackwork
- A style using heavy black ink — geometric, dotwork, ornamental, or tribal-inspired. Strongest ageing of any style.
- Blast-over
- Tattooing over a healed older tattoo without removing it first, usually with bold blackwork or traditional. Different from a cover-up — the older work is partially visible.
- Blowout
- When ink spreads under the skin during tattooing, creating a blurred halo. Usually due to too much pressure, wrong needle depth or thin skin.
C
- Cover-up
- A new tattoo designed to obscure an older one. Usually 2–3x the size of the original and uses heavy ink.
D
- Dotwork
- Tattoo work made entirely of dots, often used for shading or creating ornamental patterns. Common in blackwork and geometric pieces.
F
- Fine Line
- Tattoos done with a single needle, very thin lines. Modern, delicate look. Ages faster than traditional — touch-ups every 5–10 years are common.
- Flash
- Pre-drawn designs displayed in a studio that any client can pick. Cheaper and quicker than custom work.
H
- Hand-poked / Stick-and-poke
- A non-machine technique where the artist taps each dot of ink in by hand. Often used for fine line and minimalist pieces.
- Hannya
- A traditional Japanese mask depicting a jealous female demon. A common irezumi motif.
- Healed
- A tattoo that's past the 30-day healing window. The true measure of an artist's skill is how their work looks healed, not fresh.
I
- Irezumi
- Traditional Japanese tattooing. Bold outlines, classic motifs (koi, dragon, peony, oni), and large-scale composition.
L
- Linework
- The black outlines of a tattoo. Clean, consistent linework is the foundation of a good piece.
M
- Machine
- The tattoo gun. Modern artists mostly use rotary machines — quieter, lighter and more precise than older coil machines.
N
- Numbing cream
- A topical anaesthetic applied before tattooing. Some artists allow it, many don't (it can affect skin texture during the work).
P
- Plasma
- The clear-yellowish fluid that weeps from a fresh tattoo for the first 1–3 days. Totally normal.
R
- Realism
- A tattoo style mimicking photographs — portraits, animals, nature. Demands serious skill; black & grey ages best.
S
- Saniderm / Recovery Derm
- A medical-grade adhesive film applied over a fresh tattoo to protect it for the first few days of healing.
- Scratcher
- A derogatory term for an unlicensed, untrained or low-skill tattooer — usually working from home.
- Shop minimum
- The smallest amount a studio will charge for any tattoo, regardless of size. Typically $120–$200.
- Sleeve
- A tattoo (or collection of tattoos) covering most or all of the arm. Half-sleeves cover from shoulder to elbow; full-sleeves go to the wrist.
- Stencil
- A transfer of the design applied to your skin before tattooing starts. Always check it carefully from every angle before they begin.
T
- Tip
- Custom is to tip the tattoo artist 15–20% if you're happy with the work, paid in cash on the day.
- Touch-up
- A return session to fix small areas where ink didn't hold. Most artists offer one free touch-up within 6 months.
W
- Walk-in
- Booking a tattoo without an advance appointment. Usually flash pieces, weekends only at most studios.
- Whip shading
- A traditional shading technique using fast machine strokes to create a textured gradient.