Hey yall as a tattooist let me tell you, (worked type hard to get successfully licensed and learn about cross contamination if this counts for something + years and years of science comm knowledge and editorship of that kind of gives you a little context on how bad this virus has been) please don’t get tattooed in the middle of a pandemic. I say this after a family friend asked me and had me worried. Cross-contamination is the bridge point between viruses and people, if you don’t understand the variables of cross-contamination youre doing your own self a disservice.
If anything, this is the best time to find some courses on cross contamination compatible with your learning and share the info with others. This is what we’re taught as tattooist in order to pass the licensing test and a lot of what you learn on here is applicable during a pandemic with addition of social distance among a few other things to consider.
I strongly discourage getting any ink done except after the numbers have subsided & theyve cleared us like they've recently done in china due to the low numbers, go with the statistics not what your friend is telling you, and statistics say wait it out. So many things can go wrong in a pandemic during the process of tattoo healing that make this not worth the trouble; from getting the tattoo and all the possible ways you and the artist can jeopardize each other and communities to the very healing process and considering how the freshly tattoo spot since it’s now a giant healing scab will be even more vulnerable - to the all cross contamination that can occur while either of yall in transit.
I’ve seen a lot of artists I looked up to still at it that I just don’t understand with all the deaths, I can’t put money over health like that. It’s another reason I’m unemployed right now. I know how lethal this shit is on scientific level and it will kill either you or someone close to you if you’re not careful and it really dont care if you believe any of this or not.
You may not care about these variables but the variables dont care whether you believe in em or not and can make you another casualty in this shit so Idk just wait it out please. We may never get life how we used to have, but at least we can do our part to survive and help others too who might not be as informed.
In the meantime, you could use this as time to design a really cool piece!
For info on cross-contamination check out the CDC website’s recommendations on body art here.
