Tattooist and body piercer
Tattooists and body piercers create permanent artwork on customers' bodies and do piercings, so they can wear body jewellery.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a tattooist, you'll:
- speak with clients about their chosen design and how it can be done
- check that clients understand that their tattoo will be permanent
- copy the design onto the customer's skin, either by drawing freehand or using a transfer
- follow the design outline with an electrically-operated needle, which injects ink under the skin
- make sure all equipment is sterilised and clean after each job
- give clients advice on how to care for their tattoo as it heals
As a body piercer, you'll:
- talk to your clients about the type of piercing they want
- explain the piercing procedure and point out any risks
- advise on suitable types of body jewellery
- sterilise the piece of jewellery and the area to be pierced
- dispose of the needle after piercing, following health and safety guidelines
- show the client how to care for their piercing and what to do if there's a problem
Working environment
You could work in a creative studio or at a store.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become self-employed. This could mean 'renting a chair' in someone else's studio. With a business plan and sufficient funds, you could open your own studio and employ other piercers or tattooists, or rent out space.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- design skills and knowledge
- the ability to work well with your hands
- concentration skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- to be flexible and open to change
- the ability to use your initiative
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
- be over 18 years of age
You must register both yourself and your premises with your local council for a tattoo, piercing and electrolysis licence.
You'll also need to be vaccinated against hepatitis B.
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- working towards this role
- specialist courses run by private training organisations
You could start as an assistant in a tattoo or body piercing studio. You would need to find a registered tattooist or body piercer, who is willing to take you on and train you.
You would learn alongside them in the workplace to get the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the job.
You'll need:
- an interest in body art and jewellery
- artistic ability
- a portfolio of your own artwork and design ideas to showcase your talents
You might be able to start as a customer service assistant in a studio, answering enquiries and booking appointments. From there, you could look out for trainee opportunities.
You could take training courses offered by studios and private training providers. You should research these thoroughly to make sure they're right for you.
These courses do not mean you're fully qualified. For that, you'll need to get hands-on, supervised experience in a registered studio.
Career tips
Many tattooists have experience or qualifications in art and design and have a portfolio of work.
It's useful to know about the styles and history of tattooing across different cultures. This can help you understand the traditions and meaning of images and how they are meant to be used.
Networking is a good way to get your skills known. Look for online community forums that can put you in touch with experienced tattooists or piercers.
Further information
You can get advice about working in body art by speaking to tattooists in your local area, or by contacting registered members of the UK Association of Professional Piercers.
You can also learn more about working in the creative industries from Discover Creative Careers.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.