Minors wanting tattoos! Parents read!!

2007-08-09 05:09 AM | 18 comments

Tattooing an underage person can be very risky for many reasons. As a result, many shops will not tattoo anyone under 18. However, I can understand the reason many young people are wanting tattoos at a younger age. But don’t just go anywhere. You’re still growing, and you’re skin is changing quickly, and there are statutory rape laws against some activity involving tattooing minors, if the tattoo is in a provocative area. Getting tattooed in a sterile, professional environment should always be your first priority. Chances are if someone doesn’t care enough to follow health guidelines, they don’t care about your son or daughter’s tattoo experience.

If you’re the parent of an underage son or daughter who wants a tattoo: I think it’s important to talk to your young adult about their ideas for a tattoo, and why they are wanting to get tattooed. This is especially important after a traumatic experience. Many teens express emotion toward losing a friend or loved one by getting a memorial tattoo in that person’s honor. Kids will get tattooed if they want to. I feel it’s better to be involved and help them make the right decisions, then have them get tattooed dangerously in an illegal or unsanitary situation. I encourage parents to be involved in the ENTIRE tattoo process by asking questions and being open to their teen’s feelings.

If you’re a minor getting tattooed: bring as many references as possible for your tattoo idea. It’s important to think through what you want to get. If what you’re wanting is something that you cannot get right away (placement or content), just wait! Settling for something you may not really want will haunt you later in life, and become an experience you regret. Remain respectful of your parent and show that you are mature enough to handle the responsibility of having a tattoo. Acting like a spoiled brat, or being disrespectful will get you very little in a tattoo shop.

We are happy to tattoo a young person under the age of eighteen provided that they meet the requirements of the Clark County Health Department, and at our discretion, requirements that may vary from patient to patient.

IDENTIFICATION
The minor must have proof of their age, and must be at least 16 years old to get tattooed with parental permission.
Both the Minor and the Parent/ Legal Guardian must have a valid state issued photo ID with current name and address.
(The minor may substitute a state issued ID with a combination of official certificate of live birth [birth certificate] AND a valid school photo ID.)
Both Last names and Addresses must be the same for Minor and Parent/ Legal Guardian, or be accompanied by Legal Guardianship papers.
If the parent’s name has changed (ie divorced, remarried, etc.) ID must be accompanied by marriage certificate and/ or divorce papers showing name change.

LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP
The person taking responsibility for the minor must be a parent or LEGAL guardian. This means no step-parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, or older siblings, unless you have actual court or adoption documents showing legal guardianship. The parent or legal guardian MUST be present/ on the premises for the entire tattoo.

CONTENT
Nothing that could be considered gang-related, drug-related, racially offensive, age inappropriate or sexually explicit or provocative symbols. We will not tattoo any of these on a minor.

PLACEMENT
The tattoo must be easy to hide under normal t-shirt and pants, but not into any area that could be considered provocative. This means some lower-back tattoos, all hip, groin, and chest (females), head, neck, forearms, face, and hands are not allowed. Generally, the safest place is the back of the shoulder, upper arm, or lower leg. Here is an easy-to-understand chart, showing the untattooable areas of a minor in red:

Please remember, if you have any comments, questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact myself or the Clark County Health Department.

with love, Nickhole

On 2007-10-06 at 05:03 PM Annie said:

Dear Nickhole,
I’m thankful to have somehow stumbled upon your blog, since it seems like I can’t find any other tattoo artists in Vegas with such informative websites. I’m currently 15, and I’ve been wanting a specific tattoo on my shoulder for about a year now. My mother and I have fully discussed this, and she is in favor of my idea. She and I both understand what comes with a tattoo, and that I don’t take my descisons lightly. It is a simple shoulder tattoo, about the size of a business card. We’ve decided since California has such limiting tattoo laws, we will drive over to Vegas to get my tattoo done. My mother is thinking of possibly getting a tattoo on herself as well. Must I wait til I’m sixteen next year to get this tattoo, or would I be able to sometime this year? Thanks for your help and your work is beautiful!
Sincerely,
Annie

On 2008-01-16 at 04:34 PM christina tueros said:

