The Reasons for Choosing Tattoo Needle Cartridges

A tattoo cartridge needle is a disposable, pre-assembled unit used in modern tattoo machines. It combines:

• Needle Configuration – Contains tightly bundled needles (liners, shaders, magnums, etc.) for different tattooing techniques.
• Plastic Housing – A sterile, single-use cartridge that snaps into compatible tattoo machines (e.g., Cheyenne, FK Irons, EZ, Bishop, INkin, Dragonhawk, etc.).
• Ink Reservoir – Holds ink during tattooing, reducing the need for frequent dipping.
• Membrane or Rubber Grip – Controls ink flow and prevents leaks.

Evolution from Traditional Needles to Cartridge Systems

The shift from traditional tattoo needles to cartridge-based systems marks one of the biggest advancements in modern tattooing. 

1. Traditional Coil & Rotary Machine Needles

Traditional tattoo needles refer to the classic needle setups used with coil tattoo machines (electromagnetic) and rotary tattoo machines before the rise of cartridge systems. These needles require manual assembly and are reusable (after sterilization).

Samuel F. O'Reilly published his innovation in 1891 through his patent titled First Tattoo Machine Patent 1891 - Tattoo Gun Patent. This innovative tattoo machine also known as a tattoo gun.

How did traditional coil & rotary machine needles work:

• Hand-Assembled Needles——Artists manually soldered needle groupings (liners, shaders, magnums) to a stainless steel bar.
• Autoclave Sterilization Required – Needles had to be cleaned and sterilized after each use (time-consuming and risk of contamination if not done properly).
• Ink Dipping – Artists repeatedly dipped needles into ink caps, leading to inconsistent saturation and slower work.

2. The Rise of Disposable Needles

In the 1960s, the popularity of tattoos skyrocketed, and artists began experimenting with different needle configurations to achieve more complex designs. One of the innovations is the Magnum needle, which has two rows of needles in one unit for covering large areas of skin.

1989.9.5, Richard A. Piperato’s patent application had been granted (Tamperproof, single use, disposable tattoo equipment #US4862772A).

Key innovations:

• Frangible seals: Caps must be broken to open, preventing reuse. 
• Ink-stainable materials: Discoloration alerts users to prior use.
• Pre-sterilized, single-use assembly (needle + holder) to eliminate cross-contamination risks (e.g., HIV, hepatitis).
• Plastic components (needle holder tube, caps) intentionally made non-autoclavable—melting if sterilized, forcing disposal

In the 2000s, disposables became the industry standard in the West due to HIV/hepatitis prevention efforts.

At this time, the disposable needles are pre-sterilized and single-use needles. Eliminated soldering but still required manual attachment to a needle bar. These kinds of needles do not need autoclaving, but ink dipping remains, which, to some extent, reduces the risk of cross-contamination.

3. Cartridge Systems (2010s–Present)

A cartridge system is a modern tattoo needle setup designed for quick, tool-free attachment to compatible tattoo machines. It integrates the needle, grip, and ink flow control into a single, disposable unit, eliminating the need for manual assembly or ink dipping.

It's an all-in-one design, combining needle, grip, and ink reservoir in a single sterile unit. It's a plug-and-play mechanism, simply snapping into compatible machines. Use a twist-lock connection for stability. 

More importantly, no dipping is needed. Ink flows through the cartridge, and the ink reservoir in the cartridge feeds pigment directly to the needles, allowing smoother shading and lining and ensuring consistent saturation.

Cartridge systems are made for one session only, enhancing hygiene. Also, no autoclaving is needed. The even better thing is that an artist can change needle types (liners, shaders, and magnums) in seconds.

The ink cartridge needles claim precision engineering—consistent needle alignment for clean lines, hygiene and safety, under all circumstances, safety always comes first, no assembly is required, and dozens of configurations for lining, shading, and coloring.

Types of Tattoo Cartridges

Basically, tattoo cartridges can be divided into six types: Round Liner(RL), Round Shader(RS), Flat(F), Magnum(M1), RM Curved Mag(M1C), and Stacked Mag(M2). Normally, RL for fine details, RS for blending, and M1/M2/M1C for shading.

In the tattoo supply industry, there are hundreds of brands. Tattoo artists can shop according to their needs. 

INKin REVO cartridges came to the market two years ago. As a new brand of EZ company, all products of INKin are made by our own factory. INKin is a new player, but that doesn't mean low performance. In fact, REVO is a kind of ideal cartridge for tattoo artists. The INKin REVO cartridge uses 304 surgical Japanese stainless steel, rust-resistant, and sharp retention. 

The re-engineered needle tips with the one-piece cartridge housing have reduced the ink splatters by 50% compared with other brands' cartridges. Its taper needle tips allow for skin trauma reduction and smoother pigment delivery. 

The soft inner membrane of the REVO tattoo cartridge is designed for ink flow control and leak prevention, providing an additional hygienic environment by preventing the backflow of pigment.

REVO also uses medical-grade plastic for its cartridge housing, lightweight, and chemical-resistant. 

With the waterdrop-inspired design, REVO holds up to 35% more ink than other cartridges.

In terms of precision, the positioning system of REVO stabilizes the needle, ensuring smooth flow and a higher level of accuracy.

INKin REVO is compatible with most cartridge tattoo pens on the market.

Here's a breakdown of how INKin REVO stacks up against two leading competitors (Kwadron and Cheyenne) in terms of needle precision, ink flow, comfort, and durability—based on artist feedback and technical specs.

People who have a budget for tattoo needle cartridges can try Mast cartridges. Everyone knows that the Mast cartridge is budget-friendly.  Its sharpness retention is not bad. The feedback on Dragonhawk Mast tattoo needles is quite polarized—some users love them, while others find them unsatisfactory. But anyway, Mast is definitely a good choice for beginners.

To recap this, if you have a big budget, you can try Kwadron and Cheyenne. If not, Dragonhawk Mast may be an ideal choice. If you are looking for something with high quality but less expensive, INKin REVO is definitely the one for you.

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