There are just few regulations covering tattooing other than the laws requiring that minors are not to be tattooed or in same states only with parental permission. However, every professional tattoo parlor must be licensed. This happens when all the artists in the studio qualify by completing a health department course on infectious disease transmission and pass an exam. Unfortunately businesses aren't inspected regularly and the law allows anyone to acquire a tattoo machine, get a license and start tattooing whether they have to ability to do it or not. Most reputable tattoo artists object to this situation too. Here are just a few tips you can remember to ensure choosing a save tattoo studio:
- Take a look around in the studio. See if the studio is clean, artists wear gloves, and the studio looks professional. That says a lot already!
- Ask the artists questions. Ask if they have an autoclave, if the needles and other materials they are using are single use, if they are using EPA approved disinfectants and so on. If it is a legitimate parlor they will not mind answering those questions.
- Watch the artist when applying a tattoo to be sure safety procedures are being followed.
- Memberships in professional organizations are voluntarily but most artists do participate in one anyway. Those who participate are always better informed about safety issues and innovations.