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Opening tattoo shops is not just about pasting a few designs over the walls and getting some supplies. It requires dedication and an adherence to regulations just as many establishments must do. Good tattoo shops foster a relationship between tattoo artist and client very similar to that of a hair stylist and his or her client. A level of trust must be attained and an air of professionalism. There is a distinct difference between the calibers of quality you will find amongst the varying shops and it pays to be informed.

Great tattoo shops maintain a strict set of codes regulating their sanitary conditions. The United States Department of Health requires that blood born pathogens or instruments be disposed of properly. The artist stations are maintained and kept clean at all times. The tattoo shops artists should hang their licenses in prominent places and always be up to date.

The parlor should foster a sense of comfort yet be professional. The best places feature custom designs and in order to get in, an appointment must be made. The price tag associated with these tattoo shops will be considerably more but there is more guarantee of quality work versus the assembly line process of many tattoo shops.

Another great tip when searching for a place to get tattoos and piercings is to do a search online to see if there have been any lawsuits filed against the establishment. There have recently been several lawsuits filed against negligent owners for not enforcing sanitary conditions. One such lawsuit came about in Riverside County in California. A man was infected with a flesh-eating bacterium when the tattoo artist used unsanitary equipment on a cover up of a previous tattoo.

Hepatitis C is a common affliction associated with poor sanitary conditions found in many tattoo shops. It is a blood born pathogen that can come from used needles. It is estimated that more infections come from commercial tattoo shops than from intravenous drug users. The numbers keep rising with the rise in people getting tattoos.

The business should also be found in a safe neighborhood. This goes back to the sanitary conditions aspect of the establishment. A good rule of thumb is whether or not a person would feel safe walking the block. If an armed escort is needed then it might be wise to pass on getting a needle stuck into the skin. If the owner does not care about their surroundings it is a good indication of the level of service offered. There can be exceptions to this though.

It takes more than a tattoo machine to make up great tattoo shops. The tattoo artist must take into consideration safety and sanitation but also look towards keeping their customers happy. A happy, satisfied customer is the best advertisement any shop can have. There is never a thing as having too many customers but there is such a thing as bad press and it is not what a tattoo shop wants.

Reputable tattoo shops want to keep their business going. They want new customers and know that keeping people healthy should be their main concern. After all, bad reviews are not good press and can end a business owner's profits considerably.