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What are the perfect gifts for tattoo artists?
Well, the number one way how to thank your best tattoo artist is to tip them.
If you’re happy with the work your tattoo artist has done for you, leave them 15% or more.
But if you are looking for the perfect gifts for tattoo artists, we have some gift ideas for you.
Whether it’s a birthday gift for a tattoo artist, or to celebrate some other occasion, check out the gift ideas listed below.
We think Tattoo aftercare is essential. Therefore, you can’t go wrong by giving them a tattoo care kit.
Perhaps it’s a new brand they haven’t tried or a selection of their favorite quality products. This is one of the best tattoo artist gift.
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Nat-A-Tat2 kit includes balm to brighten up old tattoos, plus lotion that prevents ink from fading, a dream come true gift for a tattoo artist.
They also provide samples of foaming cleanser and lotion.
Many benefits set this kit apart from the competition that fits perfectly as a tattoo artist gift.
For example, make sure each product wanted to be fragrance-free and doesn’t contain artificial dyes or petroleum.
The lotion and balm are reef-safe to avoid harming corals. We consider this to be one of the best tattoo artist gift out there.
And even you can choose from the spray or stick (for small tattoos) when you want to apply the lotion.
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Billy Jealousy’s tattoo care Kit contains wash, lotion, and salve.
The exfoliating wash clears away dead cells and excess oil to leave tattoos vibrant again. Glycolic acid, cucumber, and oat provide intense moisturization to revive dry skin.
Then, the lotion has shea butter and essential oils to boost color and definition. Meanwhile, green tea and grapeseed oil prevent premature aging and protect against fading.
Finally, the salve is rich in plant oils and Vitamin E to heal new tattoos. Apply it three times a day and don’t worry, it won’t clog pores. This is one of the finest gifts for tattoo artists.
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Tattoo Goo packs their XL kit with soap, sunscreen, lotion, and two different sizes of salve.
The soap, salve, and lotion are excellent for tattoo aftercare on new ink.
Also, the salve and sunscreen keep tattoos colorful and well-defined.
A tattoo machine kit will thrill an aspiring tattoo artist.
It’s also a thoughtful gift for artists who want to experiment with different kinds of machines other than the ones they currently use.
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Dragonhawk includes pretty much everything a new artist needs to start practicing.
The kit includes two cast iron coil tattoo machines. One is for shading, and one is for lining.
Next, there’s a power supply, a travel case, sterile needles, and disposable tips, practice skins, transfer papers, etc. We consider this as one of the finest gifts for tattoo artists.
This comprehensive set also has a selection of Immortal inks that are made in the USA.
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If your artist has always used coil machines, give them a rotary machine kit to expand their skill set.
They may fall in love with this lightweight tattoo iron that’s ultra-easy to control.
The set comes with needles, inks, disposable grips, and other accessories.
Browse other starter kits for even more ideas. We feel this would make a great gift for a tattoo artist.
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Stick and poke tattoos are where it all began. It’s a traditional method for inking the body since prehistoric times.
Dragonhawk includes modern needles plus a specially designed needle holder in this kit. The durable holder ensures that the artist has full control just like they were holding a pen.
The box also comes with ink, ink cups, wipe papers, and other accessories. We feel this would make a great gift for a tattoo artist. The dragonhawk will especially make sure that this is of high quality.
If your tattoo artist is on a budget, they may not have the funds to explore new possibilities as often as they’d like.
In that case, get them an ink set with exotic colors and unusual features.
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Millennium Mom’s is a trustworthy brand that manufactures its products in the USA.
The Exotic Colors Collection includes uncommon but lively shades used by famed artists like Marcus Kuhn and Brian Murphy.
For example, it has a 1957 Chevy, Snot Green, and Kentucky Blue Grass.
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Millennium Moms also makes the perfect blacklight UV tattoo ink in the business.
This set has five half-ounce bottles. The colors include Blue Smoke, Red Dawn, Atomic Green, Purple Haze, and Invisible Fallout.
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World-renowned Kuro Sumi ink packages seven of their best-selling inks in this kit. Although the colors are basic shades, the ink is premium quality.
Each one is vegan, make with organic ingredients, and exceptionally bright and smooth.
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Portrait artists will appreciate Intenze’s ink set designed by artist Bob Tyrrell. It contains shades of gray, black, and white for realistic representations.
Give your tattoo artist a book with stunning designs. Or present them with new insight about the history and future of tattooing.
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This coffee table flash book features gorgeous historic tattoos collected by an artist. It reveals around the world of 19th-century tattooing.
It begins in the Bowery, New York City, and crosses the continent to Texas in the 1950s, then Los Angeles in the 1970s.
