Can you be 17 and get a tattoo

Tattoo and body piercing shops are regulated by the government. However, that doesn't mean all shops are created the same. It's important to do a little investigating to make sure an establishment is following proper procedures.

Check to see if the shop looks clean. Ask about the professional's license, training, and experience. Don't be shy about asking questions before making any decisions. You also might ask to observe what goes on in the shop when someone else gets a piercing or tattoo. If you think your teen may be tempted to get some body art or body modification, talk about it. Rather than simply forbidding it, learn why your teen is interested in a tattoo or specific piercing.

Be willing to listen to your teen's opinions and ideas, even if you don't agree with them. After they have stated their case, you can share your opinion. Educate yourself about the potential risks and talk to your teen about the dangers, such as infection, as well as the social consequences. A facial piercing may affect their ability to get a job or a tattoo may limit employment opportunities.

If you aren't comfortable with the idea of your teen getting a tattoo or piercing, you might be able to settle on an alternative option, like a henna tattoo or an extra ear piercing. But if you can't find a compromise and you're not willing to give in, make sure your teen is informed.

With information about the available options and the pros and cons of each, your child can make an educated decision. Whether or not you agree with their choice, you'll be able to rest assured that you did your job as a parent by providing guidance to your teen. Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy.

National Conference of State Legislatures. Tattooing and body piercing: State laws, statutes, and regulations. Updated March 13, Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellFamily. Create Account. This website uses cookies to analyze traffic and for other purposes. You consent to the use of cookies if you use this website.

Continue Our online privacy policy. Regulation of Tattooing, Branding, and Body Piercing. Prohibits anyone from performing a tattoo, brand or body piercing on a minor unless prior written informed consent is obtained from the minor's parent or legal guardian. Tattooing and Body Piercing-Establishes that it is unlawful to either tattoo or pierce anyone under age 18 without the physical presence of the parent or legal guardian. Body Piercing, Branding, and Tattooing.

Tattooing and Body Piercing-Prohibits anyone from doing "body art" tattooing, piercing or branding on a minor without the written consent and presence of one of the minor's parents, a guardian or a custodian. Alaska Stat. Tattooing-Establishes that it is unlawful to practice tattooing and permanent cosmetic coloring on a minor. Body Art. The California Conference of Local Health Officers shall establish sterilization, sanitation, and safety standards for persons engaged in the business of tattooing, body piercing, or permanent cosmetics.

Tattooing-Establishes that it is a misdemeanor for any person to tattoo or offer to tattoo anyone under age Body Piercing-Prohibits anyone from performing or offering to perform a piercing upon anyone under age 18 unless the piercing is performed in the presence of a parent or guardian or as directed and notarized by the minor's parent or guardian.

Does not apply to emancipated minors and does not include pierces of the ear. Tattooing and Body Piercing-Prohibits anyone from performing a body art procedure on a minor unless the artist has received express consent from the minor's parent or guardian. Tattooing-Establishes that it is illegal to tattoo an unemancipated minor under age 18 without the permission of the minor's parent or guardian. It is unlawful for a person to perform body art procedures unless the person is licensed by and registered with the Mayor to perform body art procedures.

Also establishes that body art procedures are prohibited on persons under 18 years of age, except ear piercing using a mechanized, pre-sterilized single-use stud and ear clasp gun. Establish standards for the sanitary operation of tattoo parlors and body piercing establishments.

For purposes of this paragraph, "tattoo parlor" means a person or business that makes permanent marks on human skin by puncturing the skin and inserting an indelible color or by producing scarring. Tattooing and Body Piercing- It is illegal for a person to either knowingly or negligently tattoo or pierce a minor without the prior written consent of the adult parent or legal guardian.

Tattooing Prohibited; Penalty. It is unlawful for any person to tattoo the body of any human being; except that tattoing may be performed by a person licensed to practice medicine or dentistry, or by a person under the general supervision as defined by Board of Medicine.

Tattooing-Requires written, notarized consent of a minor's parent or legal guardian in order to tattoo a minor. Tattooing-Prohibits the tattooing of anyone under age 18 by anyone other than a licensed osteopath or technician acting under the direct supervision of a licensed physician or osteopath. Tattooing of Minors. Tattooing any person under the age of eighteen without the written consent of the person's parent or legal guardian or not maintaining the consent forms in a confidential manner at the tattoo shop for not less than two years.

Tattooing and Body Piercing-Prohibits the tattooing, branding or body piercing of minors under the age of Prohibits the tattooing, branding or body piercing of anyone between the ages of 14 and 18 without the written informed consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian.

Written informed consent must be executed in the presence of the person performing the act or an employee or agent of that person. Piercing of the earlobes and piercing for medical purposes are exempted from this legislation. Provides for public health, safety and welfare requirements for tattoo and body piercing establishments. Tattooing-It is a Class A misdemeanor for anyone other than a person licensed to practice medicine in all branches to tattoo or offer to tattoo a person under age It is also a Class A misdemeanor to allow a person under 18 years of age to remain on the premises where tattoos are being performed or offered without a parent or legal guardian.

Prohibits the act of performing or offering to perform scleral tattooing. Provides an exception for the act of a licensed health care professional when the act is performed in the scope of the health care professional's practice.

