Can You Get a Tattoo from a Non-Official Artist in Iowa?

If you want to get some new ink, do you HAVE to go to an official tattoo artist?

It seems like everyone has at least one tattoo these days. I am one of the very few young people who does not have any ink, and I'm still on the fence about even getting one.

My main problem is that I have a hard time committing to a piece of art on my body that I can't remove or erase myself. BUT I still have some amazing ideas for things I'd like.

So, as you can see, I'm very conflicted...

I was talking to a friend of mine about the idea of me getting a tattoo. Jokingly, I said that he should somehow convince an artist to let him borrow the tools and give me a tiny tattoo.

Then I wondered...is that even something we could do?

Get our free mobile app

I did a deep dive on the legality behind tattooing in the Hawkeye State.

First off, anyone under the age of eighteen in Iowa cannot get a tattoo.

In some places in the United States, minors can get inked up if they have parental permission. These states include; Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, and New Hampshire.

It is prohibited by state law for anyone under the age of eighteen to be tattooed in the Hawkeye State. It's the tattoo artist who would bear the responsibility if this happened. According to reports, the artist who did the tattoo will face some criminal charges.

Now, is it illegal for a non-tattoo artist to tattoo someone?

In Iowa, all tattoo artists require a valid license to operate. And all tattoo parlors MUST be registered with the state. So, if you were to somehow get your hands on a tattoo gun, but you're not a licensed tattoo artist then you'll get into some MAJOR trouble.

Stay up to date with everything going on in Eastern Iowa by downloading the free station app from your app store. Also, do not forget to follow the station across all social media platforms so you can be in the know about things happening in our neck of the woods.