How Old do You Have to Be to Get Tattoos?-Tattoos are beautiful and fashionable art designed on any part of the body, and while some people do it for fashion, some others have very different reasons for having tattoos. Some people want a trade mark, some people want to leave a message, some people get tattoos to show love for their favorite celebrities, while some people get it for no reason at all.
If you are here you are probably a teenager who wants to get a tattoo very bad. Unfortunately, the law in most states and countries do not allow people below age sixteen or eighteen to get a tattoo, while some countries do not allow tattoos at all.
While tattoos are really nice, if you are a youngster below twenty years you should really consider a lot of things before deciding to get one. To get tattoos is a piece of cake, as there are illegal tattoo shops that will draw tattoos for you as a teenager, not regarding the law.
However, if you are new to tattoos, you must consider a lot of factors. There are different types of tattoos, the side effects or the changes you may see as the tattoos grow older, there are permanent tattoos and erasable ones, tattoo erasures using lasers may have side effects and many other things.
Do you like tattoos only because of the beauty? You must consider a lot of things before deciding to get tattoos, especially as a teenager.
This article will explain all legal bindings for different countries that determine how old you have to be to get tattoos. It will also explain what getting a tattoo actually means, and some tattoo ideas for teenagers.
How Old do you Have to be to get Tattoos?
The age for getting tattoos depends on the legal status of tattooing in your country and state, so we will be starting generally.
For countries like the United Kingdom and the United States of America, you have to be eighteen years old to get tattoos. There is no actual federal law regulating the drawing of tattoos in the United States of America, but all the states in the country have regulations that do not allow anyone less than eighteen years old to get tattoos without the consent of their parents.
If you are not eighteen years old yet, you need to have consent of your guardian. This is because of the law that says that you cannot enter into a legal contract without being eighteen years old, as you are considered a minor. This article focuses on the United States of America, and for most other countries in the world, you need to be eighteen before you can get a tattoo.
Why?
Getting a tattoo is often considered a contract between you and the tattoo artist. A minor cannot get into a legal binding or contract or give consent to a procedure. Generally, any person below eighteen is considered a minor so you cannot get a tattoo when you are still a minor, without the consent of your parents.
How old do you have to be to get Tattoos in America?
For the fifty states in America, the rules guiding the practice of tattooing are very similar but may have slight modifications regarding guardian or parent consent.
Most of the states in America allow tattooing for persons under eighteen years only with the permission of a guardian or parent, while some states do not allow tattoos for people under sixteen regardless of parental consent. Some states require long procedures of age validation and consent before you can get a tattoo as a minor.
There are also tattoo artists that will refuse to give you a tattoo if you are less than eighteen or draw tattoos on certain parts of your body, which is an act based on their own moral conviction. There are many shops like that, making it difficult for persons less than eighteen to get tattoos.
If you are also intoxicated, most American tattoo artists will refuse to draw you a tattoo. Some of the artists also will not give you a tattoo if you want a design that is offensive or really weird and you seem a minor.
How old do you have to be to get Tattoos in the States of America?
This section will explain how old you have to be to get tattoos in some of the states in America. We will only be reviewing about ten states. However, the general rule is that you have to be eighteen to get tattoos or piercings. If you are less than eighteen, you need parental consent and there may be medical regulations.
Alabama
How old do you have to be to get tattoos in Alabama?
In Alabama, there is no specified minimum age for getting tattoos but if you are a minor, written consent is required from your guardian and it must be done in the presence of the tattoo artist or their agent.
Intoxicated persons cannot be tattoos, pierced or branded in Alabama.
Alaska
How old do you have to be to get tattoos in Alaska?
In Alaska, only persons above eighteen are allowed to get piercings, but you can get tattoos as a minor if you get parental or guardian consent. The consent must be written and in presence of the tattoo artist. Your guardian or parent must also be present during your tattoo or piercing procedure, and intoxicated or impaired persons are not restricted from getting tattoos.
The law also states that minors “may” be pierced, but it may take a long process as your age has to be validated, parental awareness and consent, and medical procedures may be required.
Arizona
To get tattoos in Arizona, you must be naturally above eighteen even though it is not exactly stated and if you are less than eighteen, you need the consent and presence of your parents.
There are also no restrictions for intoxicated or impaired persons. There are not medical requirements or regulations for tattoo artists in Arizona.
Arkansas
Arkansas is one of the states in America with the strictest laws regulating tattoos for minors. If you are less than eighteen years of age, you absolutely cannot get tattoos. Parents or guardians cannot give consent to the tattooing of their children or wards, and tattoo artists who give tattoos to anyone below age eighteen risks punishment by the law.
Intoxicated or impaired piercings cannot be given tattoos, pierced or branded.
California
How old do you have to be to get tattoos in California?
Tattooing practice is well regulated in California. To get tattoos, you must be up to eighteen years of age.
However, even if you are less than eighteen years, you can get your ears and certain other parts of your body pierced. According to the law, minors may be pierced with parental consent but not on in their nipples or genital parts.
Delaware
To get tattoos in Delaware, you need written consent from your parents; it must be presented to the tattoo artist or the agents. Intoxicated or impaired people cannot be branded, pierced or tattooed.
Florida
Florida is a little lenient and strict at the same time with the required age to get tattoos. Anyone above the age of sixteen can get tattoos in Florida. For persons less than sixteen, the presence of your parents or guardian is required. The parent or guardian must also be able to show proof of parenthood or guardianship.
Both the parent and the minor must present photo IDs and there are medical regulations.
New York
In New York, minors can get piercings without the written consent of their parents. However, to get tattoos, you must be eighteen years old. If you are less than eighteen, you are considered a minor and will need written parental or guardian consent to get tattoos.
Kansas
Kansas is one of the few states in the United States that allow any person above age 16 to get tattoos. Minors may have their ears pierced and the parent or guardian must be present during the tattooing procedure and their consent is required. There are no legal restrictions stopping tattoos for impaired persons in Kansas.
Louisiana
Louisiana also allows persons above age sixteen to get tattoos. Anyone less than age sixteen is a minor and cannot get tattoos without the consent and presence of the parents.
However, body piercings for certain parts of the body are allowed for minors without the need for the presence of their parents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about how old you have to be to get tattoos.
This depends on the country you reside in. For most countries, you cannot get a tattoo at fifteen unless your parents or guardian give their consent.
If you are in the United States, there are states that allow you to get a tattoo if you are sixteen years old. If you are less that sixteen, you need the consent and presence of your parent or guardian.
In the United Kingdom, you cannot get a tattoo unless you are eighteen years old. Any tattoo artists that draws tattoos for any one less than eighteen will be prosecuted.
Conclusion
Tattoos are usually a beautiful sight to behold, making many people ask questions like, “how old do you have to be to get tattoos? Can a twelve year old get a tattoo? Can I get a tattoo at fifteen?”
However, tattooing is not a slight decision to make. Even if your state allows you to get a tattoo at sixteen, it is better to wait till you are eighteen to avoid a “buyer’s remorse”.
This article explains how old you have to be to get tattoos for many states, few countries and generally.
References
Wikipedia.org
Quora.com
Ironinktattoo.com
Hugateen.com
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