The 7-Step Sanitary Station Setup (So You Don’t Get Roasted on TikTok)

For new tattoo artists who want to work clean, stay legal, and keep clients safe.

Your station is the foundation of your practice—not just how it looks, but how it protects. Whether you're setting up at a street shop, a private studio, or your first apprenticeship, these 7 steps will help you meet (or beat) health board standards and avoid the kind of viral videos no one wants.

 

Step 1: Start with a Disinfected Surface

Wipe everything down with a hospital-grade surface disinfectant rated against TB, HIV, and Hepatitis. Let it sit (wet!) for the full contact time listed on the label—usually 3–10 minutes.

⚠️ Paper towel and green soap are not disinfectants. Know the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting.

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Step 2: Lay Your Barriers

Once your surface is dry, cover everything you’ll touch or that could be contaminated:

• Armrest

• Power supply

• Machine or battery

• Clipcord

• Wash bottle

• Light handles

Use plastic film, machine bags, dental bibs, or medical drape sheets. Secure with tape if needed. Think: anything blood could land on should be wrapped.

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Step 3: Set Up Sharps and Biohazard Disposal

Place a red sharps container within arm’s reach to dispose of used needles or cartridges immediately.

✅ Never reuse needles.
✅ Never toss them in regular garbage.
Also line your trash can with a medical-grade bag and use a foot pedal lid to avoid touching it with gloved hands.

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Step 4: Arrange Your Cartridges, Ink, and Supplies

• Pour ink into single-use caps.

• Lay out only the cartridges you need (or use a clean tray).

• Set up barrier-wrapped wash bottles, rinse cups, paper towels.

Once you glove up, nothing non-sterile can be touched bare-handed again—so prep smart.

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Step 5: Prep Your PPE

Before tattooing, wash your hands thoroughly and glove up.
Have a backup pair nearby in case of rips or cross-contamination.

🖤 Nitrile gloves are standard due to latex sensitivities.
Add eye protection or sleeves if you're doing large or high-risk pieces.

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Step 6: Client Prep & Skin Antisepsis

Use an approved antiseptic skin prep—chlorhexidine-based is common—to clean the tattoo area before applying your stencil.
Apply stencil with clean, gloved hands and single-use transfer gel.

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Step 7: Last Check Before You Start

Do a full mental walkthrough:

• Is everything prepped and barriered?

• Is your PPE on?

• Do you have a backup of anything critical?

✅ This is the moment to fix anything. Once you touch the client’s skin, your gloves are contaminated 

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🧠 Pro Tips for New Artists:

• Print your setup steps and tape them near your station.

• Keep a restock list in your drawer (nothing worse than running out of gloves mid-session).

• Film your setup once and show it to your mentor or local health inspector for feedback.

• Learn how to break down safely, too—it’s just as important.

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💬 TL;DR:

A clean setup protects you, your client, and your license. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just consistent, intentional, and compliant.