Health And Safety In Tattoo Studios: What You Need To Know

Are you planning on getting your first tattoo soon? You'll be in good company. One in five Americans have at least one piece somewhere on their body. Those who choose both the design of their tattoo(s) and their tattooist well will have a gift for life; a beautiful artwork that will be as much a part of them as their skin or hair. 

Think Before You Get Your Ink

Not everyone is happy with their tattoos in the long term, though. Bad tattooists, or so-called "scratchers" can produce work that will make you cry every time you look at it. Badly chosen tattoos that you grow out of can do the same. You can learn a lot from others' mistakes there, and think long and hard before you have the name of a partner etched into your skin. Also consider whether you really want that other design on you forever, and if you really want it exactly on that part of your body.

While horrible-looking or unwanted tattoos can certainly interfere with your life, they can — at least theoretically — be removed or covered with better tattoos. The same can't be said for those other potential hazards that can come for free with your ink: blood-borne diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis B, but also other infections resulting from poor hygiene, and even allergic reactions to the ink the tattoo artist is using.

There's a lot to be said for waiting at least six months to a year before going ahead with that ink. Not only will this waiting period give you the chance to think your decision, which should always be considered permanent, through, it will also offer you the opportunity to make sure you find a tattooist you can trust with your health as well as your body art. 

The Needles

Most people who would like to get a tattoo know that the needles are a potential hazard. Needles that are used for multiple customers will be contaminated with blood, and therefore potentially with blood-borne diseases. While HIV will be at the forefront of many minds, Hepatitis B has a much longer "shelf life" and can impact your life almost as much as HIV. 

See Also: Skin Risks Associated With Tattoos

The most safety-conscious and conscientious tattooists will use sterile, new, individually packaged needles. Period. Keep in mind that the use of new, sterile needles is not legally required everywhere. Some jurisdictions merely require that the needles are sterilized, and not that they are new. This is done in an autoclave. When the sterilization process is carried out properly, it's just as safe as new needles — but, and this matters, needles do become blunt over time, and that can irritate your skin.

More Tattoo Safety Tips: What To Watch Out For

Keeping Things Individual

There is, of course, more to tattooing than needles. Tattooists order different colors of ink in large quantities. Inks come in bigger and smaller containers. Were a tattooist to dip individual sets of needles into those collective pots every time they did a tattoo, the ink would be a cesspool of nastiness. 

Instead, your tattooist should use little disposable cups called ink caps, into which they pour the inks they think they'll need for your tattoo. Any excess ink should be disposed of. This way, your ink really is just your ink, and it isn't mixed with anyone else's blood. Ink caps should also be used for deodorant (often used to help create that initial pen impression of your tattoo design on your skin) and the Vaseline your tattoo artist will probably rub onto your skin while they tattoo you. 

The Studio, Tools, And The Tattooist

Are you happy with the condition of the needles and the inks? Now turn your attention to the rest of the studio. My tattooist uses disposable covers on the "tattoo chair", again to prevent customers from coming into contact with biohazards. I have this near-compulsion where I really want to touch a fresh tattoo. It's annoying when my tattooist tells me not to do that and sends me to wash my hands immediately when I do it anyway, but it's also another sign that he can be trusted. He doesn't want me touching my bloody skin and then running my hands along surfaces other people will be coming into contact with. 

Now for the big stuff: ask about your tattoo studio's autoclave. Tattooists should really have steam autoclaves, and they should be very, very happy to show them to potential customers. Recent spore tests should be able to demonstrate that the autoclave is actually clean. 

The tattooist should always wear gloves, which he should take off and drop into a biohazard container as soon as your tattoo is finished and wrapped up. They should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis B. 

What Else Should I Know Before Getting Inked?

As a global community, we don't want to focus on any one country or jurisdiction here at SteadyHealth. Tattoo regulations vary widely across different countries, from none at all to very many. The more heavily tattooing is regulated where you live, the more likely it is that the first studio you randomly walk into is safe. Every country has its fair share of illegal, unsafe tattoo parlors and DIY scratchers, however. Stay away from those. 

See Also: Temporary Tattoos and Henna/Mehndi

Remember, even a safety-conscious tattooist might be a bad match for you, and many tattooists have their own specialties. Always look for samples of work and search the internet for reviews. You'll often find tattoo forums where different artists are discussed, and these can be really useful. You'll also want to ask how long your artist has been in business, where they learned the trade, and from whom. This should, along with previous work samples, give you more of an idea about what to expect. 

Finally, having safety covered has absolutely nothing to do with what you'll think about your ink in five or 10 years time. Tattoo removal may be popular, but it's not perfect by any means and its price makes it beyond the reach of many. Cover-ups can be excellent, but some tattoos are really hard to cover up. Always consider any ink you get to be permanent, and do consider how your tattoos may change along with your body.