Tattoo shops must be sterile and clean before and after each tattoo. A tattoo that is still fresh can cause infection because it involves puncturing the skin. The tattooing process is not harmful to the client’s overall health. However, there is still a risk that the tattoo will cause an infection. Therefore, it is important to create a clean, sterile working environment. Tattoo artists can take several steps to reduce the chance of an infection.
Tattoo shops are required to follow a strict cleaning and sterilization process. This may differ from state-to-state. These steps include sterilizing the skin of clients, tattooing equipment, furniture and tattooing tools, as well as using new needles, gloves and ink for each client. This month, we’ll be focusing on the tattoo glove as one of these safety tools.
Tattooing requires great dexterity, so it is important to choose gloves with no constricting material but that still protect the skin. Each glove has its pros and cons. Latex, vinyl and nitrile are the three most common types of Tattoo Gloves.
Latex Gloves
The most common gloves used in medical institutions are latex tattoo gloves. They are flexible, easy to use and affordable. Due to the fact that latex is thin by nature, this type of tattoo glove is only used by a few tattoo artists. It is easy to puncture. This type of tattoo gloves can also be problematic for clients with allergies to the material.
Vinyl Gloves
Vinyl gloves offer a more reliable level of protection and are much heavier than latex. Vinyl gloves are heavier and can limit artists’ movements. Vinyl gloves are used by many tattoo artists for fill-in pieces, moving chemicals, and sterilizing workstations. However, they are not often used for everyday tattoos.
Nitrile Gloves
The nitrile glove is a great alternative to latex and vinyl gloves. Nitrile offers more flexibility and strength than vinyl and latex. Nitrile is known for being strong enough to withstand long sessions of tattooing clients, while also being 3-5 times more resistant to punctures compared to latex. These gloves are more expensive than latex but they do not cause allergies and have less friction. These gloves are worn by most tattoo artists today.
This post was written by J Michael Taylor. J Michael Taylor is an artist and owner of Black Amethyst Tattoo Gallery. Looking for Tattoo shops in St Petersburg Florida? Black Amethyst has you covered! They provide an art-first approach to custom tattooing in a gallery setting.
