How to Choose a Safe Tattoo Studio in Perth (and Why a Bali Tattoo Is a Gamble)

A tattoo goes through your skin, so the studio you choose matters as much as the design. Most people in Perth pick a studio for its artwork, and that is important, but hygiene, honesty and aftercare support are what keep a tattoo safe. Here is how to check a studio before you book, using the advice Western Australia’s own Department of Health gives, plus what to know if you are tempted by a cheap tattoo on your next Bali holiday.

What WA law expects of a tattoo studio

In Western Australia, tattooing is a skin penetration procedure. Healthy WA explains that established studios are required by law to keep high standards of infection control, and that studios must give their local council details of their business and the procedures they perform so they comply with the state’s Code of Practice for Skin Penetration Procedures. Your local council’s environmental health officer is the contact if you want to check on a studio or make a complaint.

One thing to watch for: Healthy WA warns that a studio claiming to be “Department of Health approved” is making a false claim. There is no such approval, so treat that line as a red flag rather than a reassurance.

Hygiene checks you can make in the studio

You do not need to be an expert to spot good practice. Based on Healthy WA’s list of what to expect, a professional tattooist should:

• work in a clean, tidy, well-lit studio
• wash their hands before and after the tattoo, and again after any break
• clean and disinfect your skin before starting
• wear new gloves and change them often, touching only your skin and their equipment once gloved
• open needles and other sterile items in front of you, use them once and throw them away straight after
• pour ink into fresh single-use containers and discard what is left over
• be able to explain how reusable equipment is sterilised, for example in an autoclave
• clean the work area between clients

The Victorian Better Health Channel gives similar advice and adds a simple rule: if a premises looks dodgy, trust your judgement and walk away. It also encourages you to ask questions, and to take your business elsewhere if you do not get clear answers.

Questions worth asking before you book

• Can I see this artist’s own work? Healthy WA suggests asking for examples of the artist’s personal work and finding another studio if they cannot show you. Healed photos are best.
• Do you offer aftercare and follow-up? A studio with an aftercare service can check your tattoo and help if anything goes wrong. Ours does, and touch-ups are part of looking after your work.
• What if I have allergies or sensitive skin? Healthy WA notes that some studios can offer a patch test before a full tattoo.
• Can we try a stencil first? Wearing the stencil helps you decide on size and placement before anything is permanent.

Healthy WA also points out that cheap is not always good, so compare quality rather than choosing on price alone.

Why a Bali tattoo is a bigger gamble than it looks

Many Australians get tattooed in Bali, and plenty of them end up in our chair in Perth wanting the work fixed or covered. Healthy WA does not recommend getting body art overseas because standards of care differ, and it lists extra risks of travelling with a healing tattoo: showering in water that may not be safe to drink, sweating, drinking alcohol, swimming and sun exposure. A holiday is full of exactly those things.

If you already have a Bali tattoo that has healed badly, faded or blown out, it is often possible to rework or cover it. Our guides on cover-up tattoos in Perth and choosing between a cover-up and laser explain the options.

Travelling to Perth for your tattoo

Clients come to our Barrack Street studio from all over Perth, from regional WA and from Sydney, Melbourne and other parts of Australia, often for large Japanese work like the back piece above. If you are travelling, tell us your dates when you book so we can plan sessions and healing time around your trip. You can see more finished pieces in our completed tattoos gallery and on our Japanese tattoo page.

Want to see how we work before you commit? Book a consultation, look around the studio and ask us anything. If you have a medical condition, allergies, a skin problem or take regular medicines, speak to your doctor before getting tattooed.

Sources

• Healthy WA, Government of Western Australia Department of Health, “Preparing yourself for body art”: sections “Choosing the right body artist”, “How to choose your body artist” and “What to expect from your body artist” (infection control law, Code of Practice for Skin Penetration Procedures, false “Department of Health approved” claims, hygiene steps, aftercare service, patch tests and stencils, risks of body art overseas)
• Better Health Channel, Victorian Department of Health, “Tattoos” (choosing a tattooist, sterile equipment, asking questions)