It seems like everyone has one these days. What used to be the property of sailors, outlaws, and biker gangs is now a popular body decoration for many people. And it’s not just anchors, skulls, and battleships anymore, from school emblems to Celtic designs to personalized symbols; people have found many ways to express themselves with them. Maybe you’ve thought about getting one. Well before you head down to the nearest tattoo shop and roll up your sleeve, there are a few things you need to know.

So You Ask, What Exactly is a Tattoo? A tattoo is a puncture wound, made deep in your skin, that’s filled with ink. The tattoo is made by penetrating your skin with a needle and injecting ink into the area creating some sort of design of
Be sure the studio follows the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Universal Precautions. These are specific rules and regulations that outline procedures to be followed when dealing with bodily fluids such as blood.
If the studio looks unclean or if anything looks out of the ordinary, or if you feel in any way uncomfortable, you should find another place to get your tattoo.
What to Expect
Here’s what you can expect from a normal tattooing procedure:
The tattooist will wash his or her hands with germicidal soap.
The area to be tattooed will be cleaned and disinfected.
The tattooist will put on clean, fresh gloves and maybe a mask.
The tattooist will explain the sterilization procedure and open up the single-use sterilized equipment.
With the tattoo machine the tattooist will begin drawing an outline of the tattoo under your skin.
The outline will be cleaned with antiseptic soap and water.
Sterile, thicker needles will be installed on the tattoo machine, and the tattooist will start shading the design. After cleaning the area again, color will be injected. A new bottle of ink should be opened for each individual.
Any blood will be removed by a sterile, disposable cloth or towel.
When finished the area will be cleaned once again and a bandage will be applied.
Taking Care of your New Tattoo The last step in getting your tattoo is very important; taking care of the tattoo