Definition
What is hand-poke tattooing?
Hand-poke (or stick-and-poke) is a machineless tattoo technique where each dot is applied manually with a tattoo needle. It is slower than machine work but allows for extremely precise single-dot placement.
Hand-poke tattoos have a distinctive organic, slightly irregular aesthetic. The technique is popular for minimalist, fine-line and hand-made-feel designs. Healing is often gentler than with machine tattooing.
Examples
- Minimal single-needle botanical designs
- Tiny symbols or lettering
- Hand-poked dotwork inside larger compositions