Cosmetic tattoo needles, what do you look for? You want a needle that does the job of course - one that keeps your clients safe while also providing great results. We're going to dive into the what to look for to make sure your needle is safe, sterilised and shaped up for the job!

How do you choose what pigment to use for cosmetic tattooing? Colour and retention are important, but so are the ingredients and client safety. Health authorities want pigments to be free of toxins, particularly those considered to be carcinogenic, reprotoxic (risk of causing birth defects)...

Are you insured? No, are you really insured? You may not be. Being insured should give you a comfortable feeling that if something goes seriously wrong, you’re covered. You’ve paid those premiums and you and your business are protected from a nasty claim against you, or a property loss from theft, fire or flood.

THink MBC has been working with a compounding chemist to develop truly effect, and legal, numbing creams and gels. We’ve learned a lot, tested a lot, and we’re happy to share the results with you, our customers. We think we have the “Goldilocks Formulas” (not too much, not too little, but just right!)

Most cosmetic tattoo professionals are now well aware that the topical anaesthetics that are legal in Australia and work effectively need to be obtained from a compounding chemist. They contain between 5 and 10% anaesthetic (e.g. lidocaine (also called lignocaine), tetracaine, prilocaine or benzocaine). With less than 5% your client is likely to suffer.

Rotary tattoo machines operate very differently to modern digital machines. The needles in rotaries oscillate (vibrate sideways) in  the housing. This tends to rip and tear the skin, whereas a digital cartridge needle move up and down very precisely, producing nice neat perforations in the skin for the pigment.

Does your client want a perfect lipliner or eyeliner, minimum discomfort, minimum swelling and long lasting results? Of course ! Well you need a good machine to consistently achieve this. Hand tool techniques are currently being promoted on the basis of artistry and versatility. THink MBC sells hand tools, for featherstoke brows. For eyeliner and lipliner we strongly recommend (digital) machines, and here’s why!

Most cosmetic tattoo pigments contain iron, with several other metals being common. Some pigments are carbon-based (organic) with no metals. Metals will response to MRI to some degree, although the amounts in a cosmetic tattoo are obviously very small. Body art tattoos may present more of a risk as they are typically much bigger and contain various metals.