Oregon state law prohibits decorative tattooing on anyone under 18 years of age. There are heavy fines, and most tattooists follow the law.
We know that many people under 18 are anxious to get a tattoo, but we encourage you to wait it out and get a medically safe tattoo once you turn 18. Most people offering to tattoo minors are unskilled underground tattooists (aka “scratchers”) who not only give bad tattoos, but don’t have the knowledge or equipment to do medically safe tattooing. No one wants an infection, whether it’s a small staff infection in your tattoo, or something really dangerous like Hepatitis B or C, which can seriously damage your health or even kill you.
It’s better to wait till you’re legally able to get a safe tattoo in a shop. In the meantime, you can use the time plan the perfect tