It is important to exercise safety precautions in selecting a tattoo parlor.
Yuck! Sounds scary, doesn't it? Well, don't worry, the tattoo industry is closely regulated by health and safety agencies, so if you just take a few steps to make sure the tattoo parlor you're choosing is safe (and legal), you should be okay.
Look for a tattoo parlor that is clean and well-lighted. Does it look professional? Use your judgment on this - any place that looks a bit iffy, pass on it. There are plenty of other places. And a tattoo should never be done on a whim, anyway. If you're likely to change your mind or lose your nerve in the time it takes you to find another tattoo parlor, you really shouldn't be getting a tattoo in the first place.
Once you find a parlor that looks okay, you need to talk to the tattooists. Ask them a few questions about their equipment - do they have an autoclave? This is a heat sterilization machine registered by the FDA. If not, what are their sterilization procedures? Are the needles single use? Are gloves being worn? If the tattooist is a member of a professional organization such as the Alliance of Professional tattooists (APT), all the better. Such organizations tend to be far more stringent than the FDA in regulating their members' health and safety practices. Any tattooist, whether a member of a professional organization or not, should have a license, credentials, and references.
You also need to check on the tattoo parlor's consent policy. They should have a policy stating that tattoos are not to be given to anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs. They should also, in accordance with federal regulation, require parental consent before any minor receives a tattoo. And for health purposes, make sure that all consent forms are handled before the tattooing procedure begins - and, of course, that the tattooist then washes his or her hands after handling the papers. And, of course, wears medical latex gloves for the duration of the tattoo process.
After you receive your tattoo, you need to be sure you follow the tattooist's recommended follow-up care procedures. Tattoos need to be carefully washed, and protected from the sun. Ointment may need to be applied in order to let what is essentially an open wound heal properly without scarring. If you do take proper care, however, and if you have taken all necessary precautions in selecting your tattoo parlor, then you should have your own beautiful piece of body art to enjoy for many years to come.
