What was the last state to legalize tattoos?

Author: William Prosacco  |  Last update: Monday, April 21, 2025

Oklahoma was the last state in the nation to legalize tattooing in 2006. Before then, some residents traveled to surrounding states to get tattooed or set up shop. But why did Oklahoma ban the practice in the early '60s? Nestled in Campus Corner near the University of Oklahoma in Norman is Think Ink Tattoos.

When were tattoos illegal in us?

In 1962, Massachusetts became one of the few states in the country to consider tattooing a ``crime against the person,'' and ban the practice except for medical purposes. The law took effect on March 12, 1962, five months after New York City imposed a similar prohibition.

Why did Oklahoma ban tattoos?

In several ways, tattooing laws in South Carolina and Oklahoma mirror each other. Both prohibitions were established in the 1960s, when most states outlawed tattooing because of hepatitis outbreaks. Two decades later, the bans started being lifted.

What state has no tattoo laws?

Almost every state have laws addressing some aspect of body art. (Nevada has no laws addressing body art; Maryland has very limited laws). At least 45 states have laws prohibiting minors from getting tattoos.

What 11 states don't regulate tattoos?

Currently, the only states that DO NOT regulate tattoo facilities are: District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wyoming. This requirement is related to concerns about hepatitis. Learn more about hepatitis and blood donation.

Tattoo Apprenticeship and the truth of the hustle.

Can I donate blood if I got a tattoo?

Most people with tattoos can donate blood as long as they don't have risk factors that prohibit or limit blood donation, and if they got a tattoo at a state regulated facility. In the U.S. you have to wait 3 months to donate if the tattoo was from a state that does not regulate tattoo facilities.

Where are tattoos still illegal?

  • 7 Saudi Arabia. Cover your ink if you'll be visiting Saudi Arabia any time soon. ...
  • 6 United Arab Emirates. Expect social restrictions in the UAE if you have visible tattoos. ...
  • 5 Iran. Not all tattoos are illegal, but some may be deemed offensive. ...
  • 4 Turkey. ...
  • 3 Sri Lanka. ...
  • 2 Myanmar. ...
  • 1 Japan.

Can a 14 year old get a tattoo in Virginia with parental consent?

If you are younger than 18, Virginia law prohibits your getting a tattoo, except in the presence of your parent or guardian, or when done under medical supervision. Anyone who illegally performs a tattoo is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (Code of Virginia § 18.2-371.3).

Where are face tattoos illegal?

Face tattoos, along with neck and hand tattoos, are illegal to perform in Denmark. It's a law that goes back decades to 1966 when the Danish Parliament officially outlawed them.

Which country doesn t allow tattoo?

1. Iran. In recent years, the act of displaying tattoos or getting inked has become a sensitive issue in Iran, where leaders and government officials openly associate tattoos with devil worship and consider them symbols of Westernization, vehemently opposing such practices.

Does China ban tattoos?

Chinese law has no mandatory norms for adult tattooing, as long as the individual has reached the age of 18 and has full capacity for civil conduct. The law does not place any restrictions on tattoos; it is completely determined by the individual according to circumstances and voluntary choice.

Can Native Americans have tattoos?

For thousands of years, tattooing was an important form of cultural expression for Indigenous peoples across the Americas. Each society developed its own traditions: Tattoos often served to identify the wearer's family, clan, tribe or society. They could indicate social or marital status.

Are tattoos on the decline?

Tattoo artists are staying afloat by the skin of their teeth, reporting a “downturn” in demand for ink. The primary culprit for the “tattoo recession,” body mod enthusiasts believe, is debt-burdened clients who cannot afford to splurge on costly art, namely Gen Z and Millennials.

Are tattoos illegal in Japan?

While tattoos are not illegal, they can prevent people from getting the full Japanese experience. When using public transportation in Japan, such as trains, tourists with visible tattoos will want to keep in mind that their ink may be offensive to some of the locals.

What was the first tattoo ever?

In 2018, the oldest figurative tattoos in the world were discovered on two mummies from Egypt which are dated between 3351 and 3017 BCE. In the Americas, the oldest evidence of tattooing is a mustache-like dotted line above the upper lip of one of the Chinchorro mummies from Chile, dated to 2563–1972 cal BCE.

Are tattoos illegal in Korea?

South Korean law permits only licensed medical practitioners, as opposed to tattoo artists without medical degrees, to open tattoo parlors, although it is not illegal to have a tattoo. Only the army prohibits tattoos.

What states don't allow neck tattoos?

The South Carolina Legislature prohibits tattoos of the head, neck, and face area in South Carolina – the only state in the United States to do that, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Can Muslims have face tattoos?

Muslims believe that tattooing is a sin, because it involves changing the natural creation of God, inflicting unnecessary pain in the process. Tattoos are classified as dirty things, which is prohibited in Islam.

Is it illegal to go to jail for tattoos?

Process. Whilst not illegal, tattooing in United States prisons is against institutional rules and is therefore unregulated. The inmates do not have the proper equipment necessary for the practice. Inmates find ways to create their own tattooing devices out of their belongings and found materials.

What states tattoo at 16?

However, states like New Jersey and Colorado permit minors as young as 16 to get tattooed if they have written consent from a parent or legal guardian. Additionally, some states may not specify an exact age but instead leave the decision to individual tattoo studios, which can impose their own policies.

At what age can a child refuse to see a parent in Virginia?

Can a Child Refuse Visitation in Virginia? Legally, children cannot refuse visitation with a parent until they turn 18 years old.

Is it legal to tattoo at home?

1) Home Tattoos Are Unlicensed

In fact, according to subject matter expert attorney Mark Theoharis, tattooing without a license is illegal, and if someone without a license gives you a tattoo (even if it's free), they have committed a crime.

Is a tattoo allowed in Germany?

However, it is not illegal and therefore not punishable if covered by the consent of the person concerned. But be careful, the consent must itself be effective. There are reservations about the effectiveness of consent if the person concerned was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of consent.

Why don't Japanese like tattoos?

While the story about tattoos as a punishment and a symbol of crime is enough to make the subject a big taboo in Japan, there's a more recent and more prominent reason why tattoos are frowned upon, and that is the Yakuza connection.

What jobs prohibit tattoos?

Here's a short list of some of the most common employers that either don't allow tattoos or ask you to cover them up at work:
  • Healthcare Professionals. ...
  • Police Officers and Law Enforcement. ...
  • Law Firms. ...
  • Administrative Assistants and Receptionists. ...
  • Financial Institutions and Banks. ...
  • Teachers. ...
  • Hotels / Resorts. ...
  • Government.

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