How to Become a Tattoo Artist? A Complete Guide to Becoming a Tattoo Artist Through School, Apprenticeship, or Self-Study!

In recent years, an increasing number of people, especially young people, have been getting tattoos as fashion statements, and along with this trend, the number of people aspiring to become tattoo artists has surged dramatically.

In the past, tattoo artists were considered to be in a gray-area profession, but since a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that stated "one can work as a tattoo artist without a medical license," societal prejudice has gradually eased.

However, despite this tailwind, many people who want to become professional tattoo artists from scratch don't know how to do so.

This article explains the steps to becoming a tattoo artist, the necessary skills, and the characteristics of people suited to this profession.

If you're wondering "Can I become a tattoo artist?", please read through to the end!

How to Become a Tattoo Artist

To become a tattoo artist, there are three main approaches: "learning at a tattoo school," "apprenticing under a master," or "acquiring skills through self-study."

Additionally, to work as a tattoo artist, there are two patterns: working at a studio where you perform services on clients, or setting up your own studio, attracting clients, and performing services.

Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and it's important to choose a method that suits your personality, aptitude, and lifestyle.

First, let's understand the commonly required skills and knowledge, and then look at the details of each route.

Skills and Knowledge Required to Become a Tattoo Artist

The first skills required to become a tattoo artist are delicate dexterity, the ability to draw pictures and designs, and communication skills.

Since tattoos involve inserting ink directly into the skin, manual dextearity to apply intricate designs with proper balance down to fine details is essential.

Especially when applying fine-line tattoos, it's necessary to draw lines as thin as a strand of hair, and since they're applied to the irregular surface of skin, the difficulty level is extremely high.

Furthermore, since needles are inserted directly into customers' bodies, knowledge of hygiene management and safety is essential.

Only by correctly understanding and practicing equipment sterilization methods and infection prevention measures can clients trust you with their procedures.

Moreover, since tattoo artists listen to customers' requests and translate them into designs, communication skills are also crucial for creating the ideal design.

Benefits of Becoming a Tattoo Artist

While the profession of tattoo artist comes with challenges and difficulties, there are also significant attractions.

Here, we'll introduce the benefits of becoming a tattoo artist.

You Can Make Your Sensibility and Expression Your Work

The greatest attraction of becoming a tattoo artist is that you can directly apply your innate artistic sense, imagination, and drawing skills to your work.

The design you create is etched into someone's skin and becomes permanent art—a unique appeal that no other profession offers.

Drawing pictures you love directly translates into income, and you can express your worldview as artwork, providing great fulfillment.

Since design types are infinite, you can even create new genres!

High Income Potential

Tattoo artists are professionals who can expect high income depending on their skill level.

While income may be unstable in the early days, once you build a client base, earning over 10 million yen annually is not a dream.

Additionally, once you become famous as a tattoo artist, you can expand your income sources through flash and merchandise sales, and school instructor activities.

Of course, earning a high income requires steady effort and time, but since talent and effort are directly reflected in income, being a tattoo artist is a very promising career.

Compared to other industries, it's merit-based rather than seniority-based, so if you excel at a young age, there's a high possibility of earning a high income.

You Can Work Independently as a Freelancer

Rather than being employed as a regular employee, tattoo artists can easily work independently as freelancers.

The appeal is the high degree of freedom in working styles, such as opening a private studio or performing procedures only during spare time as a side business.

Without being bound by bosses or company organizations, you can work at your own pace, allowing for flexible working arrangements that match your lifestyle.

Recently, many tattoo artists attract fans and clients by posting their tattooed works and tattoo-related videos on social media!

How to Become a Tattoo Artist by Attending Tattoo School

As a method for beginners to efficiently and safely acquire techniques, there is the option of attending tattoo school.

At tattoo schools, in addition to learning directly from professional tattoo artists, post-graduation studio referral support is also provided, allowing you to debut in a shorter period compared to self-study.

Here, let's look at the specific steps to becoming a tattoo artist through school.

STEP 1: Choose a Tattoo School

First, start by choosing a tattoo school that suits you.

While we generally refer to "tattoo schools," curriculum content, duration, whether online or offline, costs, and instructors' backgrounds vary greatly.

