Can You Get a Tattoo at 16? Things to Know

Having a tattoo is now very common among young people. But have you wondered can you get a tattoo at 16?

The good news is you can get a tattoo at 16 in most states with parental consent.

There are a few steps required. Finding a trustworthy tattoo artist who will work with a person under the age of 18 requires some research first. Additionally, a parent or guardian must give their consent and be present while getting the tattoo.

You should read this post if you’re serious about getting tattooed at the age of 16! Everything you require to know will be covered.

Let’s get started!

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Can You Get a Tattoo at 16?

Many people may want to know: can you get tattoos at 16?

To get a tattoo, you typically need to be at least 18 years old. However, most states allow minors as young as 16 to get tattoos with parental consent, there are also a few states that has 16 as the legal age limit for getting tattoos.

How does parental approval operate? Most of the time, a consent form must be signed by your parent or legal guardian before you can get the tattoo. Your ID may be requested by the performer in order to verify your age.

You cannot get inked until you are 18 if you reside in one of the unfortunate US states that prohibit minors from getting tattoos, even with parental consent.

These states include Alaska, California, and D.C., Iowa, Maine, Mississippi, New York, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington are among the states in this list.

The minimum legal age is 16, which is good news for states like Florida and Louisiana! Although there may be restrictions in some regional health districts, tattooing is not subject to state law in some states, such as Nevada.

For more tattoo information, keep reading:

How Can I Get a Tattoo at 16 Legally?

There are a couple of ways that you can get a tattoo at 16 legally.

The most typical way is through parental consent, which entails getting your parent or legal guardian to sign a form of consent granting you permission to get a tattoo. In some circumstances, you might also need your parent or legal guardian to be present when you get the tattoo.

The other legal option for getting a tattoo at 16 is to obtain a medical exemption. This indicates that a medical exemption form stating that you require the tattoo for medical reasons must be signed by a doctor. (good luck getting that LOL)

Why Are These Age Requirements Needed for Tattoos?

We can tell you why it’s necessary to have this minimum age requirement. We ask for your patience.

You are still growing. This implies that a tattoo you get when you’re 16 years old may grow larger by the time you’re 24.
To prevent you from the spontaneous decision. It would be a good idea to consult with your parents as you consider the design and look for a trustworthy master. Consider whether you can delay making a decision for at least a year so you can weigh all the options.
To be sure that you will follow all the advice and restrictions. Some of them may not be to your taste, but you must abide by them to avoid complications like blood taintedness or a body infection.
You have to be mentally prepared. Since you will have a tattoo for the rest of your life, fashion is meaningless in this situation. As mentioned previously, there are technologies available to get rid of tattoos, but even these methods cannot ensure a flawless outcome.

What is the Risk If I Did a Tattoo Earlier?

Are you certain that your choice wasn’t made on the spur of the moment? According to statistics, 46% of adults regret getting tattoos when they were younger than 20. This is due to the fact that only a few weeks were spent by 3 out of 4 of them in planning how to acquire it.

If you did a tattoo earlier, you would set up both yourself and your tattoo artist. You risk a fine or community service if you falsely represent your age. An artist who violates the law faces a $5,000 fine or a year in jail.

You run the risk of doing harm to yourself if your decision is impulsive. Lack of knowledge may allow you to locate an unlicensed tattoo artist, whose services may be less expensive. You can’t be certain if he or she is using sanitized equipment in this situation. But getting inked can result in infections, such as HIV or the hepatitis B and C viruses. A trustworthy artist who sanitizes everything they use is therefore crucial. It is preferable to save more money and pay it to a trustworthy master than to live a life of regret.

What States Can You Get a Tattoo at 16?

State laws govern the use of tattoos in the US. Additionally, the majority of states permit minors to get tattoos with parental permission.

The list of states with 16-year-old tattoo eligibility can be found below.

Alabama	Arkansas	Arizona	Colorado	Connecticut
Delaware	Florida	Georgia	Hawaii	Idaho
Illinois	Indiana	Kansas	Kentucky	Louisiana
Maryland	Massachusetts	Michigan	Minnesota	Missouri
Montana	Nebraska	Nevada	New Hampshire	New Jersey
New Mexico	Ohio	Oklahoma	Oregon	South Dakota
North Dakota	Pennsylvania	Rhode Island	Tennessee	Utah
Vermont	Virginia	West Virginia	Wisconsin	Wyoming

It’s important to remember that there are a few states that make an exception to the general rule and don’t allow minors to get tattoos even with parental supervision which we discussed earlier.

Before getting a tattoo, it is always advisable to check your local laws and ordinances.

Bottom Line: Can You Get a Tattoo at 16

It can be challenging to stay on top of all the local and state laws governing the tattooing of minors.

The safest bet is to wait until you’re 18 to start getting inked, but if you just can’t wait, there are many ways to still get one with parental consent.

FAQs about Can You Get a Tattoo at 16

Can You Get a Tattoo at 16 in Texas?

Texas prohibits tattoos at age 16, even with parental approval. Only if you are getting the tattoo to cover up an existing one that might be offensive or inappropriate, like a gang tattoo, is it legal to tattoo minors in Texas.

Can You Get a Tattoo at 16 in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, you can get inked at age 16. To get the tattoo, though, you must have your parent or legal guardian’s written consent; otherwise, it’s against the law, and the tattoo artist is likely to turn you down.

What Do You Need to Get a Tattoo at 16?

A minor older than 16 may get a tattoo to cover an existing tattoo. Their parent or legal guardian must be present.

Can You Get a Tattoo at 16 in South Carolina?

It is unlawful for a person to perform or offer to perform tattooing upon a person under the age of eighteen years.

Why Not to Get a Tattoo at 16?

Top concerns for parents over teen tattoos include possible infection or scarring, diseases like hepatitis or HIV, later regret, and negative judgment by potential employers.