So you’ve decided that you’d like to become a tattoo artist. Maybe you’ve been the one sitting in the tattoo chair getting tattooed more times than you can count, and you’ve decided to take your love of tattoos to the next level and become the artist actually doing the tattoo. Maybe you’ve narrowed down who you’d like to apprentice with at your local tattoo shop, or actually approached a tattoo artist and begun a mentorship relationship so you can learn everything you need to know about the industry from someone you respect and admire.

Becoming a tattoo artist is no easy task, but it’s a worthwhile one if you’re passionate about tattoos, the tattoo industry, and creating incredible works of art on the skin. But what do you need to know, aside from the basics, before you actually start tattooing?

Where to Start

The first thing you need before you start tattooing is the equipment. Maybe you’ve purchased an expensive tattoo machine, or gone with an option you could find quickly online. Maybe you’re starting from scratch with very little knowledge about what it takes to actually tattoo, or maybe you’ve spent hours talking to experts and researching the tattoo industry extensively. 

While many tattoo artists and tattoo shops like to keep information about becoming a tattoo artist and doing tattoos a secret, we at Certified Tattoo Studios are all about transparency. Sometimes even getting a tattoo can feel like stepping into an entirely new world. It can feel like those within the tattoo industry speak a different language—one that you’re trying your best to understand but are having trouble without the help of a translator. That’s one of the roles we want to fill here at Certified Tattoo Studios—we want to help you understand the tattoo industry. We love tattoos, and we want to foster that same love in others.

Wherever you’re at in your learning process, there are three important things you need to know:

Bloodborne Pathogens

Training in bloodborne pathogens is crucial before getting into tattooing. When dealing with blood (which, by nature of the fact that tattoos involve using needles that pierce the skin, is something tattoo artists deal with), it’s super important to make sure that you are knowledgeable about the potential risks that come with dealing with blood. Training on bloodborne pathogens takes more than simply watching a YouTube video or reading a few articles. It’s important to make sure you receive training from credible sources so you can get all your questions answered. Wherever you’re tattooing, having knowledge about bloodborne pathogens will help you take better care of your tattoo equipment and keep those you are tattooing as safe as possible.

The option for bloodborne pathogens training that we recommend is certification through the NationalCPRFoundation’s Bloodborne Pathogens Certification Class. The process is all done online and doesn’t take much time at all, but will ensure that you’re tattooing in a safer and more knowledgeable way.

Cross-Contamination

When you’re tattooing, you want to make sure that you’re not cross-contaminating the different tools you’re using. If cross-contamination occurs, that simply means that something that has been used for one purpose (in the case of tattooing that would usually be a tool used to create the tattoo or clean up after doing the tattoo) is used for another purpose. With tattoos and bloodborne pathogens, this means that germs and potential infections can transfer from one person to the next, which is something that can be avoided and should be avoided at all costs.

Every time you touch something that is dirty or has been infected, you have to be aware of that and make sure to clean your hands, the objects or tools you’ve touched, and anything else you or the object has touched. Like with bloodborne pathogen training, there are options online to learn about cross-contamination so you can prevent infections and other health issues from coming up while you tattoo.

Equipment and Sterilization

The most important things you’ll use as a tattoo artist are your equipment, and the most important aspect of your equipment is that it’s sterile. We recommend using disposable equipment. There are safe ways to sterilize reusable equipment, just like the equipment used in a dentist’s office, for example, but that’s simply not necessary these days. You are able to and capable of using new, sterile equipment for each person you tattoo. You can easily purchase single-use needles, tubes, and grips that are individually wrapped so you can use a new sterile pack of equipment for each of your customers.

The easiest way for you to become a successful tattoo artist is to learn proper sterilization techniques. Make that paramount in your journey to become a tattoo artist. If you’re seeking out apprenticeships or looking into tattoo school, the most important part of tattooing is your client’s safety (and yours, too!) However you break into the tattoo industry, hopefully, these tips and tricks will help you break in the right way which means doing it cleanly and safely.

Keeping these three things in mind when you start tattooing will ensure that you’re taking the right steps for yourself and for your customers. Knowledge is power, so learning all you can about bloodborne pathogens and cross-contamination, and purchasing the right sterilized equipment, will make your customers feel safe and have a good experience getting their tattoo. Choose your path to become a tattoo artist with care, and take good care of your clients to start out your tattoo career on the right foot.

If you’re interested in applying for a tattoo apprenticeship with Certified Tattoo Studios, you can find out more and apply for our state-of-the-art tattoo Apprenticeship Academy on our website. This competitive program will teach you all you need to become an amazing tattoo artist and start your career in the ever-growing and ever-thriving tattoo industry. Contact us for more information or if you have any questions.