What Questions Can You Ask Your Tattoo Artist?

It should come as no surprise, but tattoos are popular, seriously. Tattoos and body art of the like have been around for thousands of years with some sources even saying that the idea of tattoos predates civilization. Nowadays, you can find someone with a tattoo anywhere you go, and there’s no shortage of tattoo parlors anywhere in the world, even the smallest of towns. 

Now if you’re someone who has tattoos, you know what you’ll experience if you go back and get inked again. But for first timers, there are quite a lot of reservations they may have. There is such a large population of people who like or want a tattoo, but many are afraid of a certain side effect they heard about online…negative reactions to a tattoo, or in this case, potential infection. 

So they start asking themselves, “what if I get an infection? what if the tools they use are dirty and something bad happens after?” When it comes to tattoos, it’s perfectly okay to have questions… But in this article, we’d like to show you some questions that you shouldn’t ask yourself, but ask your tattoo artist. Specifically, asking them questions about how they sterilize their tools, or the personal protection they wear. 

What Kinds of Questions Can I Ask?

There’s quite a few ways to ask your tattoo artist the questions you need to feel comfortable about getting a tattoo. But there’s various processes when it comes to an artist’s preparations. So in this section we’ll break it down by what’s included in those steps.

Personal Protection Equipment

Like any professional, tattoo artists, personal protection is paramount. They’re required to wear protective gear for their sake as well as yours. So it’s important to go over some key questions you can ask about their protection equipment.

1.) “What type of gloves do you use?” Or along a similar line: “Are your gloves latex-free?” 

This is a good starting question, covering what type of gloves they use. Nitrile gloves are recommended and the most common type of gloves used in many professional settings, including tattoo.

Nitrile gloves are latex-free, meaning they won’t trigger an allergic reaction in people allergic to latex. Which, when you’re going to be exposed to them for that long, is important to know.

2.) “How often do you change your gloves?” 

Whether they’re general or sterile gloves, when it comes to tattooing, gloves should be a single-use, disposable item. Nitrile or otherwise. Inquiring as to whether your tattoo artist changes their gloves after each use is is paramount to prevent possible infections.

Sterilization

Next, let’s look at a couple of questions you can ask about the way they sterilize their equipment. 

1.) “Can I see how you sterilize your reusable tools?”

There are some items like reusable metal tools or parts that can be sterilized. So if you want to know about how they sterilize these items for use, you can ask. Asking to see how your tattoo artist how they sterilize their tools is an effective way to minimize any potential reservation in regards to safety. And they may even make time to show you the tools like autoclaves and the other steps for proper sterilization.

2.) “Do you use spore testing on your autoclave?”

This is an important step when operating an autoclave. Spore testing is meant to test the sterilization efficacy of the unit. So if their autoclave has been spore tested and successfully passed, that means it’ll properly sterilize their tools to standard.

Hygiene Practices

Last, but not least, ask them about their hygiene practices. We’re no strangers to talking about how proper hygiene protocols are recommended in every kind of practice. And neglecting any kind of hygiene practices can lead to adverse side effects for your customer when getting a tattoo.

1.) “What are the cleaning and hygiene protocols for your practice?”

This question about their protocols will allow them to tell or even show you how they keep their area and studios clean and practicing basic hygiene for the customer.

2.) “Can I see your certificates or sterilization logs?”

This one sounds a bit specific, or to some a tad extreme. But a reputable studio should provide as much transparency on things like this that you ask to make you feel more comfortable when requesting their services.

Final Thoughts

Tattoos are a timeless art form, and while the excitement of new ink is undeniable, it’s natural to have concerns about safety, especially regarding infection. By empowering yourself with the right questions about personal protective equipment, sterilization methods, and general hygiene protocols, you can confidently choose a reputable studio that prioritizes your well-being. A transparent tattoo artist who readily answers these inquiries demonstrates a commitment to professionalism and client safety, ensuring your tattooing experience is not only artistically fulfilling but also worry-free.

If you have any questions about sterilization options for the field of tattooing, infection control, or anything else, please give us a call at 704-966-1650 Option 3 for our Free Tech Support line. You can also check out our various consumer programs for FREE using the links below.

As always if you have any questions about this process or anything else please feel free to contact us and take advantage of our “FREE TECH SUPPORT.”

We also offer FREE VIRTUAL TECH SUPPORT to “See and Talk” with a “Real Time Live Technician” for any problems you may be in need of help with.

You can also use our “FREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM”. Take the guesswork and worrying about what unit is due for maintenance and which maintenance cycle it is time for. We will keep track of all your autoclaves and let you know when it’s time for anything.