As my readers know I deeply care about my profession and strive to educate people regarding the processes and the repercussions of body modification. In the recent months I have developed a program called SAFE BODY ARTS which is a short presentation on safety in body modifications. I am also working  with the kind people of the Hepatitis Support Network and the Adult Viral Hepatitis Prevention to spread the word.  We recently were at the Youth Fair and also at the Hawaii State Hospital. If you have a group that would be interested please contact me!  NO CHARGE!  Best price!

Body art, be it tattoo, piercing, branding and a host of other options, has become increasingly popular among the mainstream of our society. In Hawaii tattooing is a rich part of the Polynesian culture and history. While popularity and acceptance has grown, there are still some very serious considerations a person should understand before undertaking any form of modification. As tattooing and piercing are most popular those are the two areas I will address.

SAFETY

Staph infection?  Serious trouble!

The first and most important issue is keeping one's health intact. Body modification means in most cases breaking our skin either with a tattoo needle or a piercing needle. Think of your skin as a lawn... lots of things can live on the surface and do no harm to your lawn. Dig a hole and you have broken that surface and given an entry portal to insects and other pests. Same with our skin... once the surface has been 'broken' we are an open vessel to any and all microorganisms that reside on and around our skin. If that skin has not been prepared properly by cleaning, if the instruments used are not properly sterilized and/or if the practitioner is not educated to prevent cross contamination microorganisms can make their way into our system to wreak havoc.

Opti-cide: 3 minute kill

If I had a penny for every person who has come into my studio with a buddy's project who needs it fixed or has questions about it... wow! I could fully retire!! Some are just jacked up tattoos... some are serious body injuries.

It is vitally important that the person you choose to tattoo or pierce you is properly trained. They should be not only schooled in the modification that you choose but they should be educated in first aid and absolutely in prevention of disease transmission. For their own protection they should be vaccinated for Hepatitis B. It is your right to know the qualifications of the person you are trusting with your health.

Ask questions: One of the quickest barometers of a practitioner is to ask how they clean their work surfaces.  A professional will use a tuberculocidal surface cleaner with a short kill-time. If you hear "bleach" or alcohol, excuse yourself and search again!

OTHER QUESTIONS

A wasted arm... sad.

May I see your license? Your shop inspection certification? How did you learn? Do you use single service, sterilized needles and tubes? (NO, "new" does not cut it, they MUST be sterilized) Is there an autoclave sterilizer on site? If they do not use disposable tubes, how do they sterilize the steel ones?

Is the tattooer/piercer clean and sober? Don't laugh... I know too many people who talk about 'the guy reeked of booze'!!! You are trusting your health to this person!!

If your questions aren't answered in an informative, civil manner WALK OUT. There are many professionals out there who will take the time to answer your questions and be happy to educate you to their shop's procedures. They understand it is your right to know just what and how things will be done. A professional will guide you if the procedure is even right for you... age considerations, professional ramifications, social issues should all be considered.

The availability of tattoo/piercing equipment has grown as the industry has grown... and not for the better. Relate it to a surgeon... did he first buy a scalpel and gather his friends to learn on? No, he was educated FIRST. While it may seem very cool to let your buddy try out things with his new "gun" (they are machines, not "guns") it is not very cool to have a nasty piece of junk tattoo for life... or to contract a host of diseases that do not have a cure.

It is appalling that people even consider letting someone into their home to host a "tattoo party." Not only is it in violation of Hawaii state law but think... would you have a teeth cleaning party? Tattooing is a body invasive procedure that should be conducted in a clean, sanitized controlled atmosphere. By Hawaii State Regulations tattooing can only be done in an inspected studio by a licensed tattooer.  This includes permanent cosmetics also!

After a tattoo is done there are a number of procedures required to prevent disease transmission. People actually allow this in their homes where their children live and play? This is not Tupperware, this is serious business. Not to be undertaken by the inexperienced in a home environment.  A home environment that may suffer with MRSA/Hep/HIV contamination.

PROFESSIONALISM

A quality tattooer/piercer will not take on just any piece. They understand the tattoo they will do on you may change your life. While we see sports figures with facial and neck tattoos... how far do you think that will go in a job interview in the real world?   Multiple facial piercings will have the same effect on your potential employer.

Your tattooer or piercer has a moral and ethical obligation to help you take these things into consideration before you take a no return path. Daily we turn people away who want boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse's names tattooed on them. Mom, Dad and kids are forever, relationships are not. 75% of our coverup work is names!! Listen when your tattooer says "NO."  While there are unethical tattooers who will do anything for any money, YOU are the one who has to look at it for the rest of your life. A tattoo is a lifelong decision and unfortunately too many people make a wrong decision. While it may seem "cool" it may be something that will come back to haunt you every day of your life. 

Be smart, be safe, think before you take the plunge. Your life and your future depend on it.