Tattoo and piercing clients
Anytime you break your skin with a needle, there is a chance of infections such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS or an allergic reaction. Get your tattoo or piercing done with the least amount of risk. You do not have to see blood or body fluids on needles or items for an infection to occur. Make sure the studio you choose makes infection control a priority.
The Health Department inspects tattooing and piercing studios. We do not issue approvals, certifications or licences. Check out different studios and ask to see their last Health Department inspection report or get reports online as part of our disclosure program.
Tattooing |
Your tattoo artist must: |
- Work in an inspected studio storefront or home-based studio.
- Have a work area that is clean and organized.
- Have a sink. It should have hot and cold running water, liquid soap and paper towels.
- Wash hands using liquid soap and water, or use hand sanitizer. It must be done before putting on a new pair of gloves.
- Cover the machine, lighting, and spray bottles in plastic. The plastic should be discarded after use.
- Use new, disposable applicators.
- Throw out leftover product after each client.
- Must pour ink in front of you. Be sure the new ink caps are new. Old ink and used caps must be thrown out.
- Use a new, disposable cup with clean water for rinsing ink from tattoo needles.
- Clean the skin with an antiseptic before beginning.
- Use a new, disposable razor if shaving is required.
- Use a new, disposable stencil.
- Use new, pre-packaged, and sterile disposable tattoo needles.
- Make sure that all tattoo tubes, grips and needles must be sterile and kept in sealed packaging. The artist must assemble it in front of you.
- Discard used needles and razors into a sharps container after use.
- Must clean and sterilize all reusable metal tubes and grips after use.
See disposable versus reusable items. |
Aftercare tips for tattoos |
Ask about the follow-up care. The artist must give you verbal and written instructions. They tell you how to clean and care for your tattoo to help prevent an infection.
- The finished tattoo should be covered with a clean bandage.
- Always wash your hands before you touch your tattoo.
- Only touch your tattoo to clean it.
- Make sure clothing does not irritate the area.
- See your doctor immediately if the tattooed area becomes infected. Signs are increased redness, swelling, tenderness and/or the appearance of pus.
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Do not get a tattoo if... |
Do not get a tattoo if the artist cannot answer your questions. That should warn you not to get a tattoo. Warning signs are:
- The artist does not use new, pre-packaged, sterile, disposable needles.
- The artist does not use proper cleaning and disinfecting or sterilizing methods.
- The artist appears to have used drugs or alcohol.
- You have used drugs or alcohol. Alcohol and drugs may thin your blood and this may lead to excessive bleeding.
- The studio cannot show you the latest inspection report.
- The disclosure sign is not posted.
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Body and ear piercing |
Your body piercing artist must: |
- Work in an inspected storefront or home-based studio.
- Have a work area that is clean and organized.
- Have a sink with hot and cold running water, liquid soap and paper towels.
- Wash hands using liquid soap and water, or use hand sanitizer. It must be done before putting on a new pair of gloves.
- Must apply products with new, disposable applicators.
- Must throw out left over product after each client.
- Must clean the skin with a skin antiseptic. After the area is marked, the piercer must clean the area again with an antiseptic just before you are pierced. Mouth piercings require a mouth rinse.
- Must use new, pre-packaged, sterile and disposable needles every time.
- Use piercing instruments (e.g. needles, clamps) that are sterile and stored in sealed packaging. The piercer must open it in front of you.
- Must use sterile jewellery that is made of high quality, non-allergenic materials such as gold, surgical steel, niobium, titanium or PTFE nylon.
- Must discard used needles into a sharps container after use.
- Must ensure that all reusable equipment used to pierce the skin, or that may become contaminated during the service (i.e. clamps, pliers, etc.) is cleaned and sterilized.
See disposable versus reusable items. |
Your ear piercing artist must: |
- Only use an ear piercing device on ear lobes. An ear piercing device should not be used to pierce any other part of the body.
- Must use new, pre-packaged, sterile, disposable, plastic cartridges or adapters when using an ear piercing device.
- Use earrings and disposable cartridge or adapters that are stored in sealed sterile packages and should be opened in front of you.
- Discard plastic cartridges or adapters after use.
See disposable versus reusable items. |
Aftercare tips for body and ear piercing: |
Ask about the follow-up care. The artist must give you verbal and written instructions. They will tell you how to clean and care for your piercing to help prevent an infection.
- Always wash your hands before cleaning your piercing or the surrounding area.
- Do not touch your piercing. Only clean it until it has healed.
- Piercings may take weeks or months to heal.
- Risk of infection is higher if clothing irritates the pierced area.
- Rick of infection is higher if the area is not kept clean and dry while healing.
- Piercings can result in serious scarring or disfigurement if infected.
- See your doctor immediately if the pierced area becomes infected. Signs are increased redness, swelling, tenderness and/or the appearance of pus.
- Do not remove the jewelry. The hole can close up around the infected area.
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Do not get a body or ear piercing if... |
Do not get a body or ear piercing if an artist cannot or will not answer all your questions. That should warn you not to get a piercing done. Warning signs are:
- The artist does not use new, pre-packaged, sterile, disposable needles.
- The artist does not use proper cleaning and disinfecting or sterilizing methods.
- The artist appears to have used drugs or alcohol.
- You have used drugs or alcohol. Alcohol and drugs may thin your blood and this may lead to excessive bleeding.
- The studio cannot show you the latest inspection report.
- The disclosure sign is not posted.
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What are blood and body fluid exposures? |
A blood or body fluid exposure is when:
- A needle or tool contaminated with someone's blood or body fluid has broken your skin.
- Your broken skin is exposed to someone's blood or body fluid.
- Someone else's blood or body fluid gets in your eyes, nose or mouth.
Steps to take if a blood or body fluid exposure happens:
- Wash your hands.
- Wear new gloves before touching the area.
- Wash the cut with soap and water. Allow the cut to bleed freely.
- Apply a skin antiseptic and bandage the area.
- If there has been a splash into your eyes, nose or mouth, flush the area with water.
- Contact a doctor.
- Tell your artist so they can document the details of this exposure. It is a requirement.
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Tattoo and piercing artists
The Ministry of Health requires health departments to inspect all tattoo and piercing studios in Ontario. In Durham Region, we inspect at least once a year. We do more inspections if we receive complaints or if the studio needs a follow-up visit.
- Cleaning
- Sanitation
- Basic infection control to prevent the spread of diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV
These guidelines are for any services including special events and home-based studios where there is a risk of being exposed to blood or body fluids.
Applications and forms
Contact a public health inspector and get information about opening a new studio. We will give you an information package.
Health Department notification
Owners and operators of personal service settings must provide written notification to Durham Region Health Department 14 days before:
- opening a new personal service setting;
- changing the location of an existing personal service setting;
- starting the renovation or reconstruction of an existing personal service setting; or,
- providing additional services in an existing personal service setting.
Personal service settings notification form
Tattooing and piercing at special events
You must fill out an application form if you plan to tattoo or pierce at community events in Durham Region such as a fair or a trade show.
Submit public health applications for businesses online
Request a Health Department display or presentation
Owner/operator resources and requirements
Beyond Glam Newsletter
A new publication from Durham Region Health Department intended to bring the industry closer together by sharing information that is helpful for all Durham Region facilities that offer personal services.
Download the Fall/Winter 2024 edition
Health Protection and Promotion Act |
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Resources for tattoo, body and ear piercing artists |
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General information and requirements for tattoo and piercing artists |
You do not have to see blood or body fluid to get an infection. You can look at the information here to protect yourself and your clients.
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Cleaning and disinfection |
Regular cleaning and disinfection helps to prevent the spread of germs.
Cleaning removes dirt, organic matter, and most germs. Cleaning alone does not kill harmful germs left behind. Clean all surfaces before disinfecting them. Disinfection kills most disease-causing germs that stay on surfaces.
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Sterilization
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Sterilization kills all germs including viruses, bacteria, fungi and spores. Proper cleaning is important before sterilization. Items that break the skin such as needles and lancets must be new, pre-packaged and in sterile condition.
Your must test your autoclave every other week by sending the spore test to a laboratory.
Resources on how to sterilize reusable items on-site:
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Keeping hands clean |
Wash your hands to stop the spread of germs. Handwashing is the simplest and most important thing that you can do to reduce the spread of germs. It keeps you and your clients from getting sick.
Facts about handwashing
Handwashing steps
Hand sanitizing steps
Keeping Hands Clean video
Hand sanitizer video
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Disclosure
Personal service setting inspection reports
Our disclosure program for salons, spas and studios is called Know Before You Go Durham. Each time a public health inspector visits a salon, spa or studio for an inspection they will give the salon, spa or studio a coloured sign. The sign and the inspection results will be posted online for two years.
The sign must be posted right away at the main entrance to the spa, salon or studio, where it is visible to the public. Online inspection results provide real-time inspection and investigation results.
Common questions and answers about disclosure.
Inspection signs and resources
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Green sign (Pass) |
If the salon, spa or studio has a green sign, they were following most requirements during inspection. The inspector found no or only a few minor infractions. These minor infractions will most likely not spread any infections. There are no immediate health risks. If needed, there will be a follow-up visit. |
Yellow sign (Conditional)
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If the salon, spa or studio has a yellow sign, they were not following most of the requirements during inspection. The number or the types of violations have a risk of spreading infections. The inspector will inspect again in one to three business days. |
Red sign (Closed) |
A red sign means there is an immediate health hazard. A health hazard is any condition that can lead to the spread of infection or other negative health effects. These conditions can be no hot or cold running water, sewage backup, a fire, a flood, a power outage, or any other condition. If the hazard only affects some services, only they will be closed. If the health hazard is affecting the entire salon, spa or studio, then the entire salon, spa or studio will be closed. To reopen, the salon, spa or studio needs a green sign. |
Operator resources
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All salons, spas and studios in the Region of Durham must follow the Durham Region Personal Services Settings By-law # 17-2016.
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