Do you work in an inadequately lit tattoo studio? If yes, you’d know exactly how much discomfort you have to go through regularly. Your eyes and head, end up straining and aching, whilst your clients end up getting substandard results due to your inability to see clearly. What a lot of folks in the industry don’t realize is that items like good quality tattoo lamps are as important as tattoo machines and inks are. There is a marked difference in the precision and quality of a tattoo when it’s performed under proper brightness. In this article, we’ve shortlisted and reviewed 7 of the best adjustable, professional tattoo lamps available.
At A Glance: Our Top Picks for The Top Adjustable and Professional Tattoo Lamps
- Brightech LightView Pro 6 Wheel Rolling Base Magnifying Floor Lamp – Our Top Pick
- OttLite Dual Shade LED Floor Lamp
- OttLite Tattoo Artist 24 Watt Floor Lamp
- GSKAIWEN 18inch 65W LED Makeup Ring Light with Mirror
- GIJUANRING 18″ 60W Dimmable 3200-5600K LED Ring Light
- GOTOTOP Magnifying Lamp LED Light
- JimKing Ring Light, Tattoo Light Desk Lamp
Tattoo Lamp Reviews
The strain in your eyes and the headaches caused by working under semi-lit conditions can do long-term damage to your health. Let alone the blunders caused on your clients’ skin. The solution is, possessing an adjustable tattoo lamp to help you see clearly the surface you’re working on.
Here are the top 7 for you to consider:
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Brightech LightView Pro 6 Wheel Rolling Base Magnifying Floor Lamp | • LED Bulbs • 55” Maximum Height Adjustment | CHECK PRICE |
 | OttLite Dual Shade LED Floor Lamp | • LED Bulbs • 62” Maximum Height Adjustment | CHECK PRICE |
 | OttLite Tattoo Artist 24 Watt Floor Lamp | • CFL Bulb • 49” Maximum Height Adjustment | CHECK PRICE |
 | GSKAIWEN 18inch 65W LED Makeup Ring Light with Mirror | • LED Bulbs • 78.7” Maximum Height Adjustment | CHECK PRICE |
 | GIJUANRING 18″ 60W Dimmable 3200-5600K LED Ring Light | • LED Bulbs • 78.7” Maximum Height Adjustment | CHECK PRICE |
 | GOTOTOP Magnifying Lamp LED Light | • LED Bulbs • 44” Total Arm Length | CHECK PRICE |
 | JimKing Ring Light, Tattoo Light Desk Lamp | • LED Bulbs • Twistable Desk Lamp | CHECK PRICE |
1. Brightech LightView Pro 6 Wheel Rolling Base Magnifying Floor Lamp
Tattoo artists carry the tremendous responsibility of ensuring mistakes don’t happen during tattoo sessions on their clients. To adhere to their responsibilities, a great tool to use is the ‘Brightech LightView Pro’ floor lamp. This bright, dimmable magnifying light allows you to see the minutest details while tattooing the most intricate design on the customer.
This item is particularly helpful to the elderly artist experiencing a deteriorating vision. With this bright, high-quality magnifier lamp, you can focus really close and finish your project with utmost perfection. The Brightech lets you magnify up to 175% through the 4.5” diameter, 15” focal range, 1” thick real diopter magnification glass. Furthermore, no matter how bright you adjust the LED light through the dimmer, the light won’t get hot and cause discomfort. The magnifier glass won’t get hot either.
This tattoo lamp was developed with professional artists in mind. A true artist would like to use his or her hands solely for tattooing with full concentration. They wouldn’t, for instance, want to waste time using one of their hands for moving the light around while tattooing. Hence, this floor lamp has 6 wheels that smoothly roll over uneven surfaces; flexible swivel arms; and a pivoting head for quick, easy adjustments. Furthermore, the lamplight is easy on the eyes. It allows you to finish the most detailed tattoo job with perfection, without causing strain or headaches.
When selecting a tattoo lamp, the main concern is durability. You can rest assured, the Brightech magnifying floor lamp won’t let you down in that aspect. It features a 9-watt built-in LED bulb with 800 lumens maximum brightness configuration. What’s more is that you get 6,000 Kelvin, cool white color temperature. Here’s where durability comes into the picture. The product carries a 3-year warranty, while the LED lasts 20 years (if used 3 hours every day) without needing replacement. Those are staggering commitments by an esteemed brand.
