Do Tattoo Artists In Philadelphia Use New Needles?

When you go into a shop for new body ink, you want to be sure that they are doing everything to keep you safe. Needles have been tied to many diseases, leading to tattoo shops having a bad reputation. However, most Philadelphia tattoo shops are clean and sanitary. If you are curious about the proper needle usage in your local tattoo shop, here are a few things you should know.

Tattoo Needles Are Single-Use

In most circumstances, tattoo needles are only for a single person, and they should never be reused. If you are at home and tattooing yourself, you can sterilize the needles for a second use. However, in a professional tattoo parlor, those needles should not be reused and must be disposed immediately after use.

Good Hygiene Is Vital

When you want to get a tattoo, good hygiene is an essential part of the process. The artist and parlor should have impeccable standards for cleanliness. There should be no shortcuts when it comes to hygiene and sanitation. When it comes to those needles, your artist and parlor should take care of their use and disposal.

You Should Never Reuse Tattoo Needles

When you are getting ink on your body, there will be some bleeding involved in the process. That blood will get on the needles. With that, those needles could carry hepatitis or HIV. Since those diseases lead to severe health risks, needles should never be reused.

If the parlor reuses the needles and works on an infected person, you might have a bigger risk of contracting a disease.

When Can You Reuse Tattoo Needles?

With all the risks involved, there is never a good time to reuse needles, especially with multiple clients. However, some self-tattooists will reuse their own needles in their homes. While it is never recommended, you can still safely disinfect those needles with the right equipment.

You can disinfect the needles with boiling water and some disinfectants. Don’t rely on alcohol wipes. These wipes can’t remove any of those diseases from the needles. If you have an autoclave, this machine uses pressure and high temperatures to kill those dangerous microorganisms usually found on tattoo equipment.

Sanitary and Hygiene Measures In A Tattoo Parlor

If you are ready for your next tattoo, there are a few things that you can check before your session. First, pay attention to the sanitation of the needles. This is an easy thing to do. If the needles are in a sealed package, then you can be assured that they are sanitary. They should remain sealed until they are ready for use. If your tattoo artist pulls a needle from an unknown location, you should look for another parlor.

Many artists understand that clients are concerned with health and safety. For that reason, the artist will open the sealed packet in front of you. However, if the machine is set up and ready to use, you can always verify that the needle is clean and unused.

Another thing to check out is the cleanliness of the tattoo parlor. When you enter the shop, the counters should be clean and wiped down. You should never see garbage or needles around the store. Along with that, you should never see any evidence of blood on the floor or equipment.

If you see evidence of a dirty parlor, it should serve as a red flag. Most professional artists have excellent disposal and cleaning techniques. They will usually walk you through their process before they start a session.

Look for a Sharps Box

What is a sharps box? This box is a place where the needles and disposable cartridges can be thrown away. The purpose of the box is to protect others from accidentally getting pricked by used needles. In addition to that, these boxes ensure that those used needles are not reused on another client. If a tattoo parlor tosses used needles in a trash can, that is a sign of uncleanliness, and you shouldn’t do business at that shop.

You might also want to look for an autoclave. This piece of equipment is a must-have for all professional shops. An autoclave will sterilize the equipment and prevent infections. In the autoclave, those dangerous microorganisms have zero chance of survival on the equipment.

A reputable tattoo shop will be happy to walk you through the entire sterilization process. If they don’t have anything to hide, then this should be an easy step. A great artist and shop want you to remain comfortable during the entire process.

Glove Usage

Finally, a professional tattoo artist will always wear gloves when inking a client. These gloves should never be reused. Plus, they should be made with medical-grade materials. Anyone who doesn’t wear gloves is considered a huge sanitation risk.

In addition to that, when a glove tears, the artist should remove it immediately. That tear will expose the artist and you to bodily fluids. These details might be small, but they go a long way to separate those unprofessional shops from reputable ones. You never want to put your health at risk. It is vital to find a shop that practices exceptional sanitation skills, including using new needles for the job.

Never Reuse Needles

When there are multiple clients in a tattoo shop, there should never be an instance where needles are reused. These needles can cross-containment and carry the risk of infections. Tattoo needles are designed for single use.

However, those artists inking themselves at home can reuse needles only if they understand the correct methods for sterilization. In any case, it is cheaper and more efficient to use a new needle for the job. The risk of reusing needles is too great, and you should avoid it at any cost. A professional tattoo parlor will always sterilize and have single-use needles on hand. If you go to a shop without these safety precautions, you might want to find another parlor for your ink.

Local Tattoo Shops Near Me

If you want a sanitary shop to handle your next tattoo, then make sure to visit Oracle Tattoo Gallery. We practice high sanitization procedures, including single-use needles. When you get a tattoo from us, you will have a high-quality tattoo that exceeds all those local health standards. You can schedule an appointment by calling 215-638-1601.