Awareness is key when getting a tattoo

March 24, 2005
By Tracey Howell
Staff Writer

Thinking about getting a ‘Tat’? Did you know that tattoos are a very old form of body art where permanent markings are mixed into the skin with pigment? Tattoos have been dated back thousands of years and even before the birth of Christ. Many civilizations and cultures have been recorded to have used tattoos. They were worn by Egyptians for decorative reasons and the Chinese adopted their own form of tattooing around 2,000 B.C. In the Victorian era, the British upper class would design a crest which was tattooed on their wrist or arm.  In Nazi death camps, prisoners were tattooed identification numbers.  In other societies only sailors or outcasts would tattoo themselves in order to stand out from the rest.

Tattoos are still popular in modern day society for many reasons. They are being worn by eclectic array of people with different cultures and backgrounds. Some are being worn by people with no attachment to the symbolic histories of the designs. Some are worn by gang members on their necks to symbolize their commitment to their gang followings. Others may where them just for the beauty of the art.

Since the invention of the electronic tattoo machine, which made the tattoo process a more desirable and safe way to get a tattoo, the popularity has grown with the public. Because of the booming popularity of tattoos, regulations have been put on the tattoo parlors and their artist who work in the shops.  Each county has their own set of regulations the parlor must follow.  For instance, in Davenport it’s up to the county who does the inspection of the parlor, whether it’s by the Des Moines County Health Department or the Scott County Health Department. 

Tattoo parlors are now under scrutinized rules to encompass the safety of their shop and their clients.  All artists and parlors are to have permits to operate. The only way to get the permit is to pass a thorough top to bottom inspection and pay their $200 fee for inspection and their permit to operate. These range from $40 to $60 depending on the county.

When performing the inspection of the individual tattoo parlor, the health department goes through a 27-point inspection.  This would include making sure that all needles are single-service items. They can be reusable or throwaways. 

“The reusable needle must be sterilized by an autoclave sterilization machine, which is then tested monthly for spore growth with testing strips,” Scott County Health Department Inspector Lindsay Krbavac said. 

She said most inspections are not prompted but they are done annually by the department of health.

If a complaint has been made on a certain tattoo parlor, the heath department goes out within 24 hours of that call to investigate the establishment.

“Most complaints are made by the client, which is usually regarding a crooked tattoo or by a parent complaining about their child getting a tattoo,” Krbavac said.

When considering a tattoo, there are some key questions a person should ask of the artist.

Check out what sterilization methods they use in their establishment. Make sure everything (including the inkwell) is a single use item. Ask for their spore test if they use an autoclave machine.

“Do your homework,” Zodiac Tattoo Parlor owner Kevin Miller said. “If they have made bad decisions in their life on their own tattoos, who’s to say they aren’t going to make the wrong decision for you?”

Look over their drawings. Are they the traceable or their true art?  Talk over with the artist and make sure what you want is the right one for you.

A person should also look at the business hours the tattoo parlor keeps. Are they normal business hours or are they a shady after-hours place? In looking for the best tattoo parlor, a person should ask around for the most reputable place. For more information on how to pick the right tattoo parlor, the Scott County Health Department does offer free pamphlets to anyone interested.

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