Needles and other equipment used for skin penetration must be sterile, disposable and single-use wherever possible.

If you choose to use re-useable needles or other skin penetration equipment (tube, nozzle, needle bar, barrel) ensure you clean and sterilise them prior to each use. Good quality stainless steel products are better for this purpose. Cosmetic tattooists must only use equipment that has single-use disposable parts which are incapable of allowing blood and body fluid to flow back into the device.

Needles

• do not use hollow (hypodermic) needles for tattooing as skin damage will occur. Also, the needles cannot be effectively cleaned and sterilised
• handle sterile needles with sterile forceps
• if you accidentally touch a needle at any stage during the process, you must be replace it immediately with a sterile one
• do not test needles for sharpness on the operator’s skin before use
• check needles or equipment for defects by inspection or insertion into a sterile pad before use. Dispose of any needles that have burrs, hooks, damage or blunt points to prevent injury to clients.

Razors

• use a disposable plastic safety razor on one client only
• if you use a standard safety razor with a disposable blade, dispose of the blade after use on one client
• traditional cutthroat razors are not recommended for use.

Dyes and solutions (not sterile)

• tattooing inks, dyes, pigments or solutions used for one client must not be used for another client
• dispense enough solution for one client into sterile disposable containers; discard container and left over solution upon completion
• if you use non-disposable containers, ensure you clean and sterilise them prior to each use
• store ink and solutions in a way that protects them from contamination
• ensure water or other liquid used for mixing inks is free from contamination (i.e. use treated drinking water or ethyl alcohol).

Stencils

• single-use stencils, screens or patterns are highly recommended
• clean and disinfect all re-useable stencils, screens or patterns before re-use
• fix stencil to client’s skin using clean soapy water (do not reuse this soapy water on another client)
• do not reuse reusable applicators to apply stencils on another client (e.g. deodorant sticks)
• use a sterile spatula or applicator to apply products like petroleum jelly to the skin
• clean all implements and containers after use.

Cosmetic tattooing or micro-pigmentation machines

• clean and sterilise machine or needle tips, needles and the machine barrel casing
• wipe the casing covering the motor with a clean paper towel moistened with warm water and detergent and allow the casing to air dry after the tattooing procedure for each client is completed
• change the disposable coverings or use clean linen for each client
• open sterile equipment at the start of the procedure and either place equipment on a sterile surface/tray, or remove it directly from packaging as required
• the skin around the site must be cleaned with a skin antiseptic prior to starting. For the area around the eyes, the site must be cleaned with warm water
• shave the site using a single-use disposable safety razor where possible
• wash hands, thoroughly pat dry and put on new single-use gloves
• tattoo an outline of the design on the skin
• tattoo the colour or shade of the outline on the skin
• use pre-dispensed cleaning solution and single-use wipes to remove excess pigment or solution and blood from the tattoo/removal site and dispose of wipes into the clinical and related waste container
• remove antiseptic cream from a single-use container and apply to the tattoo/removal site using a single-use spatula
• cover site with a sterile dressing
• remove gloves and wash and dry hands
• change the needle assembly or hand piece after each client use.

Jewellery

• sterile packaging must be opened just before piercing is to be performed
• only sterile jewellery is to be inserted into the opening. Check that the jewellery material can be sterilised, (e.g. surgical grade stainless steel, niobium, solid 14K or 18K white or yellow gold, titanium, platinum).
• only handle sterile jewellery with sterile gloves.