Hygiene

You need to ensure that your tattoo creation area is well provided with necessary hygiene maintaining equipment like an autoclave, containers to store infected waste and already used needles. As per certain legal frameworks in some countries, you have to ensure a sterile and hygienic functional area through regular swabbing with hot and cold water that needs to be provided near the tattoo creation space. The tattoo artist must wash his hands prior to touching the customer for preparation of the stencil and must also wear single use disposal gloves.

Certain rules to be followed

Certain countries have deemed it illegal to tattoo minors unless parental okay is taken and generally it is not permitted to tattoo expectant mothers, inebriated persons, drug addicts, people taking medication for skin disorders and those who are not mentally healthy.

Without the client's go-ahead about confirming the exact tattoo spot, the tattoo performer does not commence his work for which he needs to make sure that he is always using disinfectants, disposable needles and gloves to prevent any chances of contamination. Using plenty of effective anti-contaminants, you have to sterilize tattoo gear, the space where the procedure took place and put the other poisonous material into an autoclave to get rid off them.

A tattooist can keep himself abreast of the latest developments in his field by taking membership in bodies that promote this art and it is a sad fact that most famous tattoo artists are not from any association. Many jurisdictions insist on formal orientation in handling blood pathogens and contamination, while some mandate that a tattooist can operate only after he procures a license by clearing a test on health and safety methods.

Aftercare

It is not advisable to expose the tattoo to water either in the tub or pool for the first two weeks as the tattoo ink can get washed out and moreover, the chlorine and bacteria in a pool can lead to infection.

Opinion is divided between tattooists, where on one hand some say that you can discard the dressing of the wound inside the first couple of hours, there are others who feel that the tattoo should not be exposed the whole of the first day.