So, you’re thinking about getting tattooed, but have no idea how the whole process works? Since a tattoo is for life, it’s good to know what you’re getting into, and the first step is understanding how a tattoo works and what you’re actually doing to your body when you decide to get tattooed.

The Tattoo Gun

Tattoos are accomplished by using an electric-powered tattoo gun. The tattoo gun has a needle at the end of it that is used to put ink inside of your skin deep enough so that it does not come out. When the gun is turned on, the needle moves up and down rapidly (up to 200o times a minute) and is able to deposit a small drop of ink deep into your skin with each puncture.

Tattoo guns have come a long way since the early days of tattooing but are still made a few basic components, those being an electric motor, a sterilized needle, and a tube system. There is also a foot pedal, similar to a sewing machine, that allows the tattoo artist to control the movement of the needle.

Tattoo Safety

Safety has always been a big concern with getting tattooed, since anytime you are dealing with puncture wounds, you have a risk of infection.
Fortunately, it is much more commonplace these days for tattoo artists to open brand new, sterile needles from the packaging right in front of you before you get tattooed.

To ensure the safety of both the customer and the tattoo artist, tattooing materials like ink, needles, and gloves are all made for single use only.

Tattoo Preparation

Minutes before your tattoo session begins, your artist will often begin chatting with you to make you feel relaxed. The chatter is usually accompanied by the artist washing their hands, checking themselves for cuts and abrasions, and disinfecting the entire work area to begin preparation for your tattoo.

When the cleaning of his work area is finished, he will then shave the area of your body that is getting tattooed, disinfect it with soap and water, and open the sterile equipment needed to get the job done.

Getting Tattooed

Once the tattooing begins, you will feel some pain, but how much largely depends on your tolerance and the location of your tattoo on the body, as some areas will obviously be more painful than others.

During the entire tattoo process, the tattoo artist will continue to clean the tattooed area until it is finished.

Tattoo Aftercare

At this point, when you’re tattoo has been completed, the artist will put some ointment on the area and give you a rundown of how to take care of your tattoo so that it heals properly.

Most of the time, you will receive an information sheet so you don’t forget what’s needed to be done. It is extremely important to follow the instructions you were given for tattoo aftercare. Not only are you lowering the risk of infection, but you will be decreasing the chances of your tattoo not healing properly and losing ink or not looking like it’s supposed to.

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There have been horror stories about people getting diseases from unsanitary tattoo studio practices. Much of it comes from unhygienic practice of using contaminated needles and other illegal tattoo studio operations. This claim has a grain of truth to it but unfortunately, these reports are often overstated and exaggerated. People get tattoos every day and it is not always that someone falls into the wrong hands of tattoo studios that are unsanitary and operating illegally.

Of course, the dangers of getting a tattoo are there but if you did your research beforehand, you will avoid any issues. It pays to talk to the tattoo artist first and express your concerns about the process. Ask for referrals from your friends and take time to scope out the tattoo studio prior to the tattooing procedure. Make sure the studio is practicing the necessary sanitary procedures such as sterilizing equipments and disposal of used needles every time they do a tattoo.

In reality, it is very rare that you get diseases from legitimate tattoo shops because they are regulated and regularly inspected by the organizations they belong to, particularly the APT or Alliance for Professional Tattooists and by local agencies governing them. Infection can arise after getting a tattoo but is much more likely under unconventional circumstances such as doing them in prison or when you settled for a cheap but unregistered tattoo artist. Unsanitary practices can cause Hepatitis C which is transmitted through infected needles. It was reported by the CDC or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that transmission of communicable diseases can be prevented if sanitation is maintained. On the other hand, the FDA or Food and Drug Administration states that colored ink are not approved for use although there were no reported cases of problems arising from its application.

Don’t confuse infection from unsanitary procedures with minor skin reactions though. Irritation is common with tattoos and they are usually caused by the ink used for the tattooing process but is never a major side effect. These reactions are as common as those you get from using cosmetics that are not welcomed by your skin too well. Tattoo infections usually occur when the person did not follow the cleaning and caring procedures during the healing period and rarely from a licensed tattoo parlor.

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