Pros
- 1.75 times magnification through an authentic Diopter glass lens, which is the largest of its kind
- The lens is scratch-resistant
- Durable
- Hands-free and portable
- The magnifying lens doesn’t warp with heat over time
- LED lights have a 20-year lifespan
- 3-Year product warranty
Cons
- It weighs 27.5 lbs, which makes it bulky, though that makes it more sturdy too
Our Final Verdict: Editors Choice
2. OttLite Dual Shade LED Floor Lamp
The OttLite dual shade LED floor lamp is one of the more innovative products on our list. This adjustable lamp is the perfect solution for large workspaces, including tattoo parlors requiring widespread light. Besides living up to all the basic expectations, this lamp has many awesome and unique features. These include a built-in USB port, natural daylight illumination, and a smart tablet stand.
The 5V, 2.1A USB port is useful for charging handheld USB-powered devices and smartwatches. Whilst, the natural daylight illumination option lets the artist see the colors and details as they would appear in natural outdoor daylight. Finally, the smart tablet stand is great for tablets, catalogs, or any tattoo design/guide book that you may want to view under appropriate light while you’re tattooing or otherwise.
There are 4 brightness levels. This means you don’t just have to put up with the neat, natural light feature. Another invaluable feature is the energy-efficient LEDs that have a lifespan of up to 40,000 hours. That’s pretty long, considering you have a staggering 1,180 lumens of max brightness output to enjoy. Furthermore, the height of this lamp is adjustable, and further extendable, owing to the flexible neck. The head can be pivoted up to 180 degrees, while the height has a maximum extension of 62 inches. For all that, you end up paying a slight premium. Yet, it’s worth it, considering the overall value one derives from the lamp.
Pros
- Dual shades
- Built-in USB port
- 4 brightness levels, including natural daylight illumination
- Features an ergonomic smart tablet stand
- Energy-efficient LEDs that last up to 40,000 hours
- 1,180 lumens of maximum brightness
- Pivotable neck, and a maximum height of 62-inches
Cons
- A bit pricey
3. OttLite Tattoo Artist 24 Watt Floor Lamp
With its expansive shade and flexible neck, the ‘OttLite Tattoo Artist Floor Lamp’ is a piece of equipment that’s quite apt for the tattooing industry. Moreover, the base is heavy, to provide that all-important sturdiness when you need it. The model comes with a 24w PL-C bulb that is rated to last up to 10,000 hours of bright illumination.
This versatile lamp is suitable for several locations, including your office, studio, or bedroom. In your tattoo studio, you can work without straining your eyes or having to deal with a glare, as this technologically advanced model brings natural daylight indoors. Natural light is helpful to tattooists because it helps them see the colors and details with incredible accuracy.
The neck of the lamp is flexible, which immensely aids effortless adjustments while working. The height can be adjusted from 42.5-49 inches. Furthermore, the 12 x 8 inch base of the lamp is significantly weighty, so that the lamp stays firmly in place. The weighted base also proves helpful while you adjust the flexible neck. This way, you don’t have to worry about the lamp toppling over. Such design elements make this floor lamp an item of choice among tattooists.
Pros
- Flexible neck
- The heavy base stays firmly in place
- Natural daylight effect
- The easily replaceable CFL bulb lasts up to 10,000 hours
Cons
- Some users found the light too bright
4. GSKAIWEN 18inch 65W LED Makeup Ring Light with Mirror
This is yet another amazing floor lamp. The ‘18-inch LED Makeup Ring Light with Mirror by GSKAIWEN,’ comes with various components that need to be assembled. Some of the components are interchangeable and adjustable, offering the user versatility in lighting color options as well as brightness.
Let’s start with the strong, flexible soft tube. This feature is beneficial for tattooists that need to make frequent light adjustments. The soft tube lets you adjust the LED light to several different angles. Next, there are the color films to talk about. The package comes with 8 of them (4 yellow and 4 white), so that you can change over from yellow to white and vise versa. By changing the color films, you’re able to adjust the bi-color temperature of the ring light from 3200 to 5600 Kelvin range.
Another cool feature is the ease with which you can adjust the brightness. There’s a knob that lets you adjust this anywhere within the dimming range of 0% to 100%. Furthermore, the design of this lamp includes an adjustable phone holder and a retractable light stand (78.7-inches in height) made of aluminum alloy. The other elements of the package not mentioned hereinabove are the mirror, adapter, and carrying bag. The semicircle mirror gets affixed within the lower half of the inside ring.
