Hand Poke

A technique of tattooing by hand, without an electric machine, inserting ink point by point with a needle fixed to a handle.

In hand poke, the artist holds the needle (fixed to a handle of wood, metal, or a disposable stick) and makes repeated puncturing movements directly by hand, without the aid of an electric motor. It's a slower technique, historically linked to traditional and tribal tattooing methods, and today also popular in studios specializing in dotwork and minimalist strokes. It requires specific training, since rhythm and depth depend entirely on the artist's manual control.

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