As the times change and things that used to be less common or unheard of become more socially acceptable, we can see how many young people are less afraid to express themselves in different ways, such as using clothing, hair dye, and body modifications.

Two types of body modifications that have become particularly popular with today’s young adults are piercings and tattoos. However, when it comes to getting those types of services done under the age of 18, it can be difficult to find a professional tattoo artist or piercer that is willing to perform that service on a minor even if they have permission from their parent or guardian. This can lead to minors doing them at home or by someone unqualified, which can be dangerous and lead to infection, cartilage damage, keloids, and rejection. 

But despite this challenge, here are the key things you need to know if this is something you want to do.

Tattoos

Deciding what you want: When choosing what you want to get tattooed, it is important to make sure that it is something you are 100 percent sure of. If there is any doubt in your mind, then do some rethinking and come back to the idea. Once you are completely sure about your design, the next thing you need to do is some basic research on your design to ensure it is appropriate for you. 

Picking an artist: Being a minor who is looking to get tattooed can have difficulties when it comes to finding a skilled professional who is willing to work with you, so some searching is going to need to be done, and on top of this you need to find an artist that meets all the requirements of that type of tattoo that you are interested in getting. 

A good way to find an artist in a reasonable amount of time is by calling the local tattoo shops and asking if they have any artists who work with people who are under 18. If the answer is yes, ask if you can schedule a consultation with them and what type of identification they may need you to bring. Then, look at their style and see if they want to start working on a design. If after all that you feel comfortable and confident with your design and artist, you can then schedule an appointment and be one step closer to your first tattoo. 

Piercings

Deciding what you want: Piercings offer many different options; from lips to nose and ears to eyebrows, it can be hard to decide what piercing is best for you, however, it is very important that you research to make sure this is a piercing that you are certain you can heal from and that you check in with your piercer to make sure that you have the proper anatomy that the piercing requires. 

Finding a piercer: Finding a piercer as a minor is slightly easier than trying to get a tattoo, so it’s going to probably be simpler to find someone to perform the piercing, especially if you’re under 16. Start by calling the local piercing/tattoo shops to see if they have a piercer that will work for you. Then schedule an appointment and find out how much the piercing is going to cost.