In-person workshops on becoming a Tattoo Artist cost anywhere from 1000$ to 5000$.
Online courses are much cheaper, with prices ranging from 20$ to 3000$.
Many people are now turning to online classes since the scheduling is completely flexible.
To help you choose the ideal course for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best online courses on how to Become a Tattoo Artist. All these courses will be updated and available in 2024.
Keep in mind the best course is the one within YOUR budget and that best covers YOUR needs.
Tattooing 101
Price
597$ for lifetime access or $59/month for 12 months. If you decide to pay monthly, you can cancel at any time.
Instructor
Nathan Molenaar, Brandon Over, and Jay Haussman
About the course
This course is the most complete tattoo education program on the internet, as it can take you from a complete beginner to a professional tattoo artist in a few months.
Besides tattooing, you’ll learn about sanitation and setting up your station correctly, drawing tattoo designs and making stencils for every style, marketing to build your career, and much more. You can take each lesson at your own pace and easily save your progress.
The program also gives you access to a supportive online community. You get direct access to a team of tattoo artists to ask questions and receive personalized feedback while working alongside other up-and-coming artists.
On top of that, you’ll gain free, lifetime access to Tattooing 101’s 30-Day Flash Challenge (to build your portfolio), their library of recorded interviews with tattoo artists from all over the world, and weekly Q&A calls with their team of tattooing instructors.
Tattooing 101 also offers a studio partnership program to help graduated students get work in shops after they finish the course.
Positive points
– The course structure is very clear and easy to follow. All the videos are in HD with great audio.
– The 12-month payment plan allows you to get all the benefits (personalized feedback, weekly Q&A calls with professional tattoo artists, etc.) of the program without a big upfront fee.
Negative points
– Classes are only available in English.
– Their studio partnership program is currently based only in the U.S. and Canada.
Who is this course for?
For artists at all levels. It breaks everything down for complete beginners with no art experience while also allowing experienced artists to refresh their fundamentals and challenge themselves technically.
Cost-benefit evaluation
9.5 out of 10
10Masters
Price
Ranges go from smaller workshops valued at $59 (€56) to fuller MasterCourses priced at only $167 (€164), with over 60 hours of content.
Instructor
About the course
This is not a basic course, it’s an exhaustive step-by-step realistic tattoo training given by a specialist in Organic Black & White Realism. His lectures are clear, entertaining, and easy to watch. Once you successfully complete your studies, you receive a personalized 10 Masters official certificate.
You can either choose one of the specific MasterClasses individually: How to tattoo realistic hands, eyes, portraits, and most recently: How to tattoo realistic animals; or grab the fullest MasterCourse in Realistic Tattooing instead – they all include methodology and technique evenly.
With full-HD quality, slow-motion, and super zoom, it’s the only course that teaches you how to tattoo different parts of animals and people in detail, no in-person seminar will get you closer. Besides, videos are shot from different angles and include an innovative on-screen HUD, so you can know which ink dilutions, needle, machine, and voltage are being used at all times.
The content is up-to-date and renewed frequently. With any purchase, you have lifelong access to the training chosen, besides instant access to all of its following updates, with no extra cost, nor expiry, so you can go at your own pace.
10 Masters’ platform is user-friendly and accessible for mobile, computer, and tablet. Plus, you can download resources and workbooks to complement your studies, and you can ask specific questions to the master himself, to clear off all your doubts. Lessons are available in Spanish and English, with a variety of subtitles in other languages such as French, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, and German.
Positive points
– You can try the course. There’s a guarantee available for a full month that can be used before completing 30% of the course.
– With more than 10,000 students, it’s one of the few sites that show real reviews from their learners
Negative points
– For now, artists would best profit from this course by having some previous tattooing knowledge in tattooing.
– Currently, it’s mostly focused on realistic tattooing, although you can also learn about general tattooing methods on the run.
Who is this course for?
Artists who’ve already decided to make a living from tattoos, are interested in realistic style and are willing to practice enough to level up their skills.
It’s suitable for apprentices, but it’s also useful for more advanced tattooers who want to freshen up their technique and learn new tricks to add to their working routine.
Cost-benefit evaluation
9 out of 10
Tattoo for Beginners
Price
99,99$ (but you can often find it at a discount)
Instructor
About the course
This is a Udemy course made for beginners to get you started with tattooing.
Sally is a great teacher and frequently updates the course. It is a very practical course – she’ll help you get the machine ready right away to starting putting some ink on oranges.
