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tattoo policies

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We know tattoos are about having fun, not about following the rules.  But at Classic 13 Tattoo, we follow a number of strict rules, to ensure your safety and guarantee we provide you the highest quality care.  It is supremely important to us that we adhere to all these rules all the time, and we want to share them with you so you know the drill. There are some basic rules that all good tattoo studios follow.

Here are the key things to know:

  • Our studio adheres to the highest standard of cleanliness and hygiene.
  • We cannot tattoo anyone under 17. The only way for a minor to get tattooed or pierced is that a parent MUST BE PRESENT and both minor and parents MUST have valid IDs, along with the birth certificate of that minor OR guardianship papers of that minor. ​

  • You must present a valid ID before we can tattoo you. We do not tattoo anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol.


Sterilization and Infection Control​

We are totally consumed about hygiene.  Cleanliness and proper sterilization are paramount in this business and we adhere to proper protocols always!

  • Most supplies used during your tattoo are single-use and disposable, meaning they are sterilized and brand new, we use them on you, and then we dispose of them immediately.  This includes the needles and needle bars used to do the tattoo.  We never reuse needles.
  • All inks used during your tattoo are used in a way that makes them single use.  When setting up your tattoo, the artist will place a small amount of tattoo ink into clean, new and disposable plastic ink caps.  These ink caps are never reused, which prevents the possibility of contamination in larger ink tubes.
  • There are some pieces of equipment that must be reused, but these are also kept clean and sterile to the highest possible standards.  These include the tattoo tube (what the artist holds onto) and the tattoo machine itself.  Before every tattoo, tattoo tubes are put into disinfectant, run through an ultrasonic cleaner to remove all foreign materials (e.g. ink), scrubbed by hand, put into sterilization pouches, and then run through the Ritter M7 speedclave autoclave, the same machine used by surgeons and dentists to make sure their instruments are super clean.  Autoclave sterilization is the only method that ensures reusable equipment is 100% clean, sterile and safe to use in tattooing.
  • Once a month, we test our autoclave machine using a spore test, which involves an independent science lab testing and verifying that our machine is destroying all microorganisms, including bacterial spores.
  • Although tattoo machines never come in direct contact with the skin, blood or ink, they are wiped down with a powerful surface disinfectant after each use and are clean prior to each tattoo.
  • In addition to these precautions, our artists always wear surgical gloves that are new, clean and sterile before your tattoo, used once, then tossed.  We ensure that all surfaces are clean and disinfected with a high-power disinfectant between each tattoo.  We keep our shop in tip-top, super-clean condition, as you will see and as you should expect from a tattoo studio.

​Age Requirements

As of July 2010, it is illegal to tattoo anyone under the age of 17. The only way for a minor to get tattooed or pierced is that a parent MUST BE PRESENT and both minor and parents MUST have valid IDs, along with the birth certificate of that minor OR guardianship papers of that minor.  Additionally, placement of tattoos and piercings on a minor is at the discretion of the artist. 
 
Identification Requirements

In order to get a tattoo at Classic 13 Tattoo, you must present a valid, state issued ID.  It’s the law.  Your identification must be current (not expired) and you must present it at the beginning of your appointment.  Acceptable forms of valid ID include:

  • State-issued driver’s license or state-issued identification card
  • Resident alien card
  • Passport
  • Military identification card

Drugs and Alcohol

It's illegal to tattoo/pierce anyone who is believed to be under the influence.  We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who is thought to be under the influence.  We will, however, welcome you back when you are running properly on all cylinders.