· Ask to see the autoclave and UV Cleaners
An autoclave is
essentially a pressure cooker primarily used in the medical field for
sterilizing medical instruments. An autoclave must maintain a temperature of at
least 120 degrees C at a pressure of about 15-17 psi for 15-20 minutes in order
to fully sterilize the equipment.
There are several
different kinds of autoclaves, all acceptable to use in the sterilization of
the equipment. It is a good idea to ask to see the autoclave. Is it clean? More
importantly, was the shop personnel more than happy to show it to you, or did
they act like they had something to hide?
Ultrasound (UV) Cleaners
are small compact cleaning devices which are used to clean the equipment (tips/
grips etc) before they are sterilized in an autoclave.
· Make sure the artist is wearing gloves.
YES! An absolute
necessity! Standard medical latex gloves should always be used. Another point
worth mentioning, though: Do the gloves fit properly? If the gloves are too big
or too small, the artist runs the risk of either poking a hole in the gloves or
tearing them. All it takes is a pinhole to run the risk of cross contamination.
This is more for the safety of the tattoo artist, but no one wants
an infected tattoo artist working on them. If the tattooist doesn't care about
their own safety, why would they care about yours…
· Ask about what training your artist has taken
and completed. Are certificates available?
Unfortunately, at least
so far, there isn't any kind of official certification given to tattoo artists
that complete their education. There are no formal schools, and no diplomas.
There are many "artist" out there that are tattooing without the benefit
of any kind of training, That is why it is so important to be sure these other
guidelines are being strictly followed to be sure you will be receiving
quality.
· Is the artist vaccinated for Hepatitis B?
This is becoming more important as disease and infection are
spreading more rapidly every day, and unsafe tattooing is quickly becoming the
culprit guilty of creating the necessity for tattooists to be vaccinated
against Hepatitis for their own protection and for the protection of their
future clients.
Unfortunately, it is not
a common practice across the globe yet. Many artists still do not practice this
safety measure. It does not necessarily mean they are unsafe, although
practicing this does put a client's mind at ease. If they are not vaccinated,
just be sure they are following the other safety guidelines to prevent
cross-contamination.
If they do claim to
vaccinate, never just take anyone's word for it. Do they have proof? Can they
show you a doctor's record proving they were vaccinated. If they tell you they
don't remember, they're probably lying, they would definitely remember it if
they had as it's a series of 3 shots given over a 4 month period of time. It's
not something that's going to just slip someone's mind.
In this day and age, it is advisable that everyone is vaccinated
against this disease. It wouldn't hurt to make sure that you are vaccinated before you
receive a new tattoo.
· Ointment, ink, water and other items should not be returned to a
universal container after it has been removed for use on a client.
In layman's terms, that means that anything the tattoo artist uses
on you should be thrown away afterward. Unused inks should NOT be returned to the original
container! It is contaminated with blood, and should be tossed out.
The artist should be using these tiny little cups called "ink
caps" to put just enough ink in for your tattoo, and whatever is left
should be thrown away. The same goes for the water and ointments.
This brings to mind another point: Many artists will use deodorant
to create a darker impression of the transfer copy on your skin before they
begin tattooing. This is a very effective method, but the artist should never use the deodorant stick
directly on your skin. It has been used by other clients. Instead, the
deodorant should be wiped onto a tissue, and the tissue placed on your skin.
You should never have direct contact with the deodorant stick. If
they touch you with the stick, who knows how many others they have also touched
with it.
· New sterile needles must always be removed from an EO Gas blister
pack in front of you.
The needles should not be removed from that bag until you are
sitting there and they are ready to start your tattoo.
So, how do you know that the needles are new? New needles should be
bright silver in color, not stained with ink or brownish looking.
Used needles, if
properly sterilized, can very well be perfectly safe. There is also the risk,
though, of the needle tips becoming dull after use on a previous client, which
can seriously damage your skin when used.
So it’s always
recommended to use new sterile packed needles every time.
· A professional will destroy and dispose of needles in a sharps container.
Absolutely correct !!! A sharps container is a plastic container,
usually red, with a biohazard symbol on the outside. Just like the one in the
doctor's office labeled "hazardous waste".
Used needles, and anything else contaminated and not scheduled for
autoclave sterilization should be placed in these containers and removed in a
timely manner.
Some artist might give you the needles to keep as a souvenir/to
use it again next time for re-shading & touch up. This is WRONG practice. Make sure the tattoo artist destroys the needle once
your tattoo is done.
When you go back for re shading/ touch up make sure he/she uses a
new sterile needle removed in front of you from an EO gas blister pack.
· Always ask to see examples of the artist's finished work. Photos
should be openly available.
I always wonder why, when people walk into a tattoo shop, the
first thing they go to is all the flash on the walls or in the books, instead
of the artist's personal portfolio. You may not find what you're looking for in
a tattoo in the portfolio, but it will definitely help you decide if you might
want to be trying to find the exit door! And don't be swayed by pretty
pictures. Really look at the designs up close. Scrutinize the line work. Are
the lines straight and smooth? Do the circles look like circles? What about the
coloring? Are the colors blended well to create even forms of shading,
dimension, and depth? All these are things to consider.
