WHILE TATTOOISTS in Somerville and Boston are struggling, it’s a different story in Cambridge. For evidence, just walk into the Garage in Harvard Square, an arcade-style emporium of Indian-style-clothing stores, jewelry stores, and restaurants where incense mingles with the smell of hot waffle cones from Ben & Jerry’s as soon as one enters. On the second floor, rock music from Newbury Comics blares as young people — no one over 30 seems to be within a half-mile radius — chat on cell phones, browse, talk, and drift by a sign that blares tattooing is here!!! It sits in front of the vaguely psychedelic-looking exterior of Chameleon Tattoo and Body Piercing, a shop that looks as if it’s been there since the ’60s. Prospective customers peruse the designs displayed on the walls and on laminated sheets arranged for easy browsing — zodiac symbols, hearts wrapped in thorns, religious imagery, babes on motorcycles, devils, angels. Name a design, and chances are you can find it here. Behind a small display case, the tattooed and pierced receptionist busily answers phone calls and arranges appointments for the walk-ins. Behind her, the health-department-issued licenses for each of the shop’s five tattoo artists and three body piercers are prominently displayed. It’s just another weekday afternoon, and the place, as usual, is jamming.

Chameleon Tattoo and Body Piercing, which has been in the Garage location for 23 years, was just a clothing, jewelry, and body-piercing establishment until February 1. That’s when the state lifted the temporary stay on tattooing that had been issued after the October ruling legalized the practice. Unlike Boston and Somerville, Cambridge allows body-art shops in commercial districts without zoning restrictions. As in all communities, these establishments are overseen by local health boards. " We worked very closely with the board of health, " says Chameleon owner Gil Del Castillo. " We met their requirements and everyone was satisfied. "

Even without zoning obstacles, Cambridge has not seen an influx of new tattoo parlors. In fact, Harold Cox, the chief public-health officer for the City of Cambridge, notes that Chameleon was the only applicant for body-art licenses after tattooing became legal. " We got lots of calls, but no applicants except for Chameleon. That was a surprise to us, " says Cox, whose office updated its regulations once it became clear that tattooing would be legalized in the Commonwealth. " There was no stampede. There is no zoning issue in Cambridge. Tattooing is nothing to be afraid of. If [other communities] are worried about kids, well, kids are going to find them no matter where they are, so what better place than the middle of Harvard Square? We might as well be responsible about this. I am not sure I understand the hoopla. "

Brookline doesn’t understand it either. Local health officials there, too, were ready with regulations in place once the stay was lifted on February 1. Like Cambridge, Brookline allows tattoo establishments in designated commercial districts and has seen no rush to open body-art shops along, say, Harvard Street. The board of health has fielded a few inquiries, but so far no one has applied to open a tattoo parlor. " If it’s zoned for commercial use, then fine, " says Pat Maloney, Brookline’s chief of environmental health. " It would be the same as a hair salon. If the area is commercially zoned, they need only to get a license from us and meet the health board’s criteria. The practitioners want to be regulated. It makes them more professional. "