Often you wonder how tattoo equipment is sterilized after use, and then used again and again.

The Autoclave is the most effective method of sterilization after a tattoo has been inked onto your skin. The Autoclave uses a heat, steam and pressure combination to hike the temperature to around 121 to 132 degrees Celsius or 250 to 270 degrees Fahrenheit under a pressure of around 10 to 15 pounds. The procedural duration is 30 to 55 minutes starting from a cold surface.

Of course, secondary equipment required for a tattoo, like ink, gloves and needles are usually subjected to one time use only. But the reusable equipment like the tube or the needle bar needs to be sterilized constantly to prevent infection on the skin surface and other diseases. They are then packed in pouches with some sort of an indicator strip attached to them and then out into the Autoclave. The strips change color to indicate the status of sterilization. Safety is essential to tattooing and it is advisable to enquire about the sterilization procedures followed in the parlor where you are going to get your tattoo done before the actual procedure begins.

Safety measures for a tattoo extend beyond the requirements of sterilization or particular equipment. You should notice that in the parlor, the other equipment like the bottles of spray or the machine itself or even the clip cords are all kept under plastic cover or in a plastic bag. The tube and the needle bar are in the pouches we described. The artist should follow hygiene procedures like washing hands and use some disinfectant on his fingers and the area of the skin where the tattoo is to be made. The disinfectant should be EPA approved. There are a few additional steps concerning hygiene that the tattoo artist needs to follow.

*Firstly he must be wearing new gloves.
*The spray bottles, the tattoo machine and other stuff should be covered in a plastic bag.
*The ink caps used should be new, and only after checking that, should they be filled with ink.
*The needle bar and the tube should be in pouches and sterilized in an Autoclave.
* The area should be cleaned with disinfectant and shaved and moistened too.
Now the tattoo artist can embark on drawing the tattoo on the skin with the help of a stencil maybe. Once the stencil drawing is over, then the tattoo artist lets the area dry for some more time.

The outlines being drawn, the artist takes a measure of the outline and then decides on the kind of tips he wants on the needles. Now the stencil is used again and the machine is worked on the skin over the stencil. The outline work is done with the help of a thinner ink sample. This thinner line can we wiped away without smearing and thus it is used for outlines and shading. The tattoo machine buzzes and you can notice the thin permanent lines inked into the skin by the needle.

The outline is completed. The area is yet again cleaned with antiseptic and disinfectant. The artist might just want to redraw some of the lines. Then he/she will probably take a break after which the shading will begin. Depending on the artist's preference, the shading is accomplished by the usage of a different machine and a different set of needles or the same one, though usually the artist changes the needles. The shaded area of course, needs further cleaning. What has to be ensured, is that the color effect achieved, should be consistent and uniform throughout the area and not concentrated in parts.

During the healing process, scraping off the color from the concentrated strips (or adding more color to other areas) and other corrections are made. Yet again the tattoo needs to be cleaned after the coloration, by a treatment of anti septic and disinfectant. The blood and plasma that is bound to be spilled in a tattooing procedure is then cleaned carefully without disturbing the color. If you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, please tell the artist, because then he/she might have to take other precautions, it is actually advisable to go through the procedure after cleaning up your system, to avoid unnecessary complications.

To prevent further bleeding the cleaned tattoo area is bandaged carefully. This also holds the ink in place. After 2 hours it is safe to take the bandage off.