by If you are interested in getting a tattoo or piercing, choose a safe, reputable studio. It is crucial that proper hygiene and safety standards are followed. Risks increase dramatically if individuals attempt the procedure on themselves or others.
The staff and studio area should be very clean. The studio should have separate areas for piercing and tattooing.
The studio should have and use an autoclave (equipment used to sterilize the necessary equipment). If there is not an autoclave, do not agree to a procedure.
Needles and other "sharps" should only be used once and should be opened (from individual packages) in front of you before the procedure.
Staff should wear new latex gloves during each procedure.
Piercings should not be done with a piercing gun as the "gun" cannot be properly sterilized in an autoclave and can spread infections.
Jewelry used for piercings should be non-allergenic only (stainless steel-300 series, gold, niobium, titanium or platinum) and should be available in a variety of sizes.
Inks used in tattooing should be placed in a single-use cup and then disposed. Ink should never be taken directly from the main source bottle or returned to that bottle!
Ask about after-care instructions. Read and understand the instructions before getting a tattoo or piercing.
Ask questions! How long has the person been piercing or tattooing? Are they knowledgeable? Ask to see photos of their work. Do you like it?
Ask if you can watch the preparation for and an actual piercing or tattooing of another person. Not all studios will let people watch, but this may give you a chance to check out sterilization and techniques.
If you feel uncomfortable in a studio or with the staff, LEAVE!!!.
Listen to your gut – you’d be surprised what your intuition knows that your brain doesn’t process.
Source
The staff and studio area should be very clean. The studio should have separate areas for piercing and tattooing.
The studio should have and use an autoclave (equipment used to sterilize the necessary equipment). If there is not an autoclave, do not agree to a procedure.
Needles and other "sharps" should only be used once and should be opened (from individual packages) in front of you before the procedure.
Staff should wear new latex gloves during each procedure.
Piercings should not be done with a piercing gun as the "gun" cannot be properly sterilized in an autoclave and can spread infections.
Jewelry used for piercings should be non-allergenic only (stainless steel-300 series, gold, niobium, titanium or platinum) and should be available in a variety of sizes.
Inks used in tattooing should be placed in a single-use cup and then disposed. Ink should never be taken directly from the main source bottle or returned to that bottle!
Ask about after-care instructions. Read and understand the instructions before getting a tattoo or piercing.
Ask questions! How long has the person been piercing or tattooing? Are they knowledgeable? Ask to see photos of their work. Do you like it?
Ask if you can watch the preparation for and an actual piercing or tattooing of another person. Not all studios will let people watch, but this may give you a chance to check out sterilization and techniques.
If you feel uncomfortable in a studio or with the staff, LEAVE!!!.
Listen to your gut – you’d be surprised what your intuition knows that your brain doesn’t process.
Source