Hey Nickhole,
Im going to be 16 on Feb.14 of this year
and I really want a tattoo.I know what I want and where I want it done.Now I live in New York City, and I dont think I’m ever going to be able to go to Las Vegas in my life time.I’ve worked every hard for this and I’ve put down so many things to just get a tattoo,I really would like to know your opinion on this matter,please write back=]

And thank for your time

On 2008-02-27 at 06:22 PM Ariel Christine said:

Hi, my name is Ariel. I’m 15 years old and i’m dying to get a tattoo on the inside of my lip. It’s not anything i’ll regret. I want it to say ‘In Love’ because love is a powerful amazing feeling that i’ll never want to fall out of, or even if i do, would love experiencing again. Is there any shops in Las Vegas i can get this done in with parental consent? My mother is fully aware of this and is willing to consent. I’m going on a trip to vegas this summer, and it’d be great if this tattoo could be apart of my summer memory.

Also, can a written note be classified as parental consent, or must your parent/gaurdian be with you at the time of tattooing?

Thank you so much,
Ariel Christine.

On 2008-09-16 at 06:53 PM lucero said:

helLo I wAs wOnDeRinG iF
YoU wOulD bE aBlE tO tAttoo
A fAiRy oN mY sHoUldEr
I wAs plAnniNg tO gEt iT oN mY biRtHdAy
WHiCh iS iN dEceMbEr 14 I’M gOinG tO bE
TUrninG 16 wEll iF yOu cOulD pLeAse e- mAil
ME tHanKs:D

On 2008-09-28 at 12:35 AM Alexa said:

Hey, my name’s Alexa. I’m 15 and a half, and I live in CA. However, my mom is willing to take me to Vegas to get a small tattoo. All I want is something small on my left ankle (it means a lot to me). My mom and I have talked it over, and she’s all for it. We have tried looking all over in CA, but the only places that agree to do it aren’t the greatest looking places, so we have waited a while. I was just wondering if I still had to be 16 with my mom. So if you could get back to me it would be great. Thankyou!! -Alexa

On 2008-12-06 at 10:44 PM Sydney said:

Dear Nickhole,
I’m Sydney and I’m turning 16 the 19th of January in 2009. I live in California and for my birthday weekend I am planning on driving up to Vegas with my mom, best friend(16) & her mother. We are all planning on getting a tattoo & I was wondering if 2 days before I turn 16 would make a difference on me receiving a tattoo or not. And do I need to live in the state of Nevada to have those laws accommodate to myself?
The tattoo I’ve been wishing for is a little bumble bee with a fly pattern on my foot. My mother loves the idea of it but suggested my hip, but my foot suits me better. I researched tattoo’s and artists and I believe you can submit your own tattoo & thats what I’m hoping for.
So if you could please write back it would be greatly appreciated.
-Sydney

On 2009-03-01 at 08:47 AM Sonora said:

Hey Nickhole,

I read this post and found it very helpful.I’m 16 turning 17 at the end of March. Next week I will be in Las Vegas for a pool tournament with my father, and with the looks of it you seem like a wonderful artist. I looked at your portfolio and it looks like something I would love. I’ve wanted the tattoo I have planned since my grandfather passed away. I want it on my shoulders. It’s nothing too crazy just a phrase “Relax, slow down take a breath and breathe”. what would be the cost and would it be alright if I came in with my father? Thanks for being so imformative, you have no idea how hard it is to find the right information!

-Sonora

On 2009-04-19 at 11:22 PM Lacy Gillis said:

heyy nickhole,
im going to be 17 in a little over a month(36 days to be exact) and i’ve been waiting for a year and a half to get a very special and meaningful tattoo. I want my brothers dogtags on my foot, i chose this because he was killed in iraq in 2007 and i want sort of a memorial type of thing. I want it on my foot so i can hide or cover it as neccesary. I was wondering if you’d do this tattoo for me?? Please get back to me as soon as possible!

Thank you,
Lacy

On 2009-07-07 at 05:43 PM George Bennett said:

heyy nickhole,
i’m 15 n 1/2 and i live in cali. I am a tongan(pacific islander) boy, and getting tats is a big part of our lifestyle. Me, my sister(who is 18), my mother, and my dad all really wanna get a familly tattoo. We would all really like 2 get a tribal band around our arms. but the only parlors in cali dat would do the tat are very sketch and dont look very nice. i was wondering if you HAVE to be 16, or if you could b 15 with parents consent since my parents would b getting tats 2. if u could write bak as soon as possible dat would b great.