When choosing a tattoo school, make sure to properly assess whether the fee structure is clear and whether the instructors have proven track records.

Also, if possible, participate in tours and information sessions to check the school's atmosphere, hygiene management system, and practice facilities.

Other key points include whether there's a curriculum to learn the design styles you want to tattoo (Japanese-style, Western-style, etc.) and the career outcomes of graduates.

STEP 2: Thoroughly Learn Basic Knowledge and Techniques at School

Once enrolled in school, you'll thoroughly learn basic knowledge about tattoos and tattooing techniques.

Many tattoo schools teach a wide range of topics from design basics to how to use tattoo machines, hygiene management methods, skin structure, and pigment knowledge.

Since you can receive direct instruction from active professional tattoo artists, you can properly master correct hygiene management and related regulations that are difficult to obtain through self-study.

In classes, in addition to practicing drawing designs on paper, hands-on training using silicone artificial skin for line work and shading is also conducted.

The strength of school learning is that you can intensively improve your skills in a short period while receiving professional feedback from instructors.

STEP 3: Make Your Debut as a Tattoo Artist at a School-Recommended Studio

Once you complete the school curriculum, it's time to debut as a tattoo artist.

Many tattoo schools have excellent post-graduation career support, offering referrals to affiliated studios and internship placements.

If you join a studio through the school, you can provide actual services to customers while gaining more experience under senior tattoo artists.

Some graduates also start working as freelance tattoo artists without getting employed, but even in such cases, the industry network built at school will be very helpful.

Using what you learned at school as a foundation, continue honing your skills in the professional world!

How to Become a Tattoo Artist Through Self-Study

If you can't afford to attend tattoo school or can't get an apprenticeship opportunity, it's not impossible to aim to become a tattoo artist through self-study.

However, since there are many risks and hardships, you need to follow the correct steps.

Here we'll explain the basic process of becoming a professional through self-study.

STEP 1: Thoroughly Train Your Drawing and Design Skills

The first step in aiming to become a self-taught tattoo artist is, above all, to develop your drawing and design skills.

Tattoos are not just illustrations—they're etched onto the three-dimensional human skin, so you need to consider how a design drawn on flat paper will look when placed on skin.

Among them, popular tattoo designs such as flowers, animals, and lettering are frequently tattooed, so it's good to practice these intensively.

By researching and practicing genres you want to specialize in—such as Japanese-style, Western-style, tribal, or lettering—you can develop design skills that meet professional standards even through self-study.

STEP 2: Learn Tattooing Knowledge and Tool Handling

To become a tattoo artist, you must also learn knowledge about tattoo procedures on your own, alongside design skills.

Specifically, this spans a wide range including how to use tattoo machines, types of needles and inks, the depth of skin where pigment settles, and thorough hygiene management.

In recent years, basic knowledge can be obtained through the internet and books, and watching YouTube videos where famous international artists explain equipment handling is also educational.

If possible, it's recommended to purchase a beginner's practice kit from a tattoo supply specialty store and try assembling and setting up needles according to the instructions.

STEP 3: Build Up Practical Practice on Fake Skin

To acquire skills through self-study, accumulating practice that mimics actual procedures is essential.

Since you can't practice on real skin right away, utilize practice fake skin.

Fake skin made from silicone allows needles to pass through with a feel nearly identical to human skin, making it ideal for beginner practice.

Start with practicing drawing straight lines, and once you get used to it, practice tattooing designs you've drawn yourself by transferring them onto artificial skin.

However, since fake skin feels slightly different from actual skin, once you've improved to some extent, it's also recommended to practice tattooing on inconspicuous areas of your own body, such as your thighs or feet.

Characteristics of People Suited to Being a Tattoo Artist

If you're aiming to become a tattoo artist, you need to know whether you have the aptitude for it.

Here, we'll introduce the characteristics of people suited to being tattoo artists.

People Who Have Aspired to Beauty Professions Such as Hairstylist

People who have previously worked in beauty-related jobs, such as hairstylists or makeup artists, have high aptitude for becoming tattoo artists.

Beauty work—which designs people's appearance beautifully through hairstyles and makeup—and tattoo artists' work of drawing art on skin are similar in that both require aesthetic sense, manual dexterity, and communication with customers.

