Thing To Keep In Mind Prior To Visiting A Tattoo Studio


By Mattie MacDonald


Tattoos are made on the body by introducing pigments into the body through pierced skin. Once the pigments are introduced, they can be seen as ink. This process is carried out in a tattoo studio by specialists called tattooists. The individual being tattooed is under the risk of infections because their bodies are penetrated up to the blood vessels.

The process of getting a tattoo requires the skin, which is a protective layer for the body to be perforated. Perforated skin is vulnerable to infections and other health risks. Health problems of getting tattoos are many hence, one should exercise some caution to avoid getting infected. This article outlines safety steps one needs to take before they walk into a tattoo shop to be tattooed.

The inks used in tattooing are not restricted in any way by the Food and Drug Administration. This has the meaning that manufacturers can introduce potentially harmful substances into them and no one would care. The FDA does not control pigments, but only reacts to issues after they have happened. From this, it is obvious that there could be some harm already happening now that no one has already noticed.

Finding out whether or not shops in a state need licensure or registration to operate should be the priority step towards ensuring safety. The health department is in the best position to answer this question. A list of all registered studios in a state can also be got at the local health offices. One should look to see the nature of complaints filed and the shops against which they were filed. This information should be the basis for picking a shop to tattoo from.

The next step after identifying various registered shops in an area is to try and understand how their instruments are sterilized. It is mandatory for the shop to have an autoclave for sterilization. Needles should be used once and disposed off and every client must be treated with a separate needle. Also, hygiene levels of the studio must be very high. Artists must use detergents to wash their hands clean after working on a client. Use of gloves separate gloves on each person should be ensured.

If one is satisfied with the kind of safety that is observed in the studio, the next step is to check the competence of the artist. Ask about trainings attended and certifications received. Every training or certification the tattooist claims to have achieved should be backed up with a certificate. Any sense of reluctance to show certificates or discuss competence, may indicate that the tattooist is unqualified.

One can also learn a lot about a studio by watching the artist work. Therefore, it is advisable to sit around and watch one or two clients being inked. This is the time to determine whether the artist was truthful or not. One should not feel guilty for walking away if safety protocols are not adhered to.

One should not trade quality of service with low cost. One gains more by paying more money but staying safe from infections. Failure to understand this makes people to go for cheap services but get infected by serious infections.




About the Author: