There is a lot of literature out there about how to get tattooed safely. There are a lot of factors that can be potentially health- and life-threatening when it comes to tattoo safety, so you should always make sure that you are being responsible and wise when it comes to getting a tattoo. Never rush into the process, and always investigate the tattoo studio where you are getting tattooed thoroughly before you actually sit down and submit to the needle. Many people and groups who do not like tattoos or approve of getting tattoo designs on your body have published a great deal of a safety oriented literature that is basically designed to scare you away from getting a tattoo at all. In reality, tattooing, when done properly, is a completely safe and harmless way to decorate your body in a personal and unique manner.
Here is a comprehensive guide to tattoo safety that will help you determine just how safe, clean, sanitary and perfectly responsible your chosen tattoo studio is:
Ask about sanitizing equipment
There are parts of every tattoo gun that are exposed to bodily fluids. As a result, tattooing equipment should be sterilized using an autoclave following every use. Autoclaves are the only type of sterilization equipment that have the heat and pressure necessary to kill all types of blood-borne bacteria and infections. If a tattoo studio uses ultra-violet light (as do some nail salons) or any other method of cleaning instead of an autoclave, then you are not fully protected from other peoples potential infections. While the autoclave may not be visible from the front of the studio, you should be able to view it if you make the request politely. If you are not allowed to see the autoclave or are told that the equipment is sent out of the studio for sterilization, then you may want to reconsider your choice of tattoo studios.
Ask about sterilization techniques
While it is important that a tattoo studio have an autoclave, it is equally important that they use it correctly. For example, tattoo tubes, which are the part of the tattoo gun that holds the needles in place, can come in one-piece units, multi-piece units or disposable units. If the tattoo tubes are made of multiple pieces, they should be disassembled before they are autoclaved. Failing to do this can result in tiny bacteria surviving the autoclave process in the cracks and joints between the pieces of tattoo tube. Anything that can be taken apart before sterilization should be.
Watch any disposable equipment get opened
Tattoo inks, plastic tattoo tubes and some types of tattoo needles are disposable, and come pre-packaged in sterile packages so that they can be used immediately upon opening. These types of equipment do not need to be sterilized in an autoclave because they are only used once and are delivered to the tattoo studio in their own personal sterile environment that remains uncontaminated until the seal on the package is broken. However, if your tattoo studio is using pre-packaged, sterile equipment, then you should be able to watch the tattoo artist open the packages so that you do not have to worry about whether or not the equipment was actually used before. Tattoo ink also must be discarded after each use because dipping the tattoo needles in the ink unavoidably gets blood in the ink because the needles will get bloody as your tattoo progresses.
Avoid deliberately dangerous behavior
Of course, the best way to stay safe when it comes to tattooing is to not engage in dangerous tattoo behavior. Never tattoo yourself at home, whether you are using a homemade tattoo gun, a sharpened needle, a ballpoint pen or a flame-sterilized knife. None of these items can be fully and safely sterilized to the point where you are not at risk for blood-borne illnesses if you penetrate your skin and introduce the bacteria on the item into your body. Also, never share tattoo needles (or any other type of needle for that matter). You should never use tattoo ink that has not been approved by the FDA, and you should also never get drunk or high before getting tattooed, since both of these things can interfere with your judgment and make you more likely to participate in dangerous tattooing practices.
Of course, probably 99.9 percent of all tattoo studios take your health and safety at least as seriously as you do. As a result, when you are asking questions about sterilization, sanitary practices and responsible equipment usage, you should always be extremely polite. While it is unwise to simply assume that everyone you encounter has as high a safety and sanitary standard as you do when it comes to tattooing, it is unprofessional and highly impolite to imply that a tattoo artist “whose living and reputation, not to mention their conscience, depend on their professional adherence to safety guidelines” does not adhere to safety regulations. Always be deferential when asking these questions. Remember, you are looking for red flags, but you do not need to assume they are there. In all likelihood, your tattoo studio is just as concerned â”if not more so” about health and safety as you are.