Pros
- 240 durable LED bulbs that give you a soft light rather than a glare
- Durable, easy to carry light stand
- Dimmable light
- A bendable soft tube lets you change the angle of the light
- White and yellow color filters
- Neat unique additions like a mirror, mobile phone holder, and carry bag
- 1-Year warranty and lifelong customer care
Cons
- Assembling takes time
5. GIJUANRING 18″ 60W Dimmable 3200-5600K LED Ring Light
The ‘GIJUANRING Dimmable Ring Light’ is an 18-inch LED ring light (having 480 LED bulbs) with a host of features. It’s a complete kit that includes a 2-sided mirror, light stand, flexible soft tube, mobile phone holder, power adapter, pulg, plus a carrying bag.
The strong, flexible soft tube allows you to adjust the LED lighting angle in one easy step. Also, there is a bi-color temperature knob that lets you easily and accurately make light adjustments. This means you won’t have to struggle with changing the color filters manually. You can manage to change the cool temperature of the ring light from 3,200 Kelvin to 5,600 Kelvin.
Another cool feature is the ease with which you can adjust the brightness. There’s a knob that lets you adjust this anywhere within the dimming brightness range of 10% to 100%. Furthermore, the design of this lamp includes a hose mobile phone holder that can be bent for vertical and horizontal photography.
As far as the power supply is concerned, you have the option to use batteries (not included in the package) or the included AC power adapter. The solid, retractable light stand (78.7-inches in height) is made of durable aluminum alloy. Finally, the brand assures you great quality through a 12-month warranty against any quality issues as well as prompt 24-hour customer service.
Pros
- LED ring light comprising 480 LED bulbs
- Durable, easy to carry light stand
- The dimmable brightness range of 10 to 100%
- Bendable soft tube for changing the light to various angles
- Bi-color temperature adjustments without requiring manually changing color filters
- The package includes a mirror, mobile phone holder, Ac adapter, and carry bag
- 1-Year warranty and prompt 24-hour customer care
Cons
- The battery is not included
6. GOTOTOP Magnifying Lamp LED Light
This lamp may give you doctor’s clinic vibes, yet in reality, it’s a great piece of equipment for any tattoo studio. The ‘GOTOTOP Magnifying Lamp LED Light’ is made of durable, sustainable materials and meant for the long haul. It’s got a swiveling head and a neat mechanism for adjusting the height. You can comfortably rotate the lens head a full 360 degrees either to the left or the right. Moreover, you can flip it 180 degrees in an upward or downward direction, if you’d like.
Are those adjustment tricks not enough? Well, there are some more! There are 4 casters at the base to help you meet your different angle requirements. Also, there is a multi-functional magnifying lamp, which grants you soft, natural light that won’t cause eye strain. The lamp also grants you shadow-free magnification. As a result, your tattoo designs can be inked more detail-oriented and with greater precision.
You get a comfortable light because the cold LED white light provides superior brightness and 5 times magnification in high definition. This means everything the light points at will be super clear with the minutest details and depth of the skin visible to the human eye. If you’re looking for an incredible lamp that’s light on your pocket, this is it!
Pros
- Highly affordable
- Durable
- 360 degrees swiveling head
- Adjustable height
- Caster base helps in angular adjustments
- Multifunctional magnifying lamp
- Cold LED bright light helps you see in high definition
- Great for a spotlight effect
Cons
- The 4 caster base also means the equipment can roll away by accident
7. JimKing Ring Light, Tattoo Light Desk Lamp
If you’re looking for a highly useful, portable desk lamp for your tattoo space look no further. The ‘JimKing Ring Light’ is the go-to lamp when it comes to excellent, bright lighting for churning out detailed artwork. The special ring-shaped lamp is a result of incredible design planning as evidenced by its shape, durability, performance, and versatility. From its eye protective light to its wonderful clip design, everything works in favor of your work in progress.
The two selectable lighting colors are warm light and cool light. Neither of which is flashy or harmful to the eyes. Though the cool light one is preferred for tattooing. The overall design is not only aesthetically pleasing but has abundant practicality built-in. To start with, the lamp features a flexible, twistable metal tube that allows the user to adjust the direction and angle of the light to any desired position without unclamping the base. There is also the featured USB interface with a 59-inch chord to brag about. This handy plug allows you to charge the lamp using your favorite devices such as laptop, power bank, adapter, or simply stick it into the USB socket.
