So you're getting your first tattoo. That's great. Or is this your eighth tattoo? Hey, that's cool too. But before getting your first, or eighth tattoo, it's important to follow these simple tips to stay safe and get the best possible result. After all, somebody you don't know is going to stick a needle in you a couple hundred times.

Safety Precautions to be Taken Before Getting A Tattoo:

1. The tattoo studio you select should follow all necessary hygiene and safety standards. The studio should be clean and the staff should maintain proper sanitation. No pets allowed.

2. The tattooing area should be properly maintained and completely separate from all other areas of the business. 

3. The tattoo studio staff should wash their hands before each and every procedure, and use a pair of disposable, protective latex gloves during the entirety of the tattoo process.

4. Needles, tubes, containers, trays, and pigments used by the tattoo artist should be unboxed in front of you. If they do not come in sealed packages, chances of cross-contamination as well as blood-born ailments go up significantly.

5. The non-disposable equipment used in a tattoo studio must be sterilized in a heat sterilization machine with bleach and a good disinfectant after every single session to avoid infection.

6. Make sure the ink or dye to be used in your tattoo is approved as tattoo grade ink and is used in single use disposable ink-caps. Unapproved ink can cause infection, allergies, scarring, granulomas, and MRI complications. Tattoo artists should never put needles directly into ink bottles.

7. Check the expiration date of the ink before you get your tattoo. Using expired ink is extremely risky as it can infect your blood severely.

8. Make sure the tattoo studio has puncture-resistant, biohazard containers for the safe disposal of needles. These containers are often yellow, and will look like the kind you see in doctor's offices.

9. Read the after-care instructions carefully before getting inked. It will help you understand the risks and precautions beforehand.

10. Do your homework. All tattoo studios should be able to provide you with a copy of its most recent public health inspection report. Also, do research online as to the quality and safety of the tattoo studio you intend on visiting.

And remember folks, ink is forever, so stay safe, do your research, and regret nothing.