How Old Do You Have To Be To Get A Piercing In California: Plus Other Common Questions About Getting Pierced In CA (2024)

You wake up one day and you want to get a new piercing. You know what piercing you want to get and you are ready to go. Then, you ask yourself?

What age do you have to be to get a piercing in California?

You search all over the internet, ask your friends, and call piercings shops, but you can’t seem to get a straight answer. What are you going to do?

Well don’t worry, we know finding information about getting piercings can be difficult, especially figuring out what age you need to be to get pierced. And we are here to help. We have put together a comprehensive guide all about getting piercings in California.


This guide will include:

What age you need to be to get different piercings in California

What you need to bring to prove your age in California

If your parent or guardian needs to be with you if you are under and 18, and what they need to bring

And, links to different piercing locations, jewelry, and more.

It’s a quick read that you should definitely check out before you get a new piercing in California. That way you will know exactly what piercings you can get, what you need to bring. And, you make your piercing day all about fun and jewelry, instead of figuring out whether you can get pierced or not.


What age do you need to be to get different piercings in California?

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get A Piercing In California: Plus Other Common Questions About Getting Pierced In CA (1)

The age requirements for piercings in California are very simple: You must be over 18 for nipples or genitalia no matter what (also, tattoos in CA are 18 and over as well). For all the other piercings in California, if you are not 18 years old, you must have a parent or legal guardian with you.

That’s right, there are no set age rules for all the other piercings in California, as long as you are accompanied by your parent or legal guardian, and they give you permission.

It may sound wild when you read it, but we all know it is very common for babies to get their ears pierced, and young children getting nose piercings are common in many cultures.

With all of this gray area it is up to tattoo and piercing shops, and tattoo and piercing organizations to set their own standards and age requirements.

At Mr. Inkwells our age requirementsfor getting certain piercings are as follows:

8+ years old:

Earlobes Piercing

14+ years old:

Conch Piercing
Daith Piercing
Helix Piercing
Nostril Piercing
Flat Piercing
Forward Helix Piercing, Industrial Piercing
Rook Piercing
Septum Piercing
Snug Piercing
Tragus Piercing

16+ years old:

Ashley Lip Piercing
Belly Button/Navel Piercing
Eyebrow Piercing
Lip Piercing
Medusa Piercing
Snake Bite Piercing Vertical Labret Piercing
Tongue Piercing

18+ years old:

Nipple Piercing
Genital Piercing

And all Tattoos


What do you need to prove your age for a piercing in California?

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get A Piercing In California: Plus Other Common Questions About Getting Pierced In CA (2)

If you are 18 years old you to prove your age for a piercing in California you need a valid government issued ID card.

If you are under 18 years old, your parent or guardian will need a valid government issued Id card in order to sign for you.


If your parent or guardian needs to be with you if you are under and 18, and what they need to bring in California?

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get A Piercing In California: Plus Other Common Questions About Getting Pierced In CA (3)

As stated above if you want to get a piercing as a minor in California your parent or legal guardian must bring a valid government issued ID card, and sign a statement attesting to their relationship to you and allowing you to get the piercing. That’s it.

Additional piercing information and links:

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get A Piercing In California: Plus Other Common Questions About Getting Pierced In CA (4)

Now that you know what age you need to be to get a piercing in California, you can check out some more of our piercing guides. These guides will show you different piercing types, piercing ideas, and piercing aftercare, and help you get ready for your new piercing.


Click Here to see: The Best Piercing Shop To Get A Piercing In California


Click Here to check out: Body and Ear Piercing Visual Guide: All The Different Types of Piercings


Click Here to read: The Definitive Guide To Piercing Aftercare: Aftercare Instructions For All Piercings


See you soon!

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get A Piercing In California: Plus Other Common Questions About Getting Pierced In CA (2024)

FAQs

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get A Piercing In California: Plus Other Common Questions About Getting Pierced In CA? ›

(b) Pursuant to Section 652 of the Penal Code, persons under 18 years of age shall not be offered or receive a body piercing unless the piercing is performed in the presence of his or her parent or guardian.

