The regulations should be terminated, or at least amended. With the current regulations, the seperation of "regular" tattooing from "permanent makeup" tattooing is rediculous. They are both tattooing, permanent makeup is more precise and detailed oriented but so are the latest tattooing techniques in general.All the regulations do is add costs and agravation to an industry that for centuries has done very well on its own without government regulations. No matter how you learn the trade, aprenticeships or schools.... they all teach you about sanitation and cleanliness, If it is someone who decided to teach themselves, and they don't care about sanitation, they won't be in business long! If you walk into any shop that looks un-clean and you still are willing to take a chance... that is freedom of choice and or just plain stupidity. It should not be your job to "protect" everyone.

The industry self regulates by the work done and the end results. Let the artists be artists! It only hurts the industry the more it is regulated, alot of great artists are not paperwork pushers, and they are the ones who pay the price of not being able to do what they love and are very good at. Regulations kill the creativity level of the proffession. It only weeds out those who are willing to do the Continuing ed classes - of which, say the same thing over and over, there really hasn't been anything new that the ce's cover,.they just ad more costs and agravation to keep up with them. If there is anything new the industry has its own way of getting the word out, ie; conventions, publications etc.

Quit over-regulating the industry, that also applies to

Hair Braiding??? what do you have to regulate for hair braiding as a specialty.

Body Piercing - same as usually part of the Tattoo shop.

Wax Technitions - similar to hair braiding?

Esthetics - Again, if you screw up you won't be in business long, and the client can still sue you! Regulations or not, that option will never change.

Thank You for listening.

While I am not in total agreement with the new regulations imposed on the tattoo industry, I have accepted the fact that the Commonwealth of Virginia feels them necessary and I will, of course, comply.  The problem is not the legitimate tattoo studio's that have been successfully operating and self-regulating for 20 years.  The real problem is the scratchers that tattoo from their kitchen table and make the rounds at "tattoo parties" tattooing from someone else's kitchen table.  No one, including the scratchers customers, knows if he sterilizes his tubes or even cleans them at all.  Why is the focus on legitimate shops and not on the one's that are truly endangering the public?  When I put this question to someone who should know, the answer was "you guys are easier to find".  I contend that this is a pathetic answer and if you are really interested in protecting the public then you're going to have to do the hard work.  Just because we are easy to find doesn't mean we are the one's to look for.