Moving on, the strong metal clips at the bottom, are lined with foam pads on the inside, to help you clamp the lamp on your desk without worrying about scratches or slippage. This has two main advantages. First, it safeguards your furniture. Second, it ensures you have a firm lamp base while you work on your projects. To top things off, this incredible product comes at an incredibly affordable price.
Pros
- Eye protective light
- Strong, efficient clip design
- 360 degrees flexible metal tube neck
- USB interface for charging versatility
- Features both a ring light and a magnifying light
- Bang for your bucks
Cons
- Not meant for big tattoo studios
Things To Consider When Buying A Tattoo Lamp
Besides possessing high-quality tattoo machines and ink, the tattooist must also have proper lighting in the studio. Outlined below are some of the key factors to consider while making a selection of the best tattoo lamp for your needs.
1. Type of Tattoo Lamp
The type of lamp can be distinguished by the style of its design as well as the type of light bulb(s) used for the light. In terms of design, the two most common variants are the desk lamp and the floor lamp. In terms of the light, there are LED and CFL options available. The LED option is the most popular and recommended one. Given below are the details of each.
LED Lamp
If you are a professional tattooist, you’re likely to opt for the LED variety of tattoo lamps. LED bulbs are non-toxic, longer-life bulbs compared to all other types of bulbs. Also, when dimming these, you won’t experience the faltering, flickering, or bursting of the bulbs. Furthermore, it’s not uncommon for LED bulbs to last at least 20,000 hours without replacement.
This is a relatively pricier type of bulb. Yet, it pays off in the long term. LED light is directional as opposed to wide-spreading, which to tattooists is a boon. The color varieties of LED lights include warm color bulbs, daylight, and bright white.
CFL Lamp
CFL bulbs aren’t compatible with dimming switches. This type of bulb is cheaper than LEDs, which is why beginner tattooists prefer these in their learning phase. Also, it takes a bit of time before the bulb warms up to emit light. Once warmed up, the CFL bulb throws light on a wider area compared to its LED counterpart. The color options of CFL light include bright white or warm colors. The mercury and heavy metal substances that make up the inside of the CFL bulb are toxic, which makes them unsafe once they burst.
2. Brightness & Color Temperature
The brightness and heat from the light go hand in hand. These specs are particularly important to professional tattoo artists. Hence, the modes of brightness considered while purchasing tattoo lamps are cool white, daylight white, and warm light. Cool white comes at a lumination range of 5,000 Kelvin to 6,200 Kelvin. Daylight white comes at a lumination range of 4,000 Kelvin to 4,500 Kelvin. And, warm white LED brightness comes at a lumination range of 2,700 Kelvin to 3,200 Kelvin. Cool white light gives you daytime brightness when in a dark space or at night. Daylight white gives you natural light, which helps you know how the tattoo will look in natural sunlight. Finally, the yellowish warm light is the least harmful for your eyes.
3. Rechargeable Battery
Many lamps come with the option to power up with a battery. They could also work with direct power using an AC adaptor. However, it’s a worthwhile decision to go for a USB chargeable lamp that has a decent battery standby runtime.
4. Dimensions
The height of the tattoo lamp, in particular, is of concern to most professional tattoo artists. The maximum height from the base to the actual bulb shade varies among different lamp types and models. Which one you ultimately go for depends on your studio setup and your specific requirements. The tattoo lamps on our list are all adjustable. Some of them have incredible flexibility in this regard. For example, the GSKAIWEN LED ring light with mirror has a retractable light stand that has a maximum height of 78.7-inches.
5. Maneuverability
Many of the best lamps have 360-degree versatility. This means either they can be physically, easily transported around the tattoo studio, or they have a swiveling head or soft tube flexibility, letting you change the direction of the light effortlessly.
Conclusion
In order to end up buying the best tattoo lamp in the market for your requirements, you need to consider the factors explained above. In addition, some products have extra features like a mirror; a smartphone, book, or tablet holder; a magnifying lens; a USB charger; and a carry bag, all of which might enhance your overall efficiency as a tattoo artist. The products listed and reviewed in this article are all incredible choices for meeting the needs of most tattoo artists.
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