Originally Posted by TattooRob

Great Question.

Right now, my students are getting used to the feel of the tattoo machine by practicing on grapefruit. The grapefruit's skin is smooth enough for a tattoo machine to run through easily, and it holds ink well enough so that you can see what you just did.

Next, they'll be tattooing pigskin from the buther's. This helps them practice skin stretching techniques.

After that, they will practice on what is called 'practice skin' which is a rubber sheet that simulates actual skin. These sheets are strapped on a partner and the student then tattoos the sheet. This helps them get used to tattooing at awkward angles and positions (i.e., not straight down on table like when they tattooed pigskin).

And lastly, they will hone their skills on actual clients who have agreed to be tattooed by students, fully acknowldeging their status. All student/client tattoo sessions will be fully supervised by myself and my other instructors. Note that I will let my students practice on actual live clients only when I feel they are ready. It is my goal to make sure that even the very first tattoos performed by my students will be professional grade, shop quality.