Want a tattoo or just curious about the procedure? Worried about things such as safety, likeliness of infection or what's in the ink itself? Read on.
There is no specific legislation surrounding tattooing or piercing practices in Canada. Any regulations and enforcement of them fall under provincial guidelines. There are no age regulations to get tattooed in Canada; some shops however require written permission from a guardian for a person under eighteen.
Health Canada has issued guidelines for tattoo artists, piercers, and practitioners of electrolysis. Alberta has also issued guidelines for artists practicing within the province. A reputable shop will abide by these guidelines and be willing to answer any of your questions, but ultimately it is up to you and your own judgement whether you feel the shop and artist are safe and conscientious.
The first steps
Be clear and concise when you go into the tattoo shop and talk to the artist. You need to discuss more than just the art that will be on your skin forever! Ask how long the artist has been working. Ask about their sterilization methods. Take note if the shop is clean, the work area should be well lit, the floor should not be carpeted, and the staff willing to answer your questions. Come in several times, look through the artists look-book, get a feeling for the shop, and decide if it is the right place for you.
The shop should use an autoclave to sanitize its reusable tools. Some artists use disposable tools, but these are lightweight and some feel that they do not give the same artistic results. An autoclave uses heat, steam and pressure to kill pathogenic organisms. This is the safest way. If the shop you are considering does not use one, it is best to walk out the door. You’ve after all spent hours choosing your tattoo, the artist is just as important.
Getting the tattoo
When you go in to get tattooed, make sure you are clean. Never tattoo skin that has warts, acne or other abrasions. This should be a no brainer but you might be surprised how many people come in unwashed. Also don’t drink beforehand. There is of course some bleeding anyway, but alcohol thins your blood and causes excessive bleeding. If it’s pain you’re worried about, your body releases endorphins to deal with the pain, making you feel a ‘natural high’. If you feel you need to take a break that is okay too, your tattooist is a professional who expects this. Your tattooist should open everything in front of you. She should wear plastic gloves and also wrap the tattoo machine in disposable plastic. The needles should be new, opened in front of you and disposed after each customer. The ink should be put into small disposable containers. She should also wipe the area of skin to be tattooed with an antiseptic. All this will protect you and her from blood borne pathogens.
Tattoo ink
Some people may have an allergic reaction to the colour in their tattoo. This is possible but very rare. Tattoo inks are composed of a carrier and pigment. Most pigments used are metal salts, some may be plastics and there may be vegetable dyes used as well. The pigment is what gives your tattoo its colour, and what it is will vary between companies. The carrier is what keeps the pigment easily mixed preventing clumping, and therefore easy to apply, and also disinfected. The safest and most common carriers are ethyl alcohol, purified water, witch hazel or glycerine. If you are worried about allergic reactions talk to your tattoo artist. Rest assured she does not want you to have a reaction either! This is her art and livelihood after all.
Aftercare
So now you’ve taken the step, and been tattooed, congratulations! Be aware that more infections are reported after tattooing than piercings, usually due to improper care. With proper care a tattoo will heal up within 3-4 days. Some tips to avoid infection: Wash your hands before you apply ointment to your tattoo. Air causes scabs to form, so keep air off your ink! Make sure the tattoo is covered with A&D Ointment (which is the top choice among tattoo artists), which not only makes sure you heal nicely, but that the colours heal nice and bright. You can also use vaseline, or a 100% cocoa butter stick, but never use a lotion during this initial healing stage; most have alcohol in them, which is drying. You want something that stays slick and covers the surface of your tattoo.
However, when your tattoo has healed you want to switch to a lotion, as ointments have pulling agents that can fade a tattoo. For long-term care, apply sunscreen anytime you go outside. A really nice one to use is a hemp based sunscreen stick, or tattoo balm. Sun will fade your tattoo. So take care of your artwork and let your tattoo do its thing!
http://tattoo-body-art-health.suite101.com/article.cfm/your_new_tattoo
