What age can you get a tattoo? Tattooing laws

What age can you get a tattoo? Are you considering getting a tattoo but you don’t know the laws about tattoos?

A tattoo is for life, so you shouldn’t rush into getting one done, especially if you are a minor. 

Today I will explain the reasons behind tattoo age restrictions, the risks involved, but also what are the most painful body parts for tattoos.

History of tattoos

The earliest evidence of tattoo art dates from 5000 BCE, however across time and cultures, tattoos had different meanings and forms.

The oldest known human to have tattoos preserved on his mummified body is a Bronze-Age man from 3300 BCE. “Otzi the Iceman” had 57 tattoos, located on or near acupuncture points.

During the eight to sixth centuries BCE, in the early Greek and Roman times, tattooing was associated with barbarians. Learning tattooing from Persians, the Greeks used it to mark slaves and criminals so they can be idetified in case they tried to escape. 

Laws about tattoos

In general, the laws about tattoos have two reasons behind: 

• Tattooing being considered a medical procedure, minimum standards must be met.
• Old school mentality, tattooing still being looked down by many.

Risks

“Should I get a tattoo?” It is a question in many people’ minds, including minors. Tattoos breach the skin, therefore there is a high risk for skin infection and other complications such as:

• Allergic reactions caused by tattoo dyes. This can appear even years after you get the tattoo.
• Skin infections may occur right after tattooing.
• Other skin problems may appear around the tattoo ink. Such as granuloma or kelodis.
• If the equipment used to create your tattoo is contaminated with infected blood, you can contract various blood diseases such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C .
• Rarely, tattoos cause swelling or burning in the affected areas during MRI exams.

Lists of states and their tattooing laws

The minimum age to get a tattoo is 18 in most of the United States, and also in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. In some cases you might be able to get a tattoo even if you are younger than 18 years old, however with a parent consent, and depending on the state.

Generally, tattoo artists will not tattoo anyone under the age of 15 or 16, for safety and liability reasons. The table below outlines the tattooing laws for each state, but also in what states can you get a tattoo at 16.

What states get you get a tattoo at 16 

As we can see from the table above, there are a total of 35 states where you can get a tattoo at 16 years old, however with parental consent for most of them.

At the same time, there are 15 where the laws about tattoos are very strict for people under 18 years old.

Laws about tattoos in Canada, Australia and UK

As a country, Canada does not have a nation-wide minimum age for tattoos, however each individual province has a separate regulation.

In most Australia you must be 18 years old to get a tattoo. Only in Western Australia it is legal to get a tattoo if you are 16 years old, with parental control. 

In the UK, it is prohibited to tattoo a person under 18 years old. Anyone who tattoos a minor can be prosecuted and fined.

Should I get a tattoo and what body part?

According to a 2010 study, 38% of people between 18 and 29 years old have been inked at least once in their lives, globally.

While getting a tattoo, your skin is being pierced repeatedly by a sharp needle, covered with pigment. So it is normal for it to be painful, however people may experience different levels of pain. 

Usually the most painful body parts are those with the least fat, most nerve endings, and thinnest skin. The least painful places to get a tattoo are those with the most fat, fewest nerve endings, and thickest skin. 

Most painful body parts for tattoos

These are the most painful tattoos based on the body part:

• Armpit tattoos 
• Rib cage tattoos
• Ankles and shins tattoos
• Nipples and breasts tattoos
• Groin tattoos
• Elbows and knee cap tattoos
• Tattoos behind the knees 
• Hips tattoos
• Neck and spine tattoos
• Tattoos on: head, face, and ears 
• Lips tattoos
• Tattoos on hands, fingers, feet, and toes
• Stomach tattoos
• Tattoos on inner biceps

The least painful body parts for tattoos

Below are the least painful tattoos you can get:

• Tattoos on the upper outer thigh
• Forearm tattoos
• Tattoos on outer shoulders and biceps
• Calves tattoos
• Tattoos on the upper and lower back 

Factors that affect pain when getting a tattoo

There are several factors that may affect how you feel pain:

• Gender: research suggest that women experience more pain than men;
• Experience: those who have had tattoos before, may feel less pain than somebody who gets a tattoo for the first time;
• Age and weight: it’s not supported by research, however it is considered that age and weight may make tattoos more painful. 

Things to consider before getting a tattoo

Getting a tattoo might take minutes to hours, while removing one is a much more time-consuming and painful process, with mixed results. 

Before getting a tattoo, take into consideration:

• Risks of infections and allergies;
• Whether you will regret the design or not;
• The placement of your tattoo.

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