Images include classic tats of daggers, dragons, sailing ships, cartoon characters, and women.
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Treat your great artist to this stunning collection of designs work done with black ink. It’s sure to inspire future projects.
Also, get them one of the best black tattoo inks to accompany the book.
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This atlas of tattooing around the world includes works from 100 famous artists.
It ranges from hand-tattooed tribal patterns to modern styles.
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What is a good must-have modern tattoo book or gift for an aspiring best tattoo artist?
Here’s one that qualifies. Artist C.R. Jordan teaches the basics that all apprentices always use to know.
Chapters include how to build a tattoo machine, choosing needles, pigments, sterilization, and industry secrets.
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Megan Massacre is a well-known artist who has a famous studio in New York. She has appeared on NY Ink and America’s Worst Tattoos as well as the cover of every major tattoo magazine.
Between the covers, she reveals her life experience in the industry as well as her tattoo collection.
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Did you know that Winston Churchill’s mother had a tattoo? Or that women in the 1800s invented stories about being kidnapped and forcibly tattooed to justify their ink?
If not, then you would be fascinated by this book about women and tattoos throughout history. It’s already in its third edition with even more full-color photographs.
While most artists have the basics covered, there’s always room for new tools that make the work easier.
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Every artist would love to have this lightbox. It’s like a legal-sized tablet with a powerful backlight for tracing designs.
The step-less adjustable light is flicker-free and runs off USB.
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Tattoo Spring Adjustment tool jig simplifies adjusting the armature of a coil tattoo machine. It makes bending the spring much easier.
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Here’s another tool that aligns a coil tattoo machine so that it’s completely square. It moves the needle bar directly to the center of the tube with minimal effort.
Here are some fun pastimes to entertain your favorite tattoo artists.
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Tattoo Nation is a documentary from 2016 that stars Danny Trejo, Travis Barker, and Don Ed Hardy. It showcases the people who transformed tattooing into the popular industry that it is today.
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This coloring book has over 120 illustrations to color in however you like. Practice mindfulness or pass the time relaxing as you fill in the designs.
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We’re addicted to the Buddha Board. It never gets old, it doesn’t make a mess, and it’s excellent for sketching out new ideas.
Prop the board in the stand, fill the receptacle with water, and pick up the brush.
Then doodle your masterpiece as if you were working with paint on a canvas.
As it dries, the image slowly fades away.
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You’ll laugh, and your jaw will drop as you read about secrets teachers never told you about the world’s greatest artists.
Yes, van Gogh nibbled paint. And Michelangelo needed a bath.
This is a hard book to resist reading before you wrap it.
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While searching for gifts we found this T-shirt with a vintage blueprint of a coil tattoo machine, and we couldn’t resist adding it here.
It’s available in a variety of colors.
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Now your artist can drink coffee from a mug that use to announces their special abilities around the world.
Happily, it’s dishwasher and microwave-safe.
After a long day in the studio, your favorite artist needs to take a break.
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Not everyone has a massage therapist handy to knead their shoulders.
Artists who sit and stoop all day often suffer from neck and shoulder pain.
That’s why when you give them this heated shiatsu massager, they may cry with relief.
It has a 20-minute timer and eight levels of intensity.
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The lower back is a trouble spot for anyone who sits for extended periods.
But HoMedics’s massager relieves pain in the lumbar section with shiatsu action, heat, and vibration.
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Unfortunately, artists get stressed just like everyone else. They have to deal with grumpy customers and coworkers.
But these cards will help reduce frustration. They have simple mindfulness ideas printed on them. They are based on proven meditation and Neuro-Linguistic Programming techniques.
Consider them a compact first-aid kit for the mind to make a positive attitude and like all stress.
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New artists need to strengthen their hands and wrists to improve their control. This simple gyro can help maintain flexibility and strength.
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An illuminated fountain with soothing water sounds is a great way to invite calm into the studio.
It’s also fantastic for relaxing before bed.
Besides giving them a tip or present, there are other ways to show your gratitude to the best tattoo artist.
Here are some ideas:
Like with any other service, just saying thank you is appreciated.
Show some love by presenting gifts for tattoo artists they will appreciate.
We hope we helped find what you need to put a smile on their face.
If you have other ideas about gifts for tattoo artists, let us know in the comments below.
We’d especially love to hear from you if you’re a tattoo artist. Tell us what surprises you’d love to get or what do you think are the best gifts for tattoo artists.
Resources:
1. https://www.insider.com/what-tattoo-artists-want-you-to-know-2019-5#tipping-your-tattoo-artist-is-considered-polite-1 by Sophia Mitrokostas, published May 9, 2019, accessed September 13, 2019
Last update on 2026-09-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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