The tattoo industry has undergone significant transformations in safety and professionalism since the 1960s and 70s, largely due to the efforts of key advocates for health regulations and training. In those early days, tattooing practices were far from the standards we consider safe and professional today. Artists often worked without gloves, used unsanitary equipment, and operated in environments that lacked basic health standards. For example, it was common for tattoo artists to dip sponges into metal buckets of water to clean the skin—a practice that would be deemed unacceptable by today’s standards.

In this episode of Chats and Tatts, host Aaron Della Vedova sits down with Cathy Montie, a pivotal figure in this transformation, who shares her experiences from those early years, highlighting the chaotic and often unsafe conditions under which tattoos were performed. She recounted how her husband, Gil Montie, tattooed in their living room and later in a makeshift studio within an oil change shop, illustrating the lack of formal training and regulation at the time.

Tune in for an insightful look at tattoo history and the ongoing commitment to safety and professionalism in the industry.

Chat Highlights:

00:01:06 - Evolution of Tattooing from the 60s to Today

00:01:28 - Importance of Safety in Tattoo Industry

00:02:28 - Challenges of Regulating Tattoo Industry

00:03:31 - Cathy Montie's Bloodborne Pathogen Course

00:06:01 - Moving to Vegas and Tattooing with Doc Dog

00:09:03 - Tattoo Shows and Traveling Lifestyle

00:12:39 - Tattoo Forefathers

00:14:32 - Tattooing on the Carnival Circuit

00:18:14 - Working on the Movie Bound for Honor

00:19:16 - Evolution of Fake Tattoos in Movies

00:20:27 - Influence of Movies on Tattoo Culture

00:22:26 - Early Safety Practices and Needle Sterilization

00:25:01 - Tattooing in the Early 90s in Los Angeles

00:27:14 - Working with Freddy at Ratatatoo

00:29:30 - Leaving Ratatatoo and Moving to Isla Vista

00:32:31 - Opening Absolute Tattoo in San Diego

00:40:13 - Benefits of Retractable Cartridges

00:42:14 - Kathy's Role in Regulatory Changes

00:43:54 - Current Issues with Ink Regulations in Europe and the US

Quotes:

"How many of you out there would be going into tattoo shops and getting all these tattoos if they were run like they were run in the 60s?"

"How crazy is that? Just grabbing someone's bare skin with your hands and cutting into them with a tattoo machine."

"All it takes is a handful of really bad shops, somebody gets sick, somebody gets hurt, and now we've got some major problems on many levels."

"To enjoy our business. We are in the most amazing business we could be in, working with the public."

Connect with Cathy: IG:  @cathymontie_bbp