Dec 012009
Im 16 and I want a tatoo, im sure about this, just because of past away relatives in my family. I do understand this would be in a garage. I would like to know if anyone knows how you can tell if a tatoo artist cleans there tools, or if you can personally ask him/her to clean the tools in front of you. I have no problem asking the artist this question straight up, because I understand a tatoo is no joke, and lasts a lifetime.
You should ask, and demand to see. Any reputable tattooist would be happy to be asked.
Improperly cleaned tattooing tools can spread blood-borne diseases, including HIV and hepatitis.
I am very sorry for you loss. I’ve been where you are. Honestly, no legit tattoo artist would put ink in a 16 year old, and not just because of laws, but because you are still growing (we continue to grow until our early 20s in fact), and because of ethical issues. If you are hell bent on doing it, save up the money and buy the items pre packaged sterilized online – ask this ass who is willing to do it what he needs and order YOUR OWN, and give them the tattooist (tattoo artists are artist, tattooists are anyone with a tatt machine). The only way to clean the tubes (the holders for the needles) is in an autoclave – and they have to go into an ultrasonic machine first to get the blood and ink off first, which only a pro would have a proper one due to high expense (spore tests must be done a minimum of monthly, as the machines aren’t eternal or without problems – as any machine), and the needles are SINGLE USE ONLY in autoclaved sterile pouches that show different colors on the back (it will say what) when sterilized. I greatly discourage you doing this, but if you must, at least do these things. Tattoos last a lifetime, but AIDS, Hepatitis, and a host of other diseases will end it much sooner, and are more common than you think. The needles and tubes arent the only thing to worry about either – the entire environment is suspect and must be of a very high standard – bacteria and infection are more common than you think too. You can wait a year or two for this piece of a lifetime. Or at least I hope you have amazing medical insurance. And a few hundred bucks saved to have it fixed to look decent by a pro once your 18 – I don’t want to sound preachy or bitchy, but I’ve sadly seen it too often.
yeah buddy tell em straight out to show you the needles are coming out of a fresh wrapper and ask if he has an autoclave sterilizer which is used to clean ya tubes grips and tips, if he doesnt I would’nt advise going ahead with it unless of course everythings brand new tips grips and tubes as you can get dispossibles. hope this helps ART-FUL D
listen to ( pie ) i have bin tattooing for over 20yrs. the needles are used one time, and come in a blister pack.and the tubes are ultra sonic cleaned and put into pouches for the autoclave. after that the color strip on the back changes color. ask to see and read the back or pouch. also the tattoo station should look very clean, with no ink, blood etc. on arm rest & tables. make sure artist washes hands before putting on gloves. i see allot of them missing this step. 99.9% of all infections are because the person with the tattoo did NOT keep it clean. you can see them clean there stuff, but you would be there all day. A CHEAP TATTOO IS NOT GOOD — A GOOD TATTOO IS NOT CHEAP!
You’re not gonna wanna read this but:
Wait two more years until you’re legal, or ask a parent or guardian to take you.
You’re too young to cut corners, this is your body..your temple.
and if you cut corners you run the risk of ruining your temple.. Not just bad ink, but Blood born pathogens! HIV, Hep and lots of other nasty little bugs that hang around.
I’ve been getting tattooed for years, since i was 18 and I can tell you, anyone one who’s 1: willing to tattoo you without parental consent isn’t worth their gun. 2. if they’re willing to bend the rules and tattoo a minor, whatelse are they willing to rule bend with? maybe autoclaving parts… maybe re-using ink cups.
Not even worth it.
Wait. Please please wait.
**BUT! if you can’t wait and you have someone who’s willing to do this, ask to see his autoclave. It will either be steam or chemical..and typically runs for 30 minutes at about 250 degrees to clean his instruments.
Ask to see the latest Spore results, if it’s more than two months old, keep walking.
Sometimes less than great places will try to sell the idea of a Pressure cooker for canning food as autoclave, if this happens keep walking. it can’t get hot enough to kill BBP’s. (Blood Borne Pathogens)
Before he tattoos you the area should be clean, like hospital/Dr office clean. no one should be smoking, he should have gloved hands, surfaces covered the whole nine.
A clean covered tray should come out, individual clean ink cups should be used every time, and a blue pouch.
The blue pouch has all the autoclaved parts.. My guy autoclaves parts of the gun it’s self PLUS covers it in plastic.
Your needles should come from a pouch too, if they dont, ask him to open a new package in front of you, if he says he cant or wont get up and walk out.
But the likely hood of a tattoo “Artist” who will tattoo a minor who follows these procedures are slim to none.
Please, please wait!
Stop acting like a crazy fool!!
In a garage???? You’re getting tattooed in a garage????
Have they had the board of health check out this garage? There are pretty strict laws about how a tattoo shop is supposed to be set up and while this garage could be set up okay I’d surely check it out first.
You don’t say what state you are in so here’s the whole list of tattoo laws for different states and cities. Do you know if it’s even legal for you to get one in your state? I’m assuming it’s illegal.
http://tattoojoy.com/tattoo_laws/index.php
Please listen to the excellent advise here.
There is no hurry! Don’t do this now, you will cause yourself so much grief and problems and you won’t end up with a good tattoo for it!
Do it right. Take the next 2 years or so, and find the best artist/tattooist, who is licensed and has a good reputation. You want your tattoo to stand up well over time, and it needs to be done by a professional. There is no reason to get a tattoo if you aren’t going to do it right and by a professional. Research your images, work on your idea, let your idea evolve until it is just right, and then take images/pictures/ideas to that really great professional tattooist, and get the best tattoo ever! Make it worth it, and don’t rush to do it in someones garage.
You do not realize how dangerous this is, and you do not realize the differences between a ‘bad and poorly done tattoo’ and a truly good tattoo.
Here’s some links for you to check out and think about:
Listen to Pat Fish> she is a superb artist:
http://www.luckyfish.com/pages/articles/tattoocare.htm
this explains how tattoos work:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/tattoo.htm
this site is filled with current info. about tattoos, and the do’s and don’ts (use the bar and ask questions):
http://tattoo.about.com/
here’s examples of ‘bad tattoos’ done at home and in garages:
http://www.badtattoos.com/index.html
here’s some quality work:
http://misha-art.com/tattoos/tattoosmain.htm
and this site is about the history of tattoos and is filled with info. and images from around the world and throughout time:
http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoos_history.htm
Now make the next couple of years count and get the best tattoo possible.
good luck to you~
As far as i know you have to be 18 or older to get a Tattoo. at least in NY.
Any professional Tattooist has to clean their tools to prevent infection to other customers.
well first of all, if they just start pulling things out without any covering over it they probably aren’t clean. They are suppose to open up needles in front of you from there package to let you know it’s clean and unused.
When I went to get my tat the guy pulled out a new needle thats how i knew. but if your not sure you need to ask.
My artist has the equipment in a room with a window so I can see it. Not to mention that everytime she tattoos me (6) she opens the equipment in front of me and tells me a little speech about how it is my needle and only my needle. One thing many people don’t think about too is the “dip cup” (I don’t know if that is what it is really called) but artists will dip the needle in water in between colors and so on to clean it. The first tat I got 2 artists were sharing a cup of water to do this. I didn’t think any thing of it at the time but know realize how lucky I am that I did not become infected with anything because of the other customer that was being tattooed as well. Of course that was years ago, when precautions were not as well known.