'It's a TV show' Tattoo Fixers hit back at criticism about their 'hygiene standards'
THE stars of E4's Tattoo Fixers have blasted criticism of the show's hygiene standards, insisting that their studio practice is at a very high level.
The stars of Tattoo Fixers have hit back at criticism regarding the hygiene standards of the show
During the last series, the three artists were bombarded with complaints from fellow tattooists and participants, and a movement called 'F**k Tattoo Fixers' even began circulating within the industry.
However, ahead of the launch of Tattoo Fixers on Holiday, Sketch, one of the illustrators, hit back at claims that the show is unsanitary and unhygienic.
"They all look at what they see on the show, but what they forget is that it's a TV show," he told Digital Spy. "Who would want to tune in and watch us cleaning our tubes for an hour? They forget that it's a show.
"You'll see us come and pick up an ink cap with no gloves on - really, that was filmed earlier. It was just for an arty shot to look good. It's a TV show at the end of the day and all of our standards are so high.
The show has seen a number of complaints over the large designs
Jay Hutton insisted that the participants ask for the large tattoos
They all look at what they see on the show, but what they forget is that it's a TV show
"We have all these people come down and go, 'Right, that's got to be this, that's got to be that', and we have to stick to that high standard. It's just a shame that they don't get in their head that it's a TV show," he added.
Not only has Tattoo Fixers come under fire for its alleged sanitation malpractice, but it has been lambasted because small inkings are often covered up with huge designs.
Jay Hutton, who specialises in body art portraiture, insisted that the contestants ask for the large tattoos themselves rather than having it foisted upon them.
The Tattoo Fixers artists maintain that their hygiene standards are at a very high level
Freestyle Sketch - Tattoo Fixers
"If you watch the show and you watch the consultations in depth, people might have a tiny little tattoo but then they'll say, 'But I really want flowers going up my side' - that's what they want," he told the publication.
"Or I tattooed a lad who had a tiny little bit of writing on his hip, it's an easy little cover, you could do a little tattoo, but he said he wanted a silverback gorilla."
Alice Perrin - the only female artist - interjected: "If the customer said they wanted a small tattoo, we'd do a small tattoo. But a lot of the time they ask for it."
Tattoo Fixers on Holiday starts on July 26 at 9pm on E4.