You’ll learn how to handle the clients before, during, and after the session and this is the only course that teaches you how to price your tattoos.
Positive points
– Every video is on point and easy to understand
– It’s the cheapest course you can buy online and is superior to many others in terms of video quality and course structure
Negative points
– Only 1.5 hours of video content
– The audio is not perfect (you can test a sample on the Udemy website)
Who is this course for?
Those with a very reduced budget who want to start laying down some ink today. You won’t need previous experience, just a tattoo kit at hand.
Cost-benefit evaluation
8 out of 10
Pollila Tattoo
Price
40$ (without discount)
Instructor
About the course
This is a Domestika course and will get you started with tattooing. It has 3 hours of high-quality video and audio content plus additional resources.
Polilla is very charismatic and a great teacher, making the classes very engaging.
She is well renowned in her home country of Chile and her work has over 100k fans on Instagram. For this reason, the class is tough in Spanish, and has subtitles in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and German.
Positive points
– High-quality video and audio and great production
– The classes are very much on point and no time is wasted
Negative points
– The course is in Spanish. If you’re not a native Spanish speaker, you’ll probably need subtitles
– Doesn’t approach the business elements of tattooing
Who is this course for?
Spanish-speaking individuals who have a lower budget and want a high-quality introduction to tattooing.
Cost-benefit evaluation
7 out of 10
Tattoo Techniques by Csaba Mullner
Price
590€ for a 6 months subscription
Instructor
About the course
This course has over 160 videos and several other materials to take you from a complete beginner to an intermediate level.
It’s a great course for those who have zero tattooing experience and want to learn several styles.
It’s one of the largest and most complete courses available.
Positive points
– The most detailed approach to handling tattoo material (devices, needles, inks, assembling the machine, and others) and working in a tattoo shop
– Is divided into theory (of tattooing, coloring, and techniques), drawing (the basics), and practice (both in realism and black & gray)
Negative points
– The subscription only lasts 6 months
– The content is more than 7 years old
Who is this course for?
Those who already have some notions of tattooing and want to improve their technique. This course can help you kickstart your career, but you need to put in the work.
Cost-benefit evaluation
6.5 out of 10
Tattoo University
Price
3000$ for the full course (individual modules are also available for sale)
Instructor
About the course
This course will take you from a complete beginner to an intermediate level in 50 high-quality classes with several examples.
It was put together by one of the world’s most famous tattoo artists. Not only his work is astonishing, but his follower base has surpassed 1M fans.
It is the course with the highest quality of sound and image, but also the most expensive in the market.
Positive points
– Great course structure and is one of the few courses that teaches photography and social media presence
– The video and sound quality is great
Negative points
– Leaves out several important elements, such as the business part, tattoo healing or tips to run a tattoo shop
– It’s the most expensive course available online
Who is this course for?
Those who have a budget that allows it and want to invest in their tattooing career by learning with the best. It is for people who have already some experience and are really committed to taking the next step.
Cost-benefit evaluation
6.5 out of 10
Master Tattoo Class
Price
29.99€ (possible discount after login)
Instructor
About the course
This is a Udemy course made for starters.
It’s great for those who want to take their first steps in the tattoo world and those who just want to have some fun with their tattoo machine.
Kevin focuses on bringing you confidence from your drawing skills to your tattooing ability.
Positive points
– Short and economic – great to get you started, plus you’ll have lifetime access
– Goes into several details on the techniques of Lining and Shading
Negative points
– Only 1 hour of video content, which covers only the basics of tattooing itself (not the business part of handling clients)
– The sound quality and editing skills are not great
Who is this course for?
Those who have a reduced budget and want to take their first steps into tattooing
Cost-benefit evaluation
6 out of 10
Disclaimer: We’ve included an affiliate link in the courses Tattoo for Beginners and in the Master Tattoo Class. By buying either of these courses via the link on the image, you’re helping Tattoos Wizard grow and create more quality content. Despite the affiliation, our review is as honest and unbiased as possible.
Please take into account that despite the course you choose, tattooing without a license is illegal in several states and countries and is also a disrespect to the community. We always advise getting the proper license and making an apprenticeship under an experienced Tattoo Artist’s guidance before you start laying ink of anyone (you can do whatever you want with oranges though).
We’ve interviewed several popular artists, such as Lucas Martinelli, on how they started their careers. Make sure you take a look at those in case you need a few examples.
Cover image by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels
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