Tattoo equipment can be intimidating if you do not know a lot about tattooing, but in reality the equipment is fairly simple. Learning about tattoo equipment is a great educational experience, and a good way to prepare yourself for getting a tattoo if you are feeling a bit queasy about the idea of the tattoo machines or needles. There are many pieces of tattoo equipment involved in the tattoo process, and understanding a little bit about their uses and purposes can go a long way toward helping you feel more comfortable in a tattoo shop, whether you are there to learn to tattoo or to get a tattoo design yourself.
Tattoo ink: Tattoo ink comes in a vast array of colors. There are many brands of this ink, and they come in a wide variety of recipes. Tattoo inks are generally not actually ink, but rather blends of various pigments. Some tattoo artists make their own inks, while others prefer to purchase them from manufacturers. Different types of inks have different qualities. Some are particularly vivid in hue, while others are especially long lasting and designed to help your tattoo resist weathering over time. Some artists even use black light inks, which cause the tattoo to appear to glow in UV lights. (note: black light inks are of debatable quality and many artists will not use them because they tend to spread over time and the health ramifications of getting this type of tattoo are not certain though it is unlikely that these tattoos will harm you.)
Tattoo machines are extremely fine-tuned and can be used to create delicate designs on the skin anywhere on the body, including the face. The tattoo machine is actually composed of a tiny needle that is driven up and down by electromagnetic coils, and the needle moves between 80 and 150 times each second. tattoo machines are usually operated by foot pedal to avoid unnecessary clenching of the fist or hand. There is a reservoir of ink located behind the needle and the ink flows down the needle and into the skin, not unlike the way that old-fashioned quill pens worked. Tattoo machines can be used on any part of the body safely, but obviously some sensitive parts of the body will be more painful to get tattooed than others.
Tattoo needles: Some artists prefer to make their own tattoo needles, while some simply buy them in prepackaged form. Tattoo needles attach to tattoo machines and are what the artist uses to actually penetrate the skin so that the ink will show under the skin. Tattoo needles are usually actually comprised of several needles attached to a bar. The bar is called a needle bar and the needles are called sharps.
Autoclave: An autoclave is a small, super-oven that is used to sterilize tattoo equipment. Autoclaves use intense steam, high temperatures and serious pressure to kill everything on tattoo equipment, including any pathogens or blood-borne diseases. An autoclave is the only acceptable way to sterilize instruments and insure that you are not at risk for infection from the tattooing process, so if a tattoo shop does not have an autoclave, you should not get a tattoo there.
Tattoo shop chairs and beds: While the chairs and beds in a tattoo shop are not actually part of putting ink under your skin directly, they are very important to the tattoo process. A chair or bed helps you position your body so that the tattoo artist can easily access the area that you want tattooed. The more comfortable and accommodating the chairs and beds in a tattoo shop are, the easier and more pleasant your tattoo experience will be.
Gloves: Just as if you were undergoing a medical procedure instead of a cosmetic one, tattoo artists should always wear gloves to protect you and themselves from potential infections. Generally, the gloves worn in tattoo shops are latex and designed, just like lab gloves, to fit tightly so that the tattoo artist has total control over their movements. If you have a latex allergy, be sure to let your tattoo artist know so that they can wear different gloves.
Ointment and Bandages: Once a tattoo is completed, it needs to be treated regularly with ointment to help the area heal as smoothly and quickly as possible. Covering the tattoo with ointment and a bandage keeps the tattoo from scabbing up, which can cause the colors to fade and run.
