Lip blushing is a procedure that penetrates the skin, not just another beauty treatment, which is why cosmetic lip tattoo safety regulations in Australia are of consequence. There is no one licence for cosmetic tattooing that will cover all practitioners in the country; the law is dictated by the service on offer and by your state, territory or local council.
Thomas Murphy here from Fremantle in Western Australia. One does not have to be in hospitality or personal services long to realise that a clean bench, an unflustered explanation and good records are hardly glamorous but they separate a professional from someone making an expensive error. In this guide I put it in plain English: the regulations for cosmetic lip tattoos in Australia, what to look for in a practitioner, the rules on ink, hygiene and risk, and matters of aftercare.
Is it legal?
For the most part yes, provided an operator with the right training is doing the work in an approved setting in accordance with local and state/territory requirements. But do not confuse lawful with safe. You can find a business that is within its rights yet whose infection control and aftercare advice is as rough as guts and would not be a wise choice. For tattoo-related concerns, professional blending for tattoos may also be a consideration.
Needles are used to put pigment in the skin so it is considered permanent makeup and a skin penetration procedure. The requirements can be wide ranging, from waste disposal and record-keeping to age limits, premises and tattoo parlour regulation.
A matter of location
You will not find the same lip tattoo laws in every corner of Australia. An operator in Perth is subject to different approvals than his counterpart in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin or Canberra. Some of these pertain to the operator, some to the premises.
Do yourself a favour and ring up the local council prior to booking to see what is required for cosmetic tattooing at that address. Put the practitioner on the spot about their licence or registration. Should they give you a vague or defensive answer with the air of a man trying to offload a second-hand car with water damage, move on.
Who is in charge?
In Australia several authorities have an interest in the safety of cosmetic tattooing. Local councils will inspect and demand approval of skin penetration premises. Public-health requirements are set by the health departments of the states and territories; other agencies might be concerned with criminal checks, workers, chemicals or how a business is run. It is incumbent on the practitioner to be able to show evidence and tell you who has jurisdiction over his premises if you put reasonable questions to him.
Some of the key authorities
NSW Health puts out public-health data for those in the tattoo and skin penetration trade. The Department of Health in Western Australia offers guidance on such procedures. Over in Queensland the Office of Fair Trading may come into play with respect to consumer and business obligations, while environmental health at the local council level tends to handle the premises side of things.
Under the tattooing framework in New South Wales the NSW Police SLED could be involved with licensing and the like for a tattooist. That is not to say the police are there to field every query on cosmetic tattooing, only that the operator should be aware of where his service stands under the law.
Then there is chemical regulation. AICIS, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme, governs the import and introduction of industrial chemicals. Do not assume that makes a pigment safe to inject into lips by virtue of its role, and it is no substitute for council approval or your duty of infection control. The scheme’s own site will tell you more.
Licences and credentials
The system for a cosmetic tattooing licence in Australia is not uniform across jurisdictions. Depending on the area and the service, a practitioner will require a tattooist licence, business approval or some form of registration with the council.
Be discerning when it comes to training. A certificate is not proof in itself of compliance with the letter of the law. Find out the extent of their training and how current their practice is. Has it encompassed blood-borne infections, skin anatomy, contraindications, the safe disposal of sharps and emergency response?
There is more to it than qualifications.
SHB50321 is the vocational Diploma of Cosmetic Tattooing and SHBBSKS003 is a unit of training in infection prevention and control for skin penetration services. While the references put forward can be of some use in verifying a practitioner’s training, one would be unwise to consider the qualification an alternative to a state licence or council approval.
Do not put stock in what is written on social media; request actual proof. An artist who takes his or her work seriously will have no trouble putting forward evidence of insurance, premises approval and pigment records, as well as talking you through their infection-control methods and training. They will also know where to draw the line with a client.
| What To Check | Why It Matters | A Good Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Local council approval | It is an indication the premises has been put to the test of local requirements. | “The council are on our papers and we are up to date with our approval.” |
| Practitioner training | To confirm the operator has the necessary technical and safety skills. | “Let me show you our professional development, infection-control training and qualification.” |
| Needles and cartridges | To preclude any cross-contamination. | “After use they are disposed of; you will see us open the sterile cartridge right in front of you.” |
| Pigment records | For traceability in the event of a product issue or reaction. | “Date, batch, colour and brand of the pigment are all recorded by us.” |
| Aftercare | Early detection of complications and to safeguard healing skin. | “Should there be any concerns you have a contact pathway and we provide written instructions.” |
Hygiene And Infection Controls
There is no room for compromise with the practical hygiene standards of a cosmetic tattoo. The work area must be made ready and kept clean, single-use gloves worn and hands sanitised at the appropriate juncture so that contaminated and clean items do not come into contact. Reusable equipment needs to be properly sterilised and a needle is never to be used more than once. The modern operator will employ a sterile cartridge or other single-use needle, leaving it sealed until needed and then placing it in a sharps container.
Watch The Setup
An inspection of the area before anything is done is in order. One expects to find it orderly and without clutter, with the operator using barriers and a system for disposing of sharps. A packet of unlabelled pigment, a dusty fan and a kitchen bench are hardly the mark of a professional establishment, regardless of its following on social media.
Then there is personal hygiene. The operator should not be working with poor hand hygiene or active skin infections and cuts left exposed. They should be able to set out how blood or fluid contamination is dealt with and the protocol for if something clean is inadvertently handled. Such measures serve to lower the chances of bacterial or blood-borne infection though they do not eliminate risk altogether; even with good procedures in place, an infection can happen or skin can react.
Pigments And Ink Rules
Regulations around tattoo ink in Australia are prone to being misinterpreted given the various authorities involved in the supply chain. A pigment might be imported in full accordance with the law but that is no assurance it is fit for a lip tattoo or the right choice for every client.
Find out what the operator uses and if they have on hand the expiry details, batch numbers and labels. You want an explanation of storage, decanting and how unused product is put away. Do not go along with a bottle that has no label or a mix in a container with nothing to trace it back to.
Colour Is No Guarantee
Once healed a lip pigment may not be what it first seemed, the colour could soften with the swelling or need to be touched up later. That is where the technical side of tattooing comes in but good colour is no excuse for lax infection control.
Be sceptical of “chemical-free” or “risk-free” assertions, they are not to be believed. At the consultation put forward any medical history, allergies or past reactions and enquire as to the ingredients.
Before You Book
Safety with a lip tattoo is not something that begins when the needle is applied. The consultation ought to be thorough, covering everything from immune issues and pregnancy to medicines, cold sores and sensitivity.
Cold sores in particular warrant attention. With a history of herpes simplex the trauma to the lip can bring on an outbreak and the practitioner will want to know about it and have you consult a health professional on prevention. Do not put off telling them for fear of your appointment being called off, it is the way minor things get costly.
Postponement
If there are open cuts, rashes, unexplained swelling or an active cold sore, treatment may be put back. The same goes for after some cosmetic work or if a medicine is interfering with bleeding. But a practitioner should not be the one to tell you to discontinue prescribed medication of their own accord.
Side effects are a possibility, from redness, tenderness and swelling to bruising, scarring, an allergic response or simply results that do not meet with one’s approval. Uneven colour and infection can also occur. Should you experience any of the following then get medical attention without delay: pain that is getting worse, pus, fever, severe swelling, difficulty in breathing or redness that is spreading. These are emergency symptoms and warrant urgent care.
Healing And Aftercare
Any guidance on aftercare for a lip tattoo in Australia ought to be put in writing and be unambiguous. One should expect some tightness or swelling in the newly treated lips. As to how long healing will take it is individual; do not put stock in claims of a like-for-like outcome on a set schedule.
It is common for clients to be taken aback when the colour seems to have more intensity at first only to go lighter or patchy once the surface has healed. Do not hamper the process by picking at the lips, rubbing them or putting on something the practitioner has not sanctioned. Stick to what is written down and put a question to the practitioner before using anything else.
Put Some Protection On The Treated Area
- Hands must be washed prior to touching the lips and the aftercare product used should be the one put forward.
- Picking, scratching and scrubbing are to be avoided, as is the removal of flakes.
- Heed what you are told with respect to sun, swimming, exercise and cosmetics in the initial stages of healing.
- If there is no improvement or things get worse, make contact with the practitioner or a health professional.
There is no need to share towels or lip products while healing. Nor should one put home remedies to the test because a Facebook group member vouches for them; the internet is full of strong opinions on matters it has never had to treat.
Finding A Practitioner You Can Trust
An appointment of merit will be well run and not hurried. There is time to be had for questions, to have the procedure and costs made plain, to give your consent and to have a frank talk on the risks and what to expect in terms of maintenance.
The practicalities count as well. Put in place a stress free way home if the swelling is uncomfortable. For those making the trip from out of town, do not book in right before a weekend of socialising, a drive up the Stuart Highway or a lengthy flight.
A Checklist For Booking
- Verify the premises are approved or registered with the local council.
- Inquire as to the practitioner’s insurance, training and credentials.
- Make sure single-use gloves, sterile needle cartridges and proper sharps disposal are in evidence.
- How are the pigments recorded, stored and labelled?
- Put the practitioner in the picture on any allergies, cold sores, skin conditions or medicines you are on.
- Get the aftercare and your consent in writing to begin with.
Price and a good Instagram photo are not to be relied upon as safety checks by most people. A photograph will show the end product in ideal circumstances but says nothing about sterilisation, record-keeping or how a reaction is handled.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the law on tattooing in Australia?
The local council and state authority will have the answer before you book. Rules differ from one state or territory to another and can pertain to licensing, age, hygiene and operator approval.
Rules to follow post lip tattoo?
Keep the area and your hands clean and put off any activity or product that could compromise the skin. Adhere to the written instructions from the practitioner. Worsening pain, pus, fever or redness means you should see a doctor.
Is ink in Australia regulated?
To an extent. AICIS regulates the entry of industrial chemicals in the supply chain but that is no guarantee a pigment is fit for cosmetic use on the lips. Request traceability and batch information.
Cold sores?
Trauma to the lip can bring on an outbreak in those prone to them. Be open with the practitioner and do not hide the history. You may have to put off the treatment or get medical advice on prevention.
Does a qualification mean I am safe?
Not of itself. A certificate on the wall does not equate to safe practice. Look at the whole system: informed consent, council approval, the traceability of the pigment and aftercare.
Safety First
While cosmetic tattooing is a convenient matter of adding definition, the best course is to be fully informed. Ask the hard questions on hygiene and put contraindications on the table. If the answers are not there, walk away. Councils and regulations have a way of changing so check with the authority in your state or territory. It is worth the few extra minutes of a thorough consultation over having to account to a physician for “professional pigment” of unknown origin.