Thanks
George

On 2009-09-16 at 12:13 AM Debbie said:

Hi, Nickhole.

My name’s Debbie and I am currently 15 and a half, exactly. I would love to get a tattoo this Christmas (something that means a lot to me), but I am confused as to when I am able to get it… My mother supports my tattoo idea of getting ‘mother’ in my country’s writing on the inside of my wrist, and is willing to give her consent. However, I am still 15 and many tattoo shops don’t have parental consent, and some places are claiming you have to be at least 15 (not 16) with consent. It also says minors are not permitted to have any tattoos on visible or uncoverable areas, which I am confused about from everyone else’s opinions. Please e-mail me back, because I would really love to get this tattoo by the end of the year.

Thank you, also, for clearing a few things up for me!
-Debbie

On 2010-03-09 at 07:49 AM Matt said:

I just moved here from TN and dont have a liscense here yet, could I still get tattoo’d at your shop?

Email me back,
Thanks!

On 2010-03-25 at 01:53 AM Ashley said:

Hey there Nickhole,
I, like most of the people asking these questions, am about to turn 16. I know you mentioned the fact that you need a state issued photo ID with current name and address, but my parents and I reside in California. Do you have to be living in Nevada to get tattooed or can you be from out of state? My parents and I researched the tattoo laws in Arizona and have found that a minor must be a resident of the state to get tattooed. Do the same laws apply in Nevavda? If not you’ll definitely be seeing me in June!

Thanks for any help,
Ashley.

On 2010-05-31 at 05:36 AM Vina said:

I am seventeen but I live in california. It is illegal here to get a tattoo underage but I am going to Las Vegas this summer. Is it possible for me to get it done there at your shop? Please reply asap because I will be there from June 6-14. Thank you!

-Vina

On 2010-06-11 at 12:10 AM Melyssa said:

Nickhole,
I am 16, and I’m comin this weekend to Vegas with my dad for a tournament. While we were there, we’re thinking of getting my tattoo. All it is is a plumeria flower on my foot and I was just wondering on how much it would cost us?

Thank you,
Melyssa

On 2010-06-21 at 08:40 AM allison rowan said:

Nickhole,
your work is wonderful
i live in California, and i am 15.
my sister and i want to get a bass clef and treble clef for my 16th birthday. next march. i know it is a long way’s away, but i do have parental consent. and my sister is 26. my mom will be there with me. she will be getting something too. i was just wondering if this was do-able? in cali you can not get a tattoo no matter where you go. ive seen somethings that say in nevada with parental consent it can happen. but music is my life. and i want this done more than you know.however my parents never got married and my mom has a different last name than me, please get back to me and let me know if this is possible for you?

On 2010-06-28 at 07:00 AM Krystyn said:

Hi Nickhole,

I’m 17 and just graduated high school. I’ll be in Vegas the end of July, and I was wondering if you would be able to do my tattoo. My mom is fully on board, we actually went down to a shop today and attempted to get both of us done, but because I’m a minor I couldn’t. Mine is just a simple heart outline, about 1/4 of an inch thick with a paw print inside of it. I would like to get it on the back of my shoulder. I know the risks and I understand my decision to get the tattoo. I appreciate your blog, it helps a lot when looking for the right place to go.

On 2010-08-05 at 02:07 AM Nikki Lee Laprade said:

Hey Nickhole,
I am Nikki (short for Nicolette) and I am 15, my family and I are going to Vegas in February and I live in NH. Do you have to be 16 to get a tattoo in Vegas? I’ve read what you wrote, but some of the other comments people wrote said 15 or something. My mom and I want to get tattoos, she is perfectly fine with me getting a small one, and will do the parental confirmation deal.

Thanks!
Nikki Lee =)

On 2010-08-07 at 05:47 AM francesca Barletta said:

i am 17 and would love to get tattooed by you…i wanted a small writing done on my wrist…but according to the chart you cannot tattoo me there…do i have to wait til im 18?

NickHole Custom Tattoos at Living Dead Tattoo in Las Vegas

Minors wanting tattoos! Parents read!!

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