If your CD4 count, which is basically a cellular measurement of your body’s ability to fight off infection, is low then there could be an increased risk of infection while your tattoo is healing. Most people with HIV get these levels checked pretty regularly, so they’d have an idea of when their immune system is back up and running to workable capacity. This would be the best time to to get some new ink done. Beyond that, there should be no real difference in the tattoo healing process for someone who has HIV.

No matter what you may have heard, it’s not super easy to contract or transmit HIV. Unless a tattoo artist or parlor is completely foregoing any and all sterilization and cleaning procedures, and reusing needles on clients, there’s no real risk of getting HIV through tattooing. This has everything to do with finding licensed artists and parlors, and making sure they’re reputable before you book.