Scratchers and Tattoo Schools

The tattoo industry in 2025 isn’t what it used to be. Toronto, in particular, is flooded with new shops and young artists popping up everywhere. Many of them have never gone through a proper apprenticeship, and instead come out of a “tattoo school” that runs a two-day crash course. Let’s be clear — these schools aren’t recognized, and they don’t teach the foundation, discipline, or technique it takes to master tattooing. On top of that, the pandemic introduced a new problem: many people simply bought their first tattoo kit online during COVID and started tattooing at home. In the industry, these people are called scratchers. The result? More and more people walking around with cheap tattoos, uneven lines, and work that doesn’t hold up over time.

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