I just have to say that I am new to this whole blogging thing, now with that being said, I will try to make my blog as informational as I possibly can. I am an experienced tattoo artist of some 13 years and in that course of time I have seen and learned quite a lot. As most professional tattoo artist will agree, there are a lot of home design tattoos being done out their, and as some of them may look to be quality work, they are still not safe. To do tattoos at home, on non porous surfaces among a wide variety of things just is dangerous...
   I do get the fact that most people want to get a good deal, and they think that most shops are charging way to much. The fact is the cost of doing business" Tattoos" professionally is quite expensive for us artist.... The cost of renting the building, paying, electric, utilities, supplies, employees, license, insurance among a wide variety of other things. To simply keep the doors open on an average shop can cost in excess of $5,000.00. That money doesn't grow on trees! So in the grand scheme of things the prices are relative to the cost of doing business. The artist themselves make an average living as if they were a construction worker.
   But, I do get where it can be tempting to go where some Joe Nanny says he'll do the same tattoo for $50.00 vs where a shop told you $300.00, It is tempting, but also very very dangerous. There are more than 20 diseases you can catch from unsanitary conditions and cross contamination issues and at least 3 to 5 of those is or can be fatal.
    Here is some odds for you that may help you put a few things into perspective. The chances of you contracting something from a quality, reputable tattoo shop is 1:1,000,000,000,000.... , you would have a better chance of winning the lottery three five times in a row. Now the odds for contracting something from a kitchen scratcher" home tattooist" is 1:4,000  .....you have the same odds of chipping a nail each day. All I'm trying to say is if you get a tattoo by someone at your or his house, or any wheres that is not a professional atmosphere, it is very dangerous and can kill you.

For more information on this epidemic (scratchers and other unprofessional practices) within our tattoo industry please go to any of the links below......

http://www.tattooartistunited.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tattoo-Artist-United/351957421483773