Abstract: A needle guard for a manual tattooing device includes a device body and a spring-loaded plunger having a tattoo needle at one end. The plunger is mounted for translational movement within the device body by manual activation of the plunger. The device includes a locking mechanism such that, in a first position, the plunger can be translated to extend the tattoo needle outside of the device body. However, in a second position of the locking device, translational movement of the plunger is prevented, which in turn prevents the exposure of the tattoo needle outside the confines of the device body.