Hygiene is the least visible and most decisive work a studio does. The setup must be finished before the client sits down, your hand must touch only the sterile field during the session, and surfaces must be cleaned in the right order afterwards. Below is a practical checklist for all three stages, with the supplies and hygiene products each step needs.

Before the session

  • Wipe the work surface and chair with surface disinfectant and let it dry fully.
  • Cover the machine, clip cord, wash bottle and lamp arm with barrier film and protection products.
  • Lay out cartridges, grips, needles and ink caps in their sterile packs — do not open them yet.
  • Apply the stencil with transfer paper and stencil solution, then let it dry completely.
  • Put gloves on last, after skin preparation is finished.

During the session

  • Decant ink into a cap rather than working from the bottle; a cap belongs to one session only.
  • Use a green soap solution and single-use towels for wiping.
  • Change gloves if one tears or touches a non-sterile surface. Carrying on regardless is the most common mistake in the room.
  • Drop used needles straight into the sharps container — never leave them on the bench.
  • Use vaseline or glide to keep the skin from drying out.

After the session

  • Separate sharps waste from contaminated waste.
  • Remove barriers while still gloved, then remove the gloves.
  • Disinfect surfaces, respecting the manufacturer's stated contact time.
  • Prepare reusable grips for the autoclave and log the cycle.
  • Send the client home with aftercare product and written instructions.

What should never run out

These are the items that stop work the moment they run out on an appointment day: gloves, barrier film, ink caps, single-use towels, green soap, sharps containers and transfer paper. Ordering them against monthly rather than weekly consumption removes the risk of a cancelled session.

Keep practice work to the same standard

Applying the same barrier and glove routine when working on practice skin is what turns it into muscle memory. Hygiene should not be something you remember only when a client is in the chair.

Every item on this list is in supplies and hygiene. Same-day delivery around Taksim, Istanbul and courier shipping across Türkiye.