People with experience as hairstylists already have design sensibility, basic hygiene management knowledge, and customer service skills, making it easy to apply these in the tattoo world.

Additionally, those attending art universities or beauty school are also likely suited to becoming tattoo artists.

People Who Have Tattoos on Their Body

People who have tattoos themselves are also suited to becoming tattoo artists.

People who have actually gotten tattoos understand firsthand the appeal of tattoos, the pain during procedures, and the importance of aftercare.

Since they've experienced the customer's perspective, they can understand the feelings of those being tattooed and provide attentive and empathetic service.

People with tattoos have been exposed to other tattoo artists' works through their designs, so they naturally have an expanded repertoire of designs.

Also, from a customer's perspective, "a tattoo artist who also has tattoos" often leads to greater trust.

People with Aspiration to Continuously Improve Their Skills

The profession of tattoo artist doesn't end once you acquire skills—it's difficult to continue working at the forefront without being someone who can continue studying and practicing constantly.

Therefore, people who can continuously improve their skills without shying away from steady effort are suited to being tattoo artists.

For example, since new styles such as the latest trend of fine-line tattoos, realistic portrait tattoos, and color tattoos are constantly emerging, the aspiration to voluntarily master such techniques is required.

Also, since you'll spend long hours alone thinking about designs and accumulating practice, patient perseverance to continue steady effort is also necessary.

No matter how skilled someone is, they can't tattoo perfectly from the start—they improve their skills through accumulated trial and error and refinement.

People who can enjoy the effort are truly suited to the profession of tattoo artist!

Frequently Asked Questions About Tattoo Artists

Finally, we'll answer common questions from people aspiring to become tattoo artists in Q&A format.

From What Age Can You Become a Tattoo Artist?

There is no specific age restriction.

Legally, there are no requirements such as licenses or age of majority to become a tattoo artist, so in extreme terms, you can aim for it at any age.

For minors, getting tattoos without parental consent is prohibited by municipal ordinances in many cases, and masters and schools basically won't accept anyone under 18.

There's also no upper age limit, and it's not uncommon for people to transition to becoming tattoo artists in their 20s, 30s, or beyond.

Do You Need Qualifications to Become a Tattoo Artist?

No, there are no required qualifications to become a tattoo artist.

Since the 2020 judicial ruling, tattoo procedures are positioned as art rather than medical treatment, so national qualifications such as medical licenses are unnecessary and anyone can call themselves one.

However, while there are no official qualifications, several private organization certification systems exist.

For example, in Japan, JTAG (Japan Tattoo Art Group) administers the "Tattoo Basic Technical Examination (Grades 3 to 1)" which measures knowledge and skills necessary for tattoo artists, and obtaining it serves as proof of your technical ability.

However, not having qualifications doesn't mean you can't become a tattoo artist. First priority is honing your drawing skills and procedure techniques.

Can You Work as a Tattoo Artist as a Side Business?

In conclusion, it is possible to start tattoo artist activities as a side business.

Since tattoo artists have more time flexibility compared to salaried workers, you can gradually build up achievements as a side business on weekends and such.

However, compared to other side businesses, securing time and effort becomes more important.

Tattoo procedures, including not just tattooing but also counseling and design preparation, can take several hours to half a day per person.

Also, even as a side business, you have the responsibility of leaving permanent works on customers' bodies, so a half-hearted mindset won't suffice.

It's realistic to start by accepting a small number of requests through friend and acquaintance referrals or via social media, and work within a range that doesn't interfere with your main job.

[Summary] How to Become a Tattoo Artist

The path to becoming a tattoo artist is not singular—there are multiple options including tattoo schools, apprenticeships, and self-study.

Whichever method you choose, to become a first-class tattoo artist, acquiring basic skills such as design ability, hygiene knowledge, and communication skills is essential, and the aspiration to continue studying and practicing throughout your life is required.

However, beyond that awaits the wonderful fulfillment of giving form to your art and moving people.

Now that prejudice against tattoos is fading, tattoo artists are truly becoming spotlighted as artists of a new era.

For everyone considering becoming a tattoo artist, please take a concrete first step while referring to this article.