Nearly 30 percent of Americans have at least one tattoo, according to a Harris poll released earlier this year. When one of these millions of people considers donating blood, the American Red Cross advises waiting 12 months after receiving a tattoo in a state that does not regulate tattoo facilities, a list that includes Massachusetts.

A friend brought this information to my attention and asked me to investigate. Her basic question: Our state regulates hair stylists but not tattoo artists?

The good news for consumers thinking about laying down some cash for a tattoo is that the body art business is not quite the free-for-all the Red Cross guidelines might lead one to fear. It is true there is no regulation at the state level, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed. But towns and cities have the authority to implement their own rules. Many have done so, including Boston, Cambridge, Worcester, and Lowell.

Furthermore, the state has issued a comprehensive set of model regulations that municipalities can use as a template for their own rulemaking. These suggested regulations include guidelines for facility cleanliness, equipment storage, instrument sterilization, hygiene practices, and procedures for obtaining proper consent from customers. Though rules vary, most communities with regulations in place require tattoo artists to have taken classes in anatomy and physiology, blood-borne pathogens, CPR, and first aid; many also call for body art practitioners to have at least two years of experience.

This patchwork system presents a challenge to consumers looking to get a tattoo without compromising their peace of mind. A few ways to make the process as painless as a practice involving needles can be:

■ Do the legwork. Contact the public health department in the city where your potential tattoo artist works to find out what requirements practitioners are subject to.

■ When you visit the tattoo studio, look for signs of proper hygiene: sharps containers for used needles, autoclaves for sanitizing equipment, latex gloves.

■ Go ahead and splurge. Sure, frugality is a virtue, but don’t put cost savings above cleanliness and comfort when it comes to a tattoo.

■ Be patient. Once you decide to take the plunge, it is easy to get caught up in the moment and pop into the nearest tattoo studio. But take your time and be ready to walk if the facility you choose seems to be cutting corners. A tattoo is forever; it can wait another week.

Have a consumer question or complaint? Reach Sarah Shemkus at sarah.shemkus@gmail.com.