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There is not any kind of official credentials given to tattoo artists that completes their training.
There are no formal schools, and no diplomas . There are many tattooists’ out there that are tattooing without the benefit of any kind of training. This is perfectly sound providing that they are licensed in their state.

Illegal tattooists still get a lot of customers, this is why it is essential to be sure these other guidelines are being strictly followed to be sure you will be receiving quality – and more importantly safety when you have your tattoo done.

Ask to see  the Tattoo Studio’s Autoclave and Sterilization Certification .

What is it and why is it so important ?

every tattoo shop should have an autoclave sterilizer.  The autoclave is basically a pressure cookerthat is used mainly in the medical field for sterilizing medical equipment . To fully sterilize the equipment the autoclave must reach and keep a temperature of at least 246 degrees for half an hour for the equipment to be fully sterilized. Steam and chemical are the major autoclave sterilizers. Steam is the acceptable one when it comes to tattooing. All steam autoclaves are acceptable to use when sterilizing the equipment. Ask to see the autoclave, is it clean? If the staff are reluctant to show it to you or were evasive, think again about getting your tattoo here. Autoclaves need to be regularly tested to ensure that they are working properly. Request to look at the results of their latest spore test. These results should be no more than two months old. If you are advised that a pressure cooker designed for canning food is ok for sterilization used tattoo equipment, this is not the case . They do not reach the necessary temperature or pressure that is needed to destroy all blood borne pathogens effectively. Medical sterilizers are bigger and are designed specifically for killing bacteria and other pathogens. Avoid put your faith in a a non-professional tattoo artiss using a kitchen pressure cooker.

Ensure you see the New Sterile Needle removed from the Autoclave Bag.

In some areas , it is not a legal neccessity  to use new needles. If used needles are correctly autoclaved , it is totally acceptable to use them, but this is absolutely not advisable ! New needles colour are bright silver, they should not be ink stained or brownish looking . Used needles, if properly sterilized , may well be perfectly safe. However , there is also the risk of the needle tips becoming dull after use on a previous customer . This can seriously damage your skin when used.  Needles should not be removed from the autoclave bag until you are sitting there and they are ready to start your tattoo. Always request to see the sterile confirmation logo on the bag itself.

Although this caution is more for the safety of the tattoo artist, no one wants an infected tattoo artist working on them. If the tattooist does not take enough care about their own safety, they are unlikely to be interested in yours.tandard medical latex gloves (or some other type of medical grade protective gloves) should always be used. Look for these points: Do the gloves fit properly? If the gloves are too big or too small, the risk of either poking a hole in the gloves or tearing them is very possible. All it takes is a pinhole to run the risk of cross contamination.

Anything used on you ought to be disposed of immediately . This includes water, ink and ointments. Any ink that is unused should NOT be returned to the original container! It is contaminated with blood, and should be disposed of.  Those little cups called “ink caps” should be used to put just enough ink in for YOUR tattoo.Anything remaining after your tattoo should be thrown away. The same applies to the water and ointments used.
Note:- Many tattoo artists use deodorant to create a darker impression of the transfer copy on your skin before they begin tattooing. This is a very effective method, but the artist should never use the deodorant stick directly on your skin. It has been used by other clients. Instead, the deodorant should be wiped onto a tissue, and the tissue placed on your skin. You should never have contact with the deodorant stick. If they use the stick in this way with you they have probably done the same with previous customers

 Is The Tattoo Artist Hepatitis B Vaccinated?
At the moment this is not very common Many studios, although important, do not practice this safety measure. It does not indicate that they are not safe but practicing this does make you feel better . If they are not vaccinated, just be sure they are following the other safety procedures to ensure cross-contamination.

This is really necessary now because infection and disease are spreading more rapidly , and unsafe tattooing is creating the necessity for tattooists to be vaccinated against Hepatitis for their own protection and for the protection of their future clients. 

Should the tattoo artist claim to have had the vaccination get them to show you proof of it. If they cannot they probably have not had it, if they have forgotten all they have to do is call their doctor for a copy of the vaccination record. I have had a Hep B and your doctor holds all the details should you need them. The information is easy to access. In this day and age , it is advisable that everyone is vaccinated against this disease. You may want to make sure that you are vaccinated before you have a new tattoo.

Always keep an eye for any changes in health after you have had your tattoo, if it looks like there is an infection contact your doctor . 

Your tattoo is your responsibility. If you do a lot of research and are prepared to spend out to get a really professional tattoist you should have no problems   whatsoever if you consider your tattoo health.