Several needle manufacturers include bugpin size needles and nano sizes in cartridge needles and manual needles. When deciphering tattoo needle sizes, bugpins, nanos, and taper, all come into play in different ways.

Bugpins are usually .30 or smaller, however when the sizes get really small they are referred to as "nano" size needles.  There are no rules so to speak on what exact size needle is a bugpin or a nano, as that is up to the manufacturer to label the needles.  It would be safe to say that a .12, .15, and a .18 are considered nanos.

A tip to remember:

The taper determines the end size of the needle as it touches the skin.

We don’t always have exact taper information but you can identify it if it’s listed on the packaging code or use an eye loupe to help.

Hope that helps with needle clarity and some of the terms we hear today as PMU artists.

- To your PMU success,

PMU Artist & Needle Specialist
Inside Needle Knowledge

Purchase the I.N.K. Course...

The below guide is one of the several downloads from the course and is a suggestion on tattoo needle types and the usages.

  To your PMU success,

PMU Artist & Needle Specialist
Inside Needle Knowledge

Purchase the I.N.K. Course Now

IG jillhoyer

 DRAG AND DROP THE NEEDLE GUIDE TO YOUR DESKTOP

 Have you heard of the saying, "it doesn't matter what needle you choose, just as long as you know how to use it." If you're a new PMU artist or  a seasoned artist who is just venturing out of using a couple of different needle configurations, this is a frustrating statement.  How do you know how to use needles when you never were taught needle theory in basic fundamental training?  Today, there is a big need for needle theory. How to use needles makes much more sense when we understand the basics of what we are using and why we are using it. Needles our important as they dictate the footprint left behind in the skin.

In the online course,...