The phenomenal surfer paradise, Bali, is full of tattoo studios lining up in Legian, Canggu, Petingeget, and other primary streets. The growth of tourism and the laid-back island vibes boost tattoo popularity. It’s now one of the trendiest lifestyle and a popular itinerary among tourist coming to visit the Island of God. However, there’s a lot of false myths surrounding the world of tattoo studio in Bali, and most of the times, they are quite misleading. Here, we are going to go deeper into the myths and talk about misconception that actually are totally unrelated with this lifestyle.
Bali Tattoo Studio Are Not Safe for Inking
Anytime a topic of tattoo in Bali is thrown, we will get question such:
“Is it safe to get a tattoo in Bali?”
We’ve heard it too many times, at too many places. It’s on casual talk between travelers, tattoo enthusiasts, travel forums, and even blogs. People doubt on getting inked at Bali tattoo studio just because it’s Bali—not some European or American country. The truth is, tattoo safety has no relation with the country/ destination you are in. The safety of tattoo relies heavily on the quality of the artists and the studio itself. We can’t deny that some tattoo shop in Bali are not following international safety and hygiene standards. Especially those small shady shops with murky working areas. However, a lot of tattoo parlours are now catching up with world class level of safety and apply tight selection of tattoo artists who are not just talented, but also know how perform hygiene practices, cleanliness, and disease controls.
It’s just about using your common sense, really. Bali has a lot of tattoo shop following international standard. It’s about how you do your research and find the best parlours in the island.
High Infection Risk After Tattoo Bali
Lots of tourists complains infections after getting a tattoo in Bali. Sometimes, the problem is not the Bali tattoo studio itself. Most of the time, it’s the poor aftercare and lack of awareness.
You see, a lot of people are getting a tattoo due to holiday impulse. Some of them don’t really think about getting a tattoo before landing in Bali. And when you get a tattoo without proper planning, you won’t think much about sparing enough time for the tattoo to heal on your holiday. Remember that tattoo is basically an open wound and takes around 2 – 3 weeks to heal. During these period, you can’t swim, dive, surf, play in the beach, or even just soak in a bath tub. This is the mistake of unplanned tattoo on summer holiday. Many people—who impulsively get a tattoo—can’t wait that long, especially when beach play is waiting on their itinerary. When they fail to resist such temptation, they are doomed for infection. Believe me, with beaches as gorgeous as Berawa, Nusa Penida, and Uluwatu, it’s really hard to resist such temptation.
Read More: Best Tattoo Places In Bali And Where To Find Them
Most Tattoo Studios Are Dark and Rugged
You know the typical. Dark painted walls, selections of ‘intimidating’ tattoo designs displayed on doors and wall surface, and dorky decorations that overall give off rough and rugged vibe. While you can still find some of typical parlours down in Legian’s Poppy Lane, nowadays tattoo culture is changing. A lot of tattoo studio steer away from the old, typical interiors and leaned towards progressive design. Take example of Koloni Tattoo, one of the most modern tattoo studio in Bali. The studio is flooded with bright natural sunlight coming from large glass windows—replacing almost the entire walls. Another example is Artful Ink, which studio is thick with glamorous renaissance decors. Rugged tattoo shop is so yesterday—tattoo culture is so dynamic and can actually fit to any personality!