| Basic Shop Hygiene A tattoo shop should be | | | | tips, it must be put through strict sterilization |
| completely cleaned and disinfected every day, with | | | | processes including the autoclave. The tubes are first |
| special attention being given to the sterilization room | | | | cleaned and disinfected with the ultrasound machine, |
| and tattoo area. All sterilization equipment should be | | | | then packed into autoclave bags, sealed and sterilized |
| cleaned down with alcohol and once a week stripped | | | | using the autoclave. Look for the little colored |
| and cleaned from top to bottom. Sterilization | | | | indicator marks on the autoclave bags that confirms |
| Equipment Autoclave The autoclave is one of the | | | | that the equipment is actually sterilized. Needles and |
| most important pieces of hardware in a tattoo shop, | | | | bars New needles are soldered to bars and then put |
| and it is vital to possess this machine before | | | | through the sterilization process before being used. |
| tattooing professionally. All tattoo and piercing | | | | Used needles are burnt off the bars and disposed of |
| equipment that is not disposable must go through the | | | | in a toxic waste bin immediately after the realization |
| autoclave after having gone through a series of pre | | | | of a tattoo. The bars should then be sterilized to be |
| autoclave processes. You can find autoclaves in | | | | made ready for the soldering of new needles. After |
| places like dental clinics and hospitals. What is an | | | | soldering the needles to the bars, the needle set |
| autoclave? Basically an autoclave sterilizes materials | | | | should again be packed into autoclave bags and |
| with pressurized steam at very high temperatures. | | | | processed in the autoclave again. The needles, once |
| Depending on the type of autoclave, the sterilizing | | | | opened from their autoclave bags, must not be |
| cycles can vary in the duration, but on average can | | | | placed on non sanitized surfaces. The artist should |
| take between 15 - 30 minutes or so. All autoclaves | | | | NOT set the needle down on the table, or, heaven |
| must be inspected regularly and periodically spore | | | | forbid, DROP THE NEEDLE ON THE FLOOR!!! If this |
| tested. According to the Alliance of Professional | | | | happens, insist they open a new needle. Work tables |
| Tattooists, USA, the autoclave is the only acceptable | | | | After each tattoo, the artist's work tables should be |
| means of equipment sterilization in the tattoo shop. If | | | | disinfected with an antibacterial and virus product |
| the shop does not use an autoclave, do not get | | | | before a new tattoo. Ink & Ink Caps Every |
| tattooed there. Shops should keep regular records of | | | | client gets their own pot(s) of ink and all used pots |
| their autoclave use and testing. Ask to see them if | | | | and unused ink are disposed of after the tattoo. |
| you feel uncertain Ultrasound The ultrasound machine | | | | Gloves Gloves are very important in a tattoo studio. |
| is a pre autoclave process and is used to finely clean | | | | Normally 2 types are gloves are used, i.e. natural latex |
| down the specific equipment like tubes and newly | | | | gloves and nitrile gloves. The color of the gloves is |
| soldered needles and bars. Immediately after a | | | | immaterial. However they must be the right size so |
| tattoo, the disposables like needles, ink caps, unused | | | | that the artist does not risk puncturing the gloves. |
| inks etc are carefully packed and disposed. Other | | | | The artist must wash their hands prior to putting on |
| equipment like needle tubes and tips are put into the | | | | their gloves, preferably with an anti-bacterial / |
| ultrasound machine and cleaned and disinfected with | | | | antiseptic hand wash. Once they put their gloves on, |
| an antibacterial / cleaning agent. Then they are | | | | they should not touch anything other than your skin, |
| thoroughly rinsed and dried, and packed into | | | | the needles, and the tattoo equipment. They should |
| autoclave bags and put into the autoclave for its | | | | not be filling out receipts beforehand, or answering |
| sterilization cycle. Tattoo Equipment Tattoo Machines | | | | the phone--unless these have been wiped clean |
| All tattoo artists and tattooists normally have 3 or | | | | beforehand. Razors If the artist needs to shave your |
| more machines. After used they are cleaned down | | | | skin before applying the stencil, check and make sure |
| with alcohol or with some kind of anti-bacteria or | | | | that he is using disposable razors. A risk of serious |
| virus product. Needle Tubes & Grips Tubes | | | | disease infection can occur whenever a razor is used |
| & grips are what the needle and bar run through | | | | because of the skin abrasion that occurs during |
| and come into direct contact with blood, plasma and | | | | shaving. Spray bottles The spray bottle the artist |
| penetrated skin. This piece of equipment is either | | | | uses on your skin should be disinfected between |
| made of surgical or stainless steel and is always | | | | customers, or some kind of protective film such as |
| reused due to the cost. However since blood and | | | | Saran Wrap should be used. |
| pathogens can get lodged in the hollow of the needle | | | | |