Tattoo's can be dangerous but when performed in the correct sanitary manner there should be nothing to worry about. The following article contains crucial information about what to look for when choosing a tattooist. Or if your a tattooist what your customers will be looking for.

Try to research a tattoo artist or studio 1st. You will usually know if a tattoo studio is not properly cleaned and sanitary.

Smell: The very 1st thing you should notice when you walk in is the smell. It should smell like a doctors surgeory or dentist, a strong bleachy smell is a good indication.

Lighting: Lighting is crucial for the tattooists as well as the customer. Without the correct lighting the pigment may appear bright and solid but under corrent lighting the pigment incorrectly layered will show clearly. The area must be well-lit so the artist can see correctly.

Counters and floor space: Counters and benches should be very tidy with little clutter, lightly colored preferably white so any dirt or pigment shows up. Walls and floors should also be lightly coloured. Carpet is a NO.... The shop itself may be carpeted if and only if the tattooist has an uncarpeted room to work in. As the needle punctures the skin, blood and skin pacrticles are atomised and become airbourne. These particles settle on benches and floors if the room has carpet the particles become trapped. This is danger time.

Spray bottles: The spray bottle used to clean your skin should be disinfected between customers, or preferably covered with some kind of protective film such as Saran Wrap or a spray bottle bag/cover that has an elastic band to keep the bag closed. The only part not covered is the nozzle.

Disposing needles: All needles must be discarded after EACH customer. In the past needles may have been hand made and autoclaved but in many countries they now require the use of pre-steralised disposeable tattoo needles or freshly made tattoo needles that have been autoclaved. Many artists especially underground artists (backyarders) who operate from home or out of small booths may not have spent money for an autoclave, in which case they MUST dispose of each needle. NO EXCEPTIONS. Reusing needles is just like sharing a needle with someone.

Needles touching other things: The tattoo needles, once open from their sanitary packages, must not be placed on unsanitized surfaces. The Artist shouldn't set the needle down anywere, The tattoo machine even once set should be placed in a machine rack or on an area covered by new barrier film, if the machine gets dropped you should insist they open a new needle or leave.

Gloves: The artist must wash their hands prior to putting on their gloves, preferably with an antibacterial/antiseptic solution. Once they put their gloves on, they should not touch anything other than your skin, the needle and the tattoo machine.

Plastic sleeves, masks and lap cloths: Some people think using plastic sleeves to cover the tattoists arm, a mask to cover mouth and nose and a lap cloth is going overboard but in actual fact the safer the better. What happens if the tattooist has a minor cut or even just a pimple that has busted earlier and comes in contact with the open tattoo. Accidents can happen. The lap cloth is curtious to the customer as ink, blood pathogens and skin particles can end up on there clothes.
A mask IS A MUST HAVE as we explained earlier blood pathogens and skin particles are atomised and become airbourne.

Shaving and cleaning hands: A nearby sink separate from the bathroom sink is neccessary for shaving and washing of hands.  The artist will use a disposable razor when shaving skin if not you should leave. 

Stencil Applicators: Some artists still use Speed Stick as an ahesive to apply the tattoo stencil this should be applied first to a tissue not directly to the skin. Tattoo suppliers now sell transfer solutions which can be dripped into a tissue or onto the skin without contact. 

Sterile equipment: Sterile materials used during the proccess should be stored in sealed containers. The ink cup holder used to hold ink should be either stainless steel and autoclaved or disposable plastic and discarded after each tattoo. The ink will never be put back in the bottle.