Thinking about getting a body piercing, tattoo, manicure/pedicure, or permanent cosmetics? Like HIV, both hepatitis B and C can be spread by direct contact with the blood of an infected person. Because piercing, tattoo equipment and inks, and manicure/pedicure tools can come into contact with blood, and since there’s no way to know whether the person ahead of you was infected, it is crucial to ensure your service provider takes the proper infection control precautions between clients.