Primarily, any tattoo studio should be as clean as possible, and most places are, but check before you have a tattoo done. There should be proper disposal bins, sterile gauze, needles and needle buckets, as well as health inspection certificates and disposable gloves.
The tattoo artist you employ should be a member of a national tattoo organization. Ask them if there are not any certificates hanging about.
Taking Zinc or Vitamin C will help build up your immune system, start taking them a few weeks before you get your tattoo. You should feel well when going to have a tattoo inked. If you do not feel well, make another appointment.
Be sure to rest and not be hungry. Pain medicine is a no-no, as they may possibly thin your blood. You must be of legal age to get a tattoo, and you should be sober. The area of your tattoo will have to be shaved and sterilized. Body art is in essence a small medical procedure
Caring for your tattoo while it heals is much like tending other open wounds. Leave the bandage on for 4 - 12 hours. Gently remove the bandage. If the bandage is stuck to the tattoo, apply warm water to it and the bandage will come off more easily. It should be left to air for about an hour and then gently wash the area with a gentle soap. Then apply thin layer of triple antibiotic cream. In the next few days, the area should be gently washed - do not scrub the tattooed area. Let it dry and apply the cream 3 - 4 times per day for the next few weeks. It is best to shower so that the tattoo is not submerged in water. Keep it moist with a water-based lotion and do not tamper with the scabs, they are nature's band-aids. After the area has healed, use sun block to protect your tattoo from fading, it may ensure a longer lasting tattoo.
