BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Cleaning his station, John Nichols, works with intent. Nichols, along with LeMegan Shilton, co-founded Clean Lines in 2020. It’s a tattoo and piercing parlor that cultivates a sobriety community. 

Nichols has been a tattoo artist for over 25 years. When he went through recovery from alcohol three years ago, he struggled to pursue his career while also staying sober. 

“Drugs and alcohol, they are there. You can’t smell a pill. So what you’re not seeing doesn’t mean it ain’t happening,” Nichols said. 

His wife, Amanda Nichols, saw him struggle with the idea of not continuing his career as a tattoo artist. So, she started doing some research and found that there was a tattoo parlor in Michigan, which publicly marketed itself as a sober shop. So, when the opportunity came up, the Nichols and Shilton jumped on the opportunity to open up their own. 

“What if we were a tattoo shop that was sober, clean and sober and you can control your environment and you can control who works there, and you can control who comes and goes,” Amanda Nichols said. 

John Nichols says that staying sober has improved his ability to perform his craft. He can better connect with his clients. 

“Being able to talk to them and have that relationship to help guide them and go ahead and discuss it with them.”

Amanda says being sober while the piercing is also imperative. 

“To pierce someone’s ears, nose, and lips, you should be clean and sober just like for any other job out there that requires drug tests which we do require here.”

Shilton, who owns the piercing part of the shop, is studying for her master’s degree in drug and alcohol therapy.  

“We are recovering out loud, to let other people know that it’s okay to seek that and to let other people know that this is the quality of work.” 

To continue their efforts, Clean Line Tattoos hosts free recovery yoga weekly at their shop.