We were lucky to catch up with Dominga Lingo recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Dominga thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an important lesson you learned or maybe it’s a just a story that makes you laugh (or cry)?
When I first tried to get into the tattoo industry, it felt almost impossible. I started during Covid, and at the time it was very hard to even find an apprenticeship. I put in a lot of work and study to make my portfolio strong, and eventually found an apprenticeship in a very old-school way. However, I never ended up tattooing there, which made the journey feel even more discouraging.
What changed everything was when I met Claudio Traina and his shop, Sixty Ink. They gave me an incredible opportunity to start tattooing straight away. That experience not only launched my career but also showed me the importance of determination and resilience. Because it wasn’t easy to break into this field, I value my career even more today. The struggle really shaped my mindset, and I carry that persistence with me in everything I do.
Dominga , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
So, another thing—let me choose this answer, please. When I think about the tattoo industry, I realize I came up in a very old-school environment where they always taught you that work very hard , and that being a tattoo artist meant leaving a little bit of yourself behind in the process. And I think that’s one of the biggest lessons I can share: like in any business, discipline is everything. Discipline is what makes you successful in whatever you do.
When I was in a formal apprenticeship, I didn’t have enough money to do anything at all—I was literally just tattooing, working six or seven days a week, always at the station, constantly trying to put out as much work as possible. That discipline carried over when I started building my own career and finding my people. It gave me the foundation of a routine I could keep up, and that has been the most important thing.
Especially in a creative industry, there’s so much pressure and demand to constantly produce. If your body and mind aren’t in a good place, if you’re not taking care of yourself, your creativity will suffer—I know because I’ve been there. And the truth is, I haven’t been tattooing for that long, only about three years. But staying disciplined allowed me to achieve my five-year goals in just three.
The thing I’m most proud of is that in those three years I’ve already reached the point of applying for an U.S. visa—a huge milestone in my five-year plan, because I eventually want to bring my art there. For me, as a creative, that’s an amazing achievement.
Also, I’ve always been a really shy person, but tattooing has completely changed how I connect with people. My relationships have improved so much, and I feel lucky to have such incredible clients who trust me. Doing so much freehand work has boosted my confidence, changed my approach to others, and honestly made me love people more. I appreciate every single one of my clients for that.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
Honestly Instagram and love the way that wil make u own and success in your business and be able to travel too !
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A big lesson I had to unlearn was im
patience. When you start tattooing, it’s frustrating the competition is insane and progress feels slow. I used to think success would come fast if I just worked hard, but in this field, it’s all about dedication, consistency, and evolving your craft. Over time, I also learned that as your business grows, not everyone will grow with you you’ll lose people along the way. But that’s part of leveling up
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nooirtattoo/
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D9QXyv_Fjr4
