Complete guide: Tattoo Needles Cartridge Pro Plus RM
Pro Plus RM (Round Magnum) cartridges are single-use tattoo needles with an anti-backflow membrane, designed for smooth shading and fine chromatic transitions. The stainless steel needles are arranged in a curved fan on two rows, which distributes the pigment evenly with minimal skin trauma — a natural choice for black and grey, realism, and portraits. The range sits between the Limited series and premium cartridges: noticeably better finish quality than the budget option, at an affordable price. Each cartridge comes individually sterile-packed in a sealed blister, and the displayed price is per piece.
How to use
- Prepare your workstation: washed hands, new gloves, and protective barriers on the equipment (wrap on the pen and cable), following the standard studio hygiene routine.
- Check the individual blister: it must be sealed and intact. Damaged packaging means compromised sterility — do not use the cartridge.
- Remove the cartridge from the blister without touching the tip and mount it on the pen: the standard universal grip fits any standard tattoo pen.
- Adjust the needle protrusion according to your desired technique and set the approximate voltage: 5.5–7 V for delicate transitions and subtle grey wash, 7–9 V for standard shading, 8–10 V for dense saturation. Start at a low voltage and increase gradually — each pen has its own sweet spot.
- Check the ink flow with a few dry runs before touching the skin to ensure the pigment flows evenly.
- Work the shading with circular, pendulum, or light whip shading motions, varying pressure and speed to control density: fast movement with light pressure for subtle transitions, consistent overlapping for uniform saturation.
- At the end of the session, remove the cartridge and immediately dispose of it in a sharps container. It is strictly single-use — do not clean or re-sterilize.
Tips from us
- Choose the size based on the area: 9RM and 11RM are the most popular and versatile, 7RM for fine details, and 15RM and above for backgrounds and large-area shading. The range covers configurations from 7RM to 23RM.
- For black and grey with diluted grey wash, the magnum curve distributes the diluted ink in a controlled manner — use slow circular motions with variable pressure for subtle grey tones.
- The fan-shaped curvature of the needles reduces the risk of the formation edges traumatizing the skin; maintain a constant angle and moderate pressure to take advantage of this benefit.
- Combine RM with RS in the same session: RM is the 'wide brush' for blending and areas, RS is the 'detail brush' for concentrated shading on small areas.
- Since it is a consumable sold per piece, keep a small stock of 2–3 common sizes so you don't run out of the right configuration in the middle of a job.
Warning: The cartridges are sterilized with ethylene oxide and remain sterile only while the individual blister is sealed — never use a cartridge with unsealed, wet, or damaged packaging. The product is strictly single-use: reusing it, even on the same client, poses an infection risk and is prohibited in professional practice. The anti-backflow membrane prevents fluids from flowing back into the pen and cross-contamination, but it does not replace protective barriers on the equipment and workstation disinfection between clients. Used cartridges must be disposed of exclusively in sharps containers.
Frequently asked questions
Do these cartridges fit my pen?▾
Yes. Pro Plus RM cartridges have a standard universal grip and are compatible with all standard tattoo pens, whether they have a direct drive motor or traditional rotary motor. If your pen accepts standard system cartridges, Pro Plus RM mounts correctly without adapters.
Can I reuse a cartridge in a future session, on the same client?▾
No. The cartridge is single-use: once removed from the sterile blister and used, sterility is permanently lost and cannot be restored under studio conditions. At the end of the session, dispose of it in a sharps container, and at the next session, open a new sealed cartridge.
What RM size should I choose if I'm just starting with shading?▾
The most popular sizes are 9RM and 11RM. 9RM offers a good balance between coverage and control, suitable for medium areas and details, while 11RM covers extended areas and wide transitions faster. For fine details, there is 7RM, and for backgrounds and large surfaces, use 15RM and above, with the range going up to 23RM.
What is the difference between RM and RS and when should I use each?▾
RM (Round Magnum) has needles arranged in a curved fan on two rows — it is the tool for large surfaces, wide transitions, backgrounds, and blending. RS (Round Shader) is for small areas, details, concentrated shading, and localized fills. Essentially, RM is the wide brush, RS is the detail brush; many artists use both in the same session.
What is the membrane in the cartridge for?▾
The anti-backflow safety membrane prevents ink and fluids from rising from the cartridge back into the pen mechanism. This prevents cross-contamination between clients through the inside of the machine. However, it remains mandatory to use protective barriers (wrap on the pen) and disinfect equipment between sessions — the membrane is an extra safety layer, not a replacement.
Is Pro Plus RM worth it compared to the Limited RM series?▾
If you predominantly work with shading, portraits, or black and grey, yes. The Pro Plus range goes through a more rigorous manufacturing process, with tighter tolerances and additional needle polishing, which results in softer transitions, less skin trauma, and better consistency between cartridges. The price difference compared to Limited is moderate, and it remains significantly cheaper than premium ranges — hence it's the middle recommendation for an upgrade.
Product description
Cartridge needles Membrane needles The product is sterile, individually packaged and is for single use. Material: Stainless steel The price is set per piece
Pro Plus RM (Round Magnum) cartridge needles are superior mid-range tattoo needles, designed for fluid shading and professional chromatic transitions. The curved magnum configuration arranges needles in a curved fan formation across two rows, enabling uniform ink distribution with minimal skin trauma. Manufactured from stainless steel with a superior quality polished finish, Pro Plus RM delivers reliable and consistent shading performance. The needle curvature allows soft transitions from black to white, subtle color gradients, and professional blending. The anti-backflow safety membrane prevents cross-contamination, and ethylene oxide sterilization guarantees maximum safety. Individual sealed blister packaging protects sterility. Universally compatible with all standard pen machines. Pro Plus RM positions itself as the smart choice between budget and premium — quality visibly superior to the Limited series, at a price significantly below Kwadron or Cheyenne ranges. Available in configurations from 7RM to 23RM, these cartridges are the fundamental instrument for portraits, realism, black and grey, and any style requiring quality shading. The Pro Plus range is the result of a more rigorous manufacturing process than Limited — tolerances are tighter, quality control stages are more numerous, and the needle finish benefits from additional polishing. This investment in quality translates directly into visibly better results: cleaner lines or transitions, less trauma per pass, and cartridge-to-cartridge consistency that allows the artist to rely on the instrument without constant adjustments. Pro Plus is our recommendation for artists looking to upgrade from budget without jumping to premium pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions Is Pro Plus RM suitable for portraits? Yes, Pro Plus RM is an excellent choice for portraits. The curved magnum configuration with the superior Pro Plus finish provides fine transitions and good shading control. For standard and advanced level portraits, performance is more than sufficient. Many portrait-specialized artists use Pro Plus RM as their base shading needle. How does Pro Plus RM compare to Limited RM? Pro Plus RM offers a visibly superior needle finish to Limited RM. Transitions are softer, skin trauma is less, and cartridge-to-cartridge consistency is better. The price difference is moderate but justified. If you predominantly work on shading and portraits, the investment in Pro Plus RM shows in the final results. What Pro Plus RM sizes are most popular? The most popular Pro Plus RM sizes are 9RM and 11RM. 9RM offers an excellent balance between coverage and control, ideal for medium areas and details. 11RM is perfect for more extensive areas and wide transitions. 7RM is popular for fine details, while 15RM and above are for backgrounds and large-surface shading. What shading technique works best with Pro Plus RM? Pro Plus RM excels with circular shading techniques (round and round), pendulum, and light whip shading. For gradual transitions, use slow circular movements with variable pressure. For uniform saturation, pendulum movements with constant overlap. Speed and pressure control shading density — fast movement with light pressure for subtle transitions. Does Pro Plus RM work well with diluted grey wash? Yes, Pro Plus RM works excellently with diluted grey wash. The curved magnum configuration enables controlled distribution of diluted ink to create subtle grey tones. The superior Pro Plus finish quality ensures a more uniform ink flow than Limited RM, producing cleaner transitions. Ideal for black and grey realism. What voltage do you recommend for Pro Plus RM on shading? For shading with Pro Plus RM: 5.5-7V for delicate transitions and subtle grey wash, 7-9V for standard shading, and 8-10V for dense saturation and color packing. Always start at the lower voltage and increase to desired result. Optimal voltage depends on the pen used — each pen has a different sweet spot. Is Pro Plus RM compatible with direct drive motor machines? Yes, Pro Plus RM is compatible with all types of tattoo pens, including those with direct drive motors (Cheyenne Hawk, FK Irons Flux) and traditional rotary motors (Bishop Fantom, Kwadron Proton). The universal standard grip ensures correct mounting regardless of the pen's internal mechanism. How to choose between Pro Plus RM and Pro Plus RS for shading? Choose Pro Plus RM for large surfaces, wide transitions, backgrounds, and general shading. Choose Pro Plus RS for small areas, details, concentrated shading, and localized fills. RM is the wide blending brush, RS is the detail brush. Most artists use both in the same session, alternating based on the work area. Can Pro Plus RM be used for color packing too? Yes, Pro Plus RM can be used for color packing with good but different results than M1. The curved RM distributes ink more gradually and softly, while M1 saturates more aggressively and densely. RM is suitable for color packing in areas where you want fine transitions at color edges. For pure maximum saturation, M1 remains superior. How many Pro Plus RM cartridges do I need for a portrait session? For a portrait session (3-6 hours), plan for 3-6 Pro Plus RM cartridges in different configurations. Typically: 2x 7RM for fine details, 2x 9RM or 11RM for general shading, and 1-2x 15RM for backgrounds. Change the cartridge when you notice shading becoming inconsistent or when transitioning to a different portrait area.
