by bifftastic » Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:33 pm
As with any tattoo parlour or artist, you should make sure that all the necessary hygiene precautions are taken. There are some places in Thailand where tattoos are done with shared tools (bamboo or needles in a bamboo stick) and ink is made 'in house' and is not of the same quality, or ingredients, as that used in many western countries.
Those would be more the religious tattoo type, called 'sak yant', or in a kind of 'backstreet' tattoo parlour.
Having said that, there are many many people who have had those done and suffered no ill effects at all.
There are, as well, plenty of the more 'normal' tattoo parlours in Thailand, they use guns, clean needles that are only used once, and ink that is produced hygienically in the same way that you would find in a tattoo parlour in your home country.
Where in Thailand will you be travelling to? Wherever it is, take the time to discuss your tattoo with the artist, if they are a genuine artist they won't mind doing that. Check the place out, look at the equipment, ask any questions that you may have. Just as you would do in your home country.
Also, when you decide on your tattoo, get them to do dome drawings using different Thai scripts, there are some beautiful scripts in the Thai language. What you see on this forum, is the basic script, a good artist will be able to show you examples in a few different letter styles.
Good luck.
Biff