How old do you have to be to get a piercing in CA? ›

Clients must be at least 18 years of age to receive a tattoo, permanent cosmetics, piercing of the nipples or genitals or a brand regardless of parental consent. Persons under the age of 18 may receive a body piercing, other than the nipples or genitals, if performed in the presence of their parent or guardian.

What piercings can you get at 13 in California? ›

PARENTAL CONSENT

Cartilage (including nostril) and septum piercings are performed on qualified minors aged 13+. Navel, eyebrow, bridge, and industrial piercings are performed on qualified minors aged 16+.

What piercings can you get at the age of 11 or 12? ›

You must be 12 and up to get any outer ear piercings, and some facial piercings. For navel or tongue you must be 14 and up.

Do you need a parent with you to get a piercing at 16? ›

Children over 16 and adults over 18 must bring their own ID, and must self-consent. This means that a parent or legal guardian cannot consent for them. They do not need to bring a parent or guardian to their appointment.

Can a 12 year old get a lip piercing? ›

MINORS – PIERCING

If you are under 18 the parent or legal guardian must accompany the minor for the entire procedure. A government issued photo ID will be needed from both the minor and the parent or legal guardian.

Can a 14 year old get a nose piercing? ›

Anyone getting pierced or having jewelry inserted into a piercing must provide proof of age and identification. This includes minors who are accompanied by a parent.

Can a 13 year old get a belly button piercing with parental consent? ›

Minors under 18 years of age and at least 16 years of age must have a notarized consent form signed by their parent or legal guardian. The consent form must have a description of the type of piercing to be performed on the minor. Minors under 16 years of age must be accompanied by the parent or legal guardian.

At what age can you get a belly piercing? ›

Piercing Age Limit
MINIMUM AGEPIERCING TYPEID REQUIREMENT * ID = Government issued physical identification, ex., passport, driver's license, age card. **School cards NOT accepted.**
10+ y.o.1st & 2nd lobesWith Parents (both ID)
16 years of ageNavel (Belly Button)ID
18 years of ageFACIAL & NOSE
Anti-eyebrowID
40 more rows
Feb 5, 2024

What is a flat piercing? ›

The flat helix piercing is located in the flat area of cartilage in the upper ear. A flat helix can be pierced once to act as the centrepiece of a curated ear, or it might also be pierced multiple times in a random series or to imitate constellations.

Can a 12 year old have 3 piercings? ›

A 12-year-old should have as many piercings as they want that they can properly tend and take care of without risking infection or damage. For some, this may mean a single or double set of lobe piercings.

Can a 12 year old get a double piercing? ›

At what age can my child get a second lobe piercing? Children must be at least 9 years of age for a second lobe piercing.

Can an 11 year old get a belly piercing? ›

Age restrictions

According to the NHS website there is no legal age restriction on most body piercings, but performing genital or nipple piercing on someone under the age of 16 could be considered an offence.

What piercings can you get 16? ›

Teens ages 16-17: Cartilage, Nostrils, & Navels. For teens 16 and older, we offer the simple earlobe piercings above, as well as nostril piercings, navel piercings, and various cartilage piercings like helix, tragus, conch, etc.

What age nose piercing? ›

Body Piercing Information
Age Limits For Body Piercing At Blue Banana
Septum1416
Nostril1316
Labret/ LipN/A16
Navel/ Belly1316
10 more rows

Can I get a piercing by myself at 16? ›

The age requirements for piercings in California are very simple: You must be over 18 for nipples or genitalia no matter what (also, tattoos in CA are 18 and over as well). For all the other piercings in California, if you are not 18 years old, you must have a parent or legal guardian with you.

Can you get your nipples pierced at 16? ›

Any reputable body piercing studio will have an over 16 policy unless with a parent. Intimate piercings are 18 and over.

Should I let my 14 year old get a belly button piercing? ›

If your daughter agrees to have her navel pierced under the hygienic conditions insisted upon by her doctor, and she understands what she must do to prevent that area from becoming infected, you should give her permission to pierce her navel.

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