Header background

How Old Do You Have to Be to Get a Tattoo in Indiana in 2023?

Added by: Peter Scales
Updated On:
Header background

How Old Do You Have to Be to Get a Tattoo in Indiana in 2023?

Updated on:

With as many as reported 40% of adult Americans now having at least one tattoo, they’ve become more popular and socially acceptable than ever before.

The age at which people are getting tattoos has also been on the decline in recent years.

With that said, different states across the US have contrasting regulations when it comes to tattoos. Some have in place a total ban on tattooing those under 18 while others allow minors to get inked under specific circumstances.

So, how old do you have to be to get a tattoo in Indiana?

To answer the question, we have to peek into current Indiana’s tattoo regulations.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Get a Tattoo in Indiana?

If you haven’t hit that magic number “18” yet and are desperate to get a tattoo in Indiana, you’re in with a shout!

As things stand, Indiana allows minors to get a tattoo with parental consent. The written consent of a parent or guardian must be obtained before any procedure can be conducted. Additionally, the parent or guardian needs to be present during the tattooing session.

Because of this policy, we could easily classify Indiana’s stance on tattoos as lenient, especially when compared to neighboring Illinois and Michigan both prohibit tattoos for anyone under 18. This ban leads many underage tattoo seekers to cross state lines in order to get their ink done in

While some states, such as New York, are currently pushing for a complete ban on tattoos for minors, it doesn’t look like Indiana will be following suit any time soon. So, if you’re a minor and want to get a tattoo in Indiana, you can do so as long as you have the consent of a parent or guardian.

Artists Can Overrule the State

It’s worth noting that in case the state’s law is broken, it’s the artist and not the minor who will face the consequences.

This means that if an artist in Indiana tattooed a minor without parental consent, they could potentially lose their license or/and have to pay a fine or/and spend some time behind the bars. In all states that regulate the body art industry, unlawful tattooing of a minor is considered a misdemeanor.

All of the above also applies to forged parental consent forms, so it’s no wonder some artists are apprehensive about tattooing minors.

The consensus among many professional tattoo artists seems to be that the age limit should remain at 18. After all, a tattoo is a permanent decision that shouldn’t be made lightly, especially by someone who is still legally considered a child.

Is Getting a Tattoo so Early a Great Idea?

The age limit for tattoos is in place for a reason – to protect minors from making a decision they might later come to regret.

Getting a tattoo is a huge commitment and one that should only be made by those who are certain they will not regret it later on.

While some people are perfectly fine with the idea of getting inked at a young age, others grow to regret their decision as they get older. Because of this, it’s generally advisable to wait until you’re at least 18 years old before getting a tattoo.

Getting rid of a tattoo can be both a costly and painful process, so it’s best to avoid making any hasty decisions when it comes to body art.