Ink of the Bakken: Oilfield Tattoos & Healing Tips | Sacred Skin

You earn your money the hard way. Long hitches, freezing winters, and 12-hour shifts in the mud. In the Bakken, "Oilfield Trash" isn't an insult—it's a badge of honor. It means you can handle work that sends other people packing.

At Sacred Skin Tattoo on Main St. in Williston, we specialize in ink that tells that story. Whether you’re pushing tools in Watford City or running a rig in Tioga, you deserve a tattoo that is as tough as the work you do.

Here is your guide to the best oilfield styles and, most importantly, how to heal a tattoo while working a hitch.

The Styles: What Looks Best on the Field?

You don't want a sticker. You want a piece of art that fits your arm and your life. Here are the top requests we see from guys in the patch:

1. Industrial Realism

This is for the guys who want that pump jack or drill bit to look like actual metal on skin.

• The Look: High contrast black and grey. We use shading to create the texture of chrome, rust, and steel.

• The Subject: Derricks, tricone bits, or the silhouette of your specific rig against a North Dakota sunset.

• Why it works: It turns the machinery you master every day into a permanent trophy.

2. Trash Polka: Controlled Chaos

This style comes from Germany, but it feels like it was made for the oilfield.

• The Look: It mixes realistic images (like a skull or a rig) with chaotic black brush strokes and bold red abstract lines.

• Why it works: The oilfield is chaotic, dangerous, and loud. Trash Polka captures that energy. It’s aggressive and bold—perfect for a "Roughneck" or "Drill Till It Squirts" piece.  

3. Memorials: The Empty Boots

We know the risks out here. If you’ve lost a brother on the job, we take the responsibility of memorializing them seriously. From the "Battlefield Cross" (boots, gun, helmet) adapted with a hard hat and pipe wrench, to simple dates integrated into a derrick, we make sure their memory lasts forever.  

The "Roughneck Regimen": Healing a Tattoo in FR Clothing

Getting the tattoo is the easy part. Healing it while wearing heavy Fire Resistant (FR) clothing in a dust-filled environment is the challenge. Do not use the old "dry healing" method out here. The silica dust and drilling mud will cause an infection instantly.  

Here is the protocol we recommend for our industrial clients:

1. The Saniderm Solution (The Plastic Barrier)

We strongly recommend using a medical-grade adhesive barrier like Saniderm or Tegaderm.

• What it does: It seals the tattoo under a breathable, waterproof film.

• Why you need it: It keeps the FR fabric from rubbing your raw skin and keeps the dust/chemicals out. You can shower with it on, and it stays protected for 3-5 days—perfect for getting you through a shift.

2. The Cotton Layer Trick

If you can't use Saniderm, never wear your FR coveralls directly against a fresh tattoo. The coarse fabric acts like sandpaper.

• The Fix: Wear a clean, 100% cotton long-sleeve shirt under your FRs. Cotton breathes and absorbs sweat, protecting your ink from the rough outer layer.  

3. NO Vaseline

Old school bikers used Vaseline. Don't do it. Petroleum jelly traps heat and bacteria, which causes infections—especially in a dirty work environment. Use the specific aftercare lotion we provide or a water-based unscented lotion like Lubriderm.  

Worth the Drive? Absolutely.

We know you have options in Sidney or Watford, but a tattoo is permanent. You drive the best trucks and work for the best companies—don't settle for "okay" ink just because it's five miles closer.

Sacred Skin Tattoo is the premier studio in the Williston Basin for a reason. Our shop is hospital-grade sterile, our artists are world-class, and we understand the oilfield schedule.

Ready to Book?

We know your schedule is crazy. If you have days off coming up, get on the books now.

• Location: 114 Main St, Williston, ND

• Call/Text: (701) 415-6031

• View Our Artists: [Link to Artist Page]

Walk-ins welcome when time permits, but booking guarantees your spot.