Diploma of Cosmetic Tattooing cheat sheet

Consent must be written, dated, and obtained before any needle contacts skin; verbal consent alone is insufficient.

Client records are retained for a minimum period set by state/territory law, commonly 7 years for adults and 7 years past the age of 18 for minors.

A patch test for pigment or anaesthetic is documented with date, product, batch number, and observed reaction at 24-48 hours.

Skin anatomy order from surface: stratum corneum, epidermis, papillary dermis, reticular dermis, hypodermis; pigment is targeted in the papillary dermis.

Contraindications include active infection, isotretinoin use within 6 months, uncontrolled diabetes, keloid tendency, and pregnancy (elective deferral).

Bloodborne pathogen exposure protocol: wash with soap and water, apply antiseptic, report, and complete incident documentation the same day.

Scope of practice: cosmetic tattooing is not a medical procedure; referral is required for scar camouflage over active lesions or areola reconstruction post-surgery without clearance.

Sharps containers are filled to no more than three-quarters capacity and replaced when the fill line is reached.

Hand hygiene uses either soap-and-water wash for 40-60 seconds or alcohol-based rub for 20-30 seconds; rub is not used when hands are visibly soiled.

Single-use needles, cartridges, grips, caps, and pigment wells are discarded after each client; only autoclavable metal frames may be reused.

Sterilisation requires a validated autoclave cycle (commonly 121°C at 15 psi for 30 minutes or 134°C for 3-4 minutes) with cycle monitoring.

High-level disinfection is required for semi-critical items; low-level disinfectants are not acceptable for items contacting broken skin.

Pigment is decanted into single-use wells; never dip the needle back into the bottle, as this contaminates the stock.

PPE: gloves changed between clients and when torn or contaminated, plus mask, eye protection, and apron or gown for splash risk.

Work surfaces are cleaned, then disinfected with a TGA-listed hospital-grade disinfectant with the label contact time observed.

Waste streams: general, clinical, and sharps are separated; sharps and blood-contaminated waste go into rigid puncture-resistant containers.

Standard precautions apply to all clients regardless of perceived risk; transmission-based precautions are added when a known infection is present.

Brow mapping landmarks: medial start at the alar crease, arch apex at roughly two-thirds of the brow length, tail at the lateral canthus or alar crease diagonal.

Hair-stroke direction follows natural growth: medial hairs point upward and outward, body hairs point laterally, tail hairs point downward and outward.

Pigment for brows is typically cooler and more neutral than lip pigment; warm or red-based pigments can heal too warm on Fitzpatrick III-VI skin.

Needle choice: 1RL or 0.18-0.20 mm round liner for hair strokes; 3RL or magnum for powder/ombre shading.

Depth target is the papillary dermis; too shallow gives patchy retention, too deep causes blurring, spreading, and potential scarring.

Powder/ombre brows use layered low-opacity passes with a magnum; saturation builds gradually and cannot be reversed in-session.

Brow bone asymmetry is corrected by mapping to facial proportions rather than by matching the opposite brow exactly.

Healing follows a 4-7 day flake phase and a 4-6 week touch-up window; pigment appears 20-40% lighter after healing.

Lip anatomy: vermilion border, vermilion zone, wet line, Cupid's bow, philtrum, oral commissures; the wet line is not tattooed.

Lip pigment selection is influenced by natural lip undertone; cool blue-based lips can be neutralised with warm or peach modifiers.

Lip tissue is highly vascular and has no sebaceous glands, so pigment retention is faster and fading is quicker than brows.

Herpes simplex prophylaxis is a medical decision; clients with a history of cold sores are referred for antiviral advice before treatment.

Needle choice: 1RL for lip line definition, 3RL or 5RL for body shading; magnums are avoided on the lip body to prevent over-saturation.

Swelling peaks at 24-48 hours; ice packs wrapped in clean barrier material are applied intermittently.

Post-procedure healing: 3-5 days of peeling, colour appears 30-50% lighter after healing, and a touch-up is scheduled at 4-6 weeks.

Lip filler or injectables within 2 weeks are a relative contraindication; treatment is deferred to allow settling.

Upper eyeliner is placed along the lash line, not the waterline; the waterline (mucous membrane) is not treated with pigment.

Lash line depth is very shallow; the eyelid skin is 0.5 mm or less in places, so a 1RL or 0.18 mm needle is used with minimal pressure.

Lower eyeliner is placed just below the lash line on the skin, avoiding the conjunctiva and meibomian gland orifices.

Eye shields or protective barriers and lubricant are used to protect the globe; the client is asked to keep eyes closed and still.

Contraindications include active eye infection, recent LASIK (commonly 6 months), glaucoma with recent surgery, and uncontrolled dry eye.

Emergency: if pigment or chemical contacts the eye, irrigate with saline or water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical review.

Ocular anatomy landmarks: lacrimal punctum, tarsal plate, meibomian glands, conjunctiva, cornea; pigment must remain anterior to the tarsal plate margin.

Eyeliner healing: 5-7 days of flaking, colour softens 20-30%, and touch-up is at 4-6 weeks.

Scalp micropigmentation (SMP) replicates hair follicles using dots, not strokes; density and dot size determine the illusion of hair.

Needle choice: 1RL or 0.25-0.30 mm for follicle dots; larger needles produce blurred, unnatural dots.

Depth is shallow papillary dermis; too deep causes dots to spread and merge, producing a smudged appearance.

Pigment is matched to the client's hair colour, not skin tone; cool black or carbon-based pigments are common, with warm modifiers for grey blending.

Sessions are spaced 7-14 days apart, with 2-4 sessions typical for a full scalp; each session adds density.

Contraindications include active scalp infection, psoriasis or eczema in the treatment area, recent chemotherapy without clearance, and keloid tendency.

Scalp skin is thicker and more vascular than facial skin; bleeding is common and can reduce pigment retention.

Aftercare: no washing for 3-4 days, no sun exposure, no swimming or sauna for 2 weeks; fading is expected over 2-5 years.

Areola restoration is commonly performed after mastectomy or breast reconstruction; medical clearance from the treating surgeon is required.

The areola is mapped using the contralateral areola or, in bilateral cases, a proportional template based on breast dimensions.

Nipple projection can be simulated with shading and a darker central zone; a 3D effect uses a lighter outer ring and darker centre.

Pigment selection matches the contralateral areola; warm browns, pinks, and coral tones are common, and cool grey is avoided to prevent an unnatural hue.

Scar tissue over the reconstruction may have reduced sensation and altered pigment retention; a test patch is advisable.

Needle choice: 3RL or 5RL for the areola body, 1RL for the nipple detail; magnums may be used for large-area shading.

Sessions are spaced 4-6 weeks; 2-3 sessions are typical, and colour often fades 20-40% after healing.

Contraindications include active infection, unhealed surgical wounds, radiotherapy within 6-12 months without clearance, and uncontrolled diabetes.

Colour theory: pigment fades toward warmer or cooler tones depending on base; neutralising uses the complementary colour on the colour wheel.

Fitzpatrick skin types I-VI guide pigment selection and needle depth; higher types carry greater risk of hyperpigmentation and keloid formation.

Patch testing is documented for pigment and anaesthetic; a positive reaction defers treatment and prompts referral.

Needle gauge: smaller gauge (higher number) is finer and used for detail; larger gauge delivers more pigment per pass.

Machine voltage and stroke length affect pigment delivery; lower voltage reduces trauma, and a 2.5-3.5 mm stroke is typical for cosmetic work.

Aftercare: keep dry for 24-48 hours, avoid sun, sauna, swimming, and makeup over the area for 1-2 weeks, and do not pick flakes.

Complications include infection, granuloma, allergic reaction, scarring, and pigment migration; each requires documentation and referral as appropriate.

Business and legal: professional indemnity insurance, TGA-listed products, and compliance with state public health and skin penetration regulations are required.