Carousel by Carla Ricciardone

@sculptedstudios · September 16, 2026 · Location: Flatiron District, NYC

Photo by Carla Ricciardone on September 16, 2026. May be an image of text.

3 Likes

12 Comments

Complex lips don’t always mean a complex corrections or multi-tonal lips. Sometimes the complexity is in the canvas itself. My client has dealt with eczema throughout her life. While it’s controlled, it has affected both the natural color and texture of her lips, creating an entirely different starting point for tattooing. When I’m working with compromised or challenging texture, my approach changes: • Work slowly. There is no reason to rush compromised skin. • Work in small, controlled sections. • Layer gradually to build coverage rather than forcing saturation. • I personally prefer single needles for complex texture. They give me more precision and control while helping me minimize unnecessary trauma. And pigment choice is only one piece of the equation. It’s a tool like any other. It’s not going to magically just give you results if the technique is off. With this client, I’m looking at her existing discoloration, the variation in tone, the condition and texture of the tissue, and what I realistically expect that skin to retain once healed. The goal isn’t to simply put more pigment into the skin until everything looks even fresh off the needle. The goal is to understand the canvas, make intentional color choices, control the trauma, and build toward the healed result. For her Sculpted Lips, we focused on bringing more balance back to her natural lip color while keeping the result soft and believable. This is where the tattoo becomes much more than choosing the pigment. The skin gives you information. Your technique, pigment selection, saturation, and expectations have to respond to it. Every lip gives you a different starting point. Complex canvas = adapt your technique. Don’t force your usual technique onto skin that is asking you to work differently.