Getting your tattoo in a Safe Environment

Finding a reputable Tattoo artist

When you finally decide to get a tattoo, the first thing you’ll need to do is find a reputable tattoo artist preferably referred by a friend that has used them. Think carefully about the design and position of your tattoo as it will stay with you for life (unless you have tattoo laser removal at a later date). Tattoo parlours usually have a multitude of different tattoo designs on the walls and in catalogues for you to choose from. Don't worry if you cannot find a tattoo design thats suits your personality, you can always create your own custom tattoo design. Most tattoo artists will be able to create a tattoo design template from pictures or drawings of your required tattoo design you show them.

Having a tattoo is actually classed as a form of surgery as the tattoo needle breaks the skin. Due to the fact that the tattooing process breaks the skin to inject ink into the skin safety and health issues should be considered. Many people will be concerned with viruses such as HIV from dirty needles when getting a tattoo, but there are many other infections and viruses that should not be overlooked such as Hepatitis. Professional tattoo artists have strict guidelines regarding health and safety matters. As long as your tattoo artist opens a new packet of needles in front of you and sterilises the tattooing tools correctly then you won't have any of these problems. Also good aftercare for your tattoo and the use of Tattoo Goo ointment or similar cream will make sure your tattoo heals properly.

Make sure you see your tattoo artist open a new needle packet

Professional tattoo artists will sterilise their equipment after each use. Tattooists can use a steam autoclave to sterilise their equipment. The steam autoclave uses high temperature steam under pressure to sterilise the tattooists tools. Alcohol or bleach alone are not good enough to completely sterilise equipment, the tattooist will probably clean the tools with bleach or alcohol before they are put in the steam autoclave machine.

Professional tattoo artists sterilise equipment in a steam autoclave

As well as the tattooing equipment being sterilised you should also take a look around a tattoo artists studio. Always check that the tattoo studio looks clean, floors should look spotless and the area that the tattoo work will be done should look totally spotless. These simple checks may seem like common sense, but can easily be overlooked.
Make sure your tattoo artist wears a new pair of disposable surgical type gloves and any wipes or cloths used should also be new and of a disposable kind. The tattoo ink should have been freshly tipped out from a large bulk type container into a small dish or small fresh container for use on your tattoo. This prevents cross contamination from dipping your needle into ink that may have had another persons needle used in it.