To become a tattoo artist
with a strong passion for tattoo art, you must not only be an expert on
designing, drawing and tattooing but also use the tattoo languages
fluently. The vocabulary of tattoo business is so extremely enormous and
abundant that a newbie can surely get lost in this ocean of
communication confusion. If you are tending to stepping into the tattoo
world as a
tattoo artist
or you even are planning to coming in a tattoo shops, knowing well
about some terms and slangs of tattooing is very essential for you. In
case you still haven’t got any understanding of slang terms you will
hear inside and outside the tattoo stores, you should take a fast look
at this following collection. Almost the most commonly used tattoo and
piercing slang terms will be listed according to from-A-to-Z order below
for you to study. Take a go!
Airbrushing – rebound ink that sprays all over your pants
B-back – a customer who chickens-out during a tattoo session
Been needled – another way to say: “been tattooed.”
Cadaver – a customer who refuses to talk to the tattoo artist during the entire process of getting inked
Closers – customers know fully well that you close at
10pm, and take your last customer at 9pm, but they walk in at 9:45pm
anyway, expecting you to accommodate their 2-hour tattoo request.
Dealers – customers intend to pay less than what regular customers normally pay.
Engraved – another term for “tattooed.”
Geeking – customers who do not know how to follow instructions, especially in matters related to taking care of their tattoos.
Getting inked – Is another way of saying, “getting tattooed.”
Goo – This pertains to the cool, healing ointment tattoo artists apply to a new tattoo.
Grinding – A term similar to “creating”
Gun –
general slang term for a tattoo machine.
Hacker – an unskilled tattoo artist who tends to cause
the client more pain and swelling than necessary. Also called a
scratcher. Please beware of a hacker!
Human Larva – little children running around a tattoo shop. Poor kids.
Ink – a synonymous with the word tattoo. As a verb, “to ink” can also mean “to get a tattoo.”
Inked – a person with many tattoos or act of getting tattooed.
Irons – Another term for tattoo machines with a positive connotation. Irons are tattoo machines used only by tattoo artists.
Vocabulary for Tattoo License Practice Test
Kickin’ it into third – a phrase describes the way they pick up the speed on the fill, because they know you can handle it.
Know you’re getting a tattoo – act of tattooing the underside of the arm.
Meat – A local tattoo enthusiast who always has a fresh
tattoo healing always has meat. This type of collector frequents the
tattoo shop, getting a tat or two in short intervals.
Michaelangelo – Tattoo artists coined this ironic term
out of frustration towards certain clients who think they know better.
They are the ones who ask for “victory red” or “purple passion” and tell
the artist where and how to shade. Think: back seat driver.
Pounding skin – “tattooing someone.”
Pussyball – “tennis ball” given to the customer who won’t stop whining.
Show your ink – Another way of saying “show your tattoo.”
Showcase – a collector who has a ton of tattoos inked by the same tattoo artist.
Sleeve – A tattoo, or series of tattoos, that cover the
arm is referred to as a sleeve. It may not really fully cover the arm; a
sleeve can cover half or three-quarters of the arm.
Slinging ink – pounding skin.
Squicked – being grossed out or disgusted
Tat or tatt – An abbreviation of tattoo.
Tattoo flash – tattoo designs or samples usually displayed on a tattoo studio’s wall.
Tattoo shark – someone who has a habit of stealing other people’s tattoo ideas.
Tattoo worthy – a band (yeah, music group) that is not
only talented, but whose talent and iconic reputation will last forever
(just as tattoos last forever).
Tenderfoot – Body art newbies.
The Look – the tell-all smile when the customer first sees his new tattoo.
Works – The needles and tubes used for the art of tattooing.
Wrastler – a person who, after fainting in the tattoo chair, still decides to finish what he started.
Yo-Man – A potential tattoo customer who walks in the shop
