Small tattos adhere to basically the same application process as any other tattoo.
After the stencil is applied to your skin, the tattooist will use a machine to create your tattoo. The tattoo machine uses fine groups of needles to deposit small amounts of ink into the upper layers of the skin. The needle groups are driven up and down very rapidly by small magnets on the tattoo machine.
Using the machine, the tattooist will carefully render your stencil with black ink, until it has been permanently transferred to your skin. This is how your stencil provides the foundation of your tattoo, giving it much of it's detail and clarity.
Next, the tattooist will usually use a different grouping of needles and a different machine to apply the shading and color. Your tattooist should keep the color version of your design close at hand in order to accurately match the colors and shading.
Once your tattoo is finished, your tattooist will clean the area making sure to remove any excess ink. After you have looked at your new tattoo in the mirror, especially if it's on a part of your body not easiy viewed by you, the tattooist will bandage it up to make sure it stays clean.
