(a) All artists while tattooing or body piercing shall wear clean outer garments, maintain a high degree of personal cleanliness, and conform to hygienic practices while on duty.
(b) All artists shall wash their hands thoroughly using hot or tempered water with a liquid germicidal soap before and after tattooing or body piercing and as often as necessary to remove contaminants.
(c) All artists shall wear single-use gloves while assembling tattooing and body piercing instruments and while tattooing and body piercing.
(d) When a session is interrupted or immediately after gloves are torn or perforated:
  (1) gloves shall be removed and discarded; and
  (2) hands shall be washed and a fresh pair of gloves used.
(e) Artists shall use universal precautions while tattooing or body piercing. An artist diagnosed with a communicable disease shall provide to the department a written statement from a health care practitioner that the artist's condition no longer poses a threat to public health.
(f) The area of the client's skin to be tattooed shall be cleaned with an approved germicidal soap according to label directions.
(g) The external skin of the client to be pierced shall be cleaned with an approved germicidal soap according to label directions. In the case of oral piercings, the operator shall provide the individual with antiseptic mouthwash in a single-use cup and shall ensure that the individual utilizes the mouthwash provided. In the case of a lip, labret, or cheek piercing, procedures described in this paragraph for both skin and oral piercings shall be followed.
(h) If shaving is required, razors shall be single-use. The razor or razor's head must be placed in a biohazard container after use.
(i) Each artist performing any tattoo or body piercing procedure in the studio or temporary location, shall have the education, training and experience, or any combination thereof, to practice aseptic technique and prevent the transmission of bloodborne pathogens. All procedures shall be performed using aseptic technique.

Source Note: The provisions of this §229.405 adopted to be effective April 23, 2000, 25 TexReg 3272; amended to be effective January 1, 2005, 29 TexReg 11982