Brooklyn Tattoo© is committed to following the highest health standards in the industry. The cornerstone of our guidelines is the same as any doctor, dentist, or blood bank. This is called universal precaution. We must treat each customer as if they may have an infectious disease, and therefore follow very specific sterilization and cleanliness procedures. Each of our artists has completed courses on sterilization and cross-contamination procedures, and we are just as concerned with your well-being as we are with our own. Safety is ensured by use of a method called "single service". This means that every item that comes in contact with a customer must be properly disposed of or sterilized. It also means that nothing is used twice - from needles to ink caps, cups to razors - nothing is reused. Everything we use in the process is disposable. Every set of needles used to apply your tattoo is brand new. They are individually packaged, sealed, and sterilized in an autoclave.  We open them in the presence of each customer. After use, the needles are disposed of. One needle, one customer. We also have an on site autoclave sterilizer that is regularly tested, with the results on display. This is used for the tubes used in the tattoo guns, which are not disposable. These go through a three step cleansing process including scrubbing, ultrasound, and autoclaving. An autoclave is a heat/steam/pressure unit that achieves and maintains 250 degrees Fahrenheit under 10 pounds pressure for 30 minutes (or up to 270 degrees Fahrenheit under 15 pounds pressure for 15 minutes). It is the only accepted method of sterilization that will kill every living microorganism known to mankind. Another very important part of tattoo safety is preventing cross-contamination. This means protecting surfaces that may come in contact with fluids, but can’t be sterilized or disposed of, such as; lamps, knobs on a power unit, spray bottles, and tattoo machines. We achieve this by putting plastic wrap around these items. When a tattoo session is done, we dispose of any plastic wrap and disinfect the work area with medical cleaners. We also employ a medical waste company to take care of our bio-hazard material. Above all, we care for our customers. In protecting our customers we also protect ourselves; remember we are at a higher risk because of the number of people we work on daily, so safety is for our benefit as well. Making you feel safe and comfortable are of top priority to us.

AfterCare

Leave your bandage on for at least four hours — overnight if you received the tattoo late in the evening (before your bedtime). Make sure you can wash your tattoo when you remove the bandage. Handwash it using warm water & soap — do not use cloths or sponges. Use water to soak off any of the bandage that sticks to the tattoo. Do not rebandage the tattoo. Wash tattoo at least twice a day while it is healing. Wash your tattoo more often if you work near grease, chemicals, dirt, or if you got your tattoo in or near a high-bacteria area such as the armpit, buttocks, or genitals. Apply light coats of neosporin, or bacitracin for the first 3 - 5 days, then switch to a moisturizing lotion (such as Lubriderm). Lotions are safest to use in warm weather. Keeping the tattoo moist will speed the healing process, but your tattoo also needs to breathe. Heavy application of petroleum based ointments can suffocate the tattoo and cause a rash. You can wet your tattoo, but don’t soak it in the tub or shower for a long time while it is healing. If you work under very dirty conditions or have to wear tight clothes, you can tape a dry paper towel over your tattoo. Try to wear loose clothing around your tattoo. It is normal for your tattoo to flake off tiny pieces of colored skin while it is healing, but you don't want to force it. Do not rub or scratch or pick your tattoo! You can smack the tattoo if it itches too much. Do not expose your tattoo to chlorine, salt, alcohol or sun for 10 days. Be careful with lotions containing excessive alcohol. Only expose tattoo to long periods of sun after it is fully healed and then with a strong sunscreen applied, so as to protect it from the fading effects of radiation. Tattoos normally take 30 days to heal. If you ever have a question or problem with your tattoo, you should call your tattoo artist immediately. He will be able to give you further instructions for proper care. - HAPPY HEALING!