o If you are not sure where to place the tattoo or the style, ask the studio if they
can apply a stencil of the design for you to ‘wear’ before you have the full
procedure.
o If you want to use your own jewellery for piercing, take it to the studio the day
before to be checked and sterilised. Remember, jewellery you buy from places
other than body piercing studios will not be sterile and may not be of suitable
quality or size. Discuss jewellery selection with your body artist.
Making it a comfortable experience
If you’re nervous about the procedure there some things you can do to feel more
comfortable.
o Take a friend with you for moral support.
o On the day of the procedure make sure that you have eaten something and
have had enough to drink (not alcohol!) so that you are not dehydrated.
o Some procedures can be painful, but it passes quickly if there are no
complications. Breathing exercises can help you relax during the procedure.
o Some people feel light-headed or faint afterwards. This is due to a change in
blood levels of adrenaline and the body’s natural pain-killers. If you know what
to expect you can deal with it. Also let the body artist know how you’re feeling.
Where to go
o Do not consider letting friends or people who work outside of established
business premises do your body art.
o Cheap is not always good, compare prices – you need to pay for good, quality
work.
o Shop around, ask friends who have had good art work done, who they
recommend.
o Find a studio where you feel comfortable, and where staff answer all your
questions.
o Select a studio that has ‘Aftercare Service’ – so you can have follow-up visits to
check the work and get help for any problems.
o When choosing a body artist don’t go by the art on the walls. Ask to see
examples of the body artist’s personal work – if they can’t show you, find
another studio.
o Most studios have body artists who are members of the professional
associations for their industry. These require that members meet professional
standards of infection control and artwork, but you should discuss the points
raised in this pamphlet with all body artists, whether they belong to
professional associations or not.
o Some states and territories provide infection control courses for body artists.
Studios need to be approved by local government but this is more about