Getting Down with Tattoo Lingo

When getting tattooed or going through the tattoo removal process don’t be surprised if your tattoo artist begins speaking an unknown language to you, peppered with words and phrases that fly right over your head.

As a newcomer of the tattoo industry you’ll quickly discover there is a secret language used among “the inked.” So if you want in on the conversation going down, you’ll want to take a crash course on Tattoo Lingo before your tattooing or tattoo removal sessions. After all, you don’t want to be a “cadaver” (a client who stays mum throughout the entire “inking” process).

Tattoo Lingo - Slang of the Inked:

B-back – A client who says, in the middle of the tattooing, “I have to go to the bathroom” -- and then never comes back

Been needled – Been tattooed

Closers – Irritating customers who walk in five minutes before closing time hoping to get a two-hour tattoo

Dealers – Customers who try to get a tattoo artist to charge them less than the artist’s going rate

Engraved -- Tattooed

Geeking -- Acting stupid

Getting inked – Getting tattooed

Goo – General term for healing ointment applied to a new tattoo

Gun – A tattoo machine

Hacker -- Tattoo artist who is rough and unskilled, causing the client more pain and swelling than necessary; see also “scratcher”

Human larva -- Small children running around a tattoo shop

Ink; getting some ink – Getting a tattoo

Inked -- Having many tattoos; the act of getting tattooed

Irons –Tattoo machines

Meat – Locals who frequent the tattoo shop and always have a new fresh tattoo still healing

Michaelangelo – Snooty artist-types who think they know more about art than the tattoo artist giving them their tattoo

Pounding skin – Tattooing someone

Scratcher -- Tattoo artist who is rough and unskilled, causing the client more pain and swelling than necessary; see also “hacker”

Show your ink – To show your tattoo or tattoos to someone

Showcase – A person who has a ton of tattoos done by the same tattoo artist

Sleeve -- A tattoo that covers the arm (but it can be half- or three-quarters in length)

Slinging ink – Tattooing someone

Squicked – Grossed out; as when someone comes in with a body piercing that looks like getting it was triple painful

Tatt – Short for tattoo

Tattoo shark -- Someone who steals someone else’s tattoo ideas

Tattoo worthy – Term for a band that is not only talented, but whose talent will last forever (just as tattoos last forever)

Tenderfoot – Someone new at getting tattoos

Works – Needles and tubes used to tattoo people

Wrastler – Although wrastlers faint in the tattoo chair, after coming to, they still stay to get the tattoo done

Now that you've got some sling under your belt, you’re ready to sling slang with the best of the inkers.

For more lingo visit: Tattoo Slang

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