Tattoo and Body Piercing. Provides a guide for the sanitary operations of tattoo and body piercing facilities in Indiana. Tattooing and Body Piercing of a Minor - Requires a minor's parent or legal guardian to be present in order to either tattoo or perform a body piercing on a minor under age Requires the parent or guardian to also provide written permission for the minor to receive the tattoo or piercing.

Tattooing Establishments and Tattoo Artists. Permit and operational requirements for tattooing establishments and tattoo artists. Tattoo, Body Piercing and Cosmetic Tattoo. No person, including a tattoo artist, cosmetic tattoo artist or body piercer, shall perform tattooing, cosmetic tattooing or body piercing on another person, display a sign or in any other way advertise or purport to be a tattoo artist, cosmetic tattoo artist or body piercer unless that person holds a valid license issued by the board.

Requires the individual who performs the body piercing to keep a copy of the written permission on file for a period of five years. Violators are guilty of a class A misdemeanor. The program registers tattoo artists and body and ear piercers and certify studios. Tattooing and Body Piercing of a Minor - Prohibits anyone from tattooing or piercing minors without the written, notarized consent of a parent or guardian. Commercial Body Art. Each facility engaging in tattooing, body-piercing, or other CBA activities is required to be permitted in accordance with these regulations and each person performing said tasks must be registered with the state.

Shops will be fine doing basic work such as an ear piercing and nose piercing. However, other body modification requests such as tongue rings and navel piercings may get denied even with consent of a parent.

Each state differs in what they require of minors to get tattoos or piercings, and even if minors with tattoos or piercings are socially accepted, you should educate yourself on all the legal, health, and social factors before getting them. Thought it may seem unfair at the time, these laws have been put into place for good reasons. Typically, it is not a good idea to get your first tattoo as a minor. Most people who get a tattoo at a very young age regret it as they get older. If you are dead set on getting a tattoo as a minor, I highly suggest getting small tattoos rather than something that is very large.

Each state has developed its own laws and regulations over the years See below for a list of laws by state , and there are some states where a minor can go to get a tattoo or piercing legally if their parent or guardian signs a written document giving a minor their consent to do so.

There are a few states, however, that as a minor require you to explicitly have notarized written consent from your parent or guardian to get tattoos or piercings, meaning your parent or guardian has to be with you at the time they sign a form giving their written consent. While there are some states that require written consent, others require a little more than a signed document from a parent or guardian to legally authorize their minor wanting to get a tattoo or piercing.

Even if you are able to get consent from a parent, I recommend taking your birth certificate and any other valid ID with you to the tattoo parlor so you can prove your age.

For certain medical reasons, such as radiation therapy or being able to tell which twin needs their medicine , babies can get tattoos by their parents. Outside of this, most people in society usually feel uneasy about tattooing a baby.

Most people view piercings as potentially less harmful or to possibly leave less permanent damage in comparison to tattoos, so a baby having pierced ears is more socially acceptable. This view is reflected in many state laws that have fewer legal regulations on minors getting piercings when compared to the laws that regulate tattoos for minors.

The American Academy of Pediatrics AAP recommends a baby be at least 2 months old to pierce their ears so their body can better react to infection. At this age, babies also have a hard time localizing pain, which can make the piercing somewhat easier on them if piercing their ears is something you really want to do.

Authorities can also revoke the license of the person or parlor who tattoos minors without legal authorization, which negatively affects their business. In Florida, a grandfather lost custody of his year-old grandson because they had a family tradition of getting their initials tattooed on their right leg at a young age. As many cultures around the world view people who have tattoos before a certain age as inappropriate, social norms have driven most people to naturally not want a tattoo before a certain stage in their life.

Actions like lying or misrepresenting your age to get a tattoo though may be viewed with an opposite reaction, especially legally. Yes, parents can give their baby tattoos or piercings if they have a medical or dental reason. Laws by each state in the United States Alabama Tattoos — Parental consent is required for anyone under 18 years of age.

Body Piercings — Parental consent is required for anyone under 18 years of age. Alaska Tattoos — Prohibited even with parental consent for under-aged individuals. Arizona Tattoos — Parental consent is required for anyone under 18 years of age.

Parent must be present. Arkansas Tattoos — Parental consent is required for anyone under 18 years of age. California Tattoos — Prohibited even with parental consent for under-aged individuals. Colorado Tattoos — Parental consent is required for anyone under 18 years of age. Connecticut Tattoos — Parental consent is required for anyone under 18 years of age.

Delaware Tattoos — Parental consent is required for anyone under 18 years of age. Florida Tattoos — Parental consent is required for anyone under 18 years of age. Georgia Tattoos — Prohibited even with parental consent for under-aged individuals.

Hawaii Tattoos — Parental consent is required for anyone under 18 years of age. Body Piercings — Varies based on location of piercing. Idaho Tattoos — Prohibited for anyone under the age of Parental consent can be given for anyone years old. Body Piercings — Prohibited under the age of Consent needed for ages years of age.

Illinois Tattoos — Prohibited for all minors unless the work is completed by a physician. Indiana Tattoos — Parental consent is required for anyone under 18 years of age.