Popular within the punk genre as a statement against the status quo, the trend of DIY and stick-and-poke tattoos going mainstream is almost inconceivably ironic. From influencers posting how-to videos on YouTube to  celebrities sharing their artwork, the "cool" factor has been lost in translation for this dangerous practice (via Hypebeast and Stick and Poke Tattoo). For people in-the-know, that's a good thing. 

Board certified dermatology physician assistant, Jamie Kim, explained to Dazed Digital that at-home tattoos are a bad idea, period. And getting any tattoo, stick-and-poke or otherwise, should be reserved for trained professionals in a sterile environment. Kim added, [Tattoo artists] are trained to avoid cross contamination and thus avoid causing infections and spreading bloodborne pathogens such as Hepatitis B and C. Even though you might think you're sterilizing your equipment with alcohol, sometimes it's not enough to destroy certain bacteria and viruses." 

Celebrity tattoo artist JonBoy agrees, stressing to the outlet that at-home stick-and-poke kits are incredibly dangerous and do not give unlicensed persons the green-light to safely tattoo. He explains, "Believe me, I'm all about keeping the art of tattooing alive, but having easy access to the tools is very irresponsible. If we've learned anything from this pandemic we've learned that viruses live among us and if we're not careful we can do more harm than not when dealing with our health. When you are working with bloodborne pathogens it's really crucial that you are properly trained and educated to minimize any risks of spreading any kind of bacteria or viruses."