Tattoo hygiene during corona: are tattoo studios safe and free of nasty germs

Tattoo hygiene during corona time: are tattoo studios safe and free from nasty germs?

The Covid-19 pandemic has turned our daily lives upside down. From an abundance of freedom, almost a year ago, we were confronted with all sorts of restrictions, which we are still dealing with today.

What about tattoo studios? Will tattooing be able to resume as usual in the future, as it was before the pandemic? Or will we also face permanent changes here?

We have looked into it for you. In this blog, we provide useful tips on how to responsibly protect yourself against Covid-19 before, during, and after your appointment at the studio. Hygiene in tattoo studios has always been priority number one, and that's certainly no different now. In that regard, safety is well taken care of. So, if you want to make an appointment, you can do so with confidence as soon as it's allowed again.

Both client and tattoo artist protect their mouth and nose during the session

When will tattoo studios reopen?

Contact professions such as hairdressers, beauticians, and tattoo artists are currently expected to reopen in early March. However, hygiene rules will be tightened for all these professional groups. So, be prepared that you will still need to wear a face mask, disinfect your hands, and avoid being in a room with too many people. And if you have to wait somewhere, keep enough distance.

High hygiene requirements apply not only during Covid-19 times!

Even if there is virtually no risk of infection anymore, excellent hygiene is always important when tattooing. A fresh tattoo is not resistant to germs and must be covered immediately after tattooing with a protective plaster. Especially for the first few days, TattooMed has developed a handy film for your skin.

The TattooMed tattoo film cares for and soothes the wound. It is essentially a 'second skin'. The great thing about the film is that it is breathable, waterproof, and can stay on the wound for up to 5 days. This means you don't have to worry about it for the first few days. This allows your body time to heal itself, and a thin layer of new skin will naturally form over the wound.

After carefully removing the film from your tattoo*, it's a good idea to care for it with a cleansing gel and then with a rich, nourishing cream.
In the morning, wash your tattoo with the Cleansing Gel and then moisturize your skin with After Tattoo. It's best to apply a thin layer of After Tattoo to the wound, but do this 2 to 4 times a day. This will reduce itching throughout the day and prevent skin inflammation.

TattooMed After Tattoo for immediate care of your new tattoo

What you should NOT do with your new tattoo during the first few days:

For the first few days with your new tattoo, do not swim, exercise, or go to a tanning bed. It might be tough for a bit, but it will prevent damage to your tattoo. And that's worth something, isn't it? Also, follow your tattoo artist's instructions, and you'll have a tattoo you can enjoy for the rest of your life.

These are the changes you will experience in the tattoo studio:

• Just like in shops and hairdressers, face masks/face shields are also a requirement for tattoo studios. Many artists always wore a mouth-nose mask while tattooing, but now this also applies to clients. Difficult? Not really. Necessary? Absolutely, because this way the client and the artist protect each other (and others).
  
  
• The hygiene standards that have always applied in tattoo studios were primarily intended to prevent blood-borne infections (such as HIV or hepatitis). The measures now in place are intended to protect against respiratory infections. Thanks to the already very high hygiene standards in tattoo studios, not much is actually changing in tattoo studios.
  
  
• At the entrance of the studio, you will now have to disinfect your hands. After this, touch your face and clothes as little as possible. Preferably not at all.
  
  
• Keep in mind that you are no longer allowed to eat or drink in the studios. If you have a long appointment of a few hours and need a pick-me-up (banana, cola, dextrose or something) in between, step outside and disinfect your hands when you re-enter the studio.
  
  
• Do you need to cough or sneeze? Let the artist know and cough into your elbow. A mouth-nose protection does not prevent you from spreading droplets. Therefore 👉🏻 use the crook of your elbow.

Tattooing only happens in a sterile studio!

Experienced tattoo artists have always been fiercely against tattooing outside a sterile studio. You truly take a risk if you do this, and because safety is paramount, you simply shouldn't. Not as an artist, and not as a client.

Tattoo artists in the Netherlands and Belgium must adhere to strict hygiene requirements. During this pandemic, the rule 'tattooing should only be done in the studio' applies even more than usual. Only in a clean environment where disinfection is regularly performed can you work with something as sensitive as skin without having to fear germs. Experimenting on your own skin is also something you really shouldn't do now.

A sterile workspace with sterile tools and strict hygiene standards to guarantee safety for clients and artists has always been at the top of the list in the tattoo world. Even before corona existed.

How to prevent an infection of your tattoo during the skin's healing phase

As long as the skin of your fresh tattoo has not fully recovered, viruses and bacteria are lurking, ready to penetrate the body through the still-weak skin layer.
Although the various Covid-19 viruses spread through the respiratory system, we strongly recommend covering your new tattoo with a clean tattoo film patch before, for example, going grocery shopping or getting on a bus or train. Hands, neck, and face, in particular, need extra attention.

Safety comes before beauty

Are you unwell, do you have a fever, or are you coughing a lot and have a cold? Stay home!
Even if corona isn't the cause, you can always infect others and trigger other viruses. You shouldn't want that.

So, if you suffer from hay fever, for example, and you're sniffing and coughing more than usual, discuss with your artist if you can reschedule the appointment for, say, winter. You might think your allergy isn't that bad, but other clients might feel unsafe because of it, and that's not the intention.

👉🏻Find more blogs with useful tips at tattoomed.nl/blog

TIP: Our After Tattoo, Cleansing Gel and the Daily tattoo care help your tattoo heal, care for it, and most importantly, keep it beautiful. That's why they come together in a handy value bundle.

Questions about caring for your tattoo?
Feel free to check out our tattoo aftercare page at your leisure. Do you have questions or just want more information? Feel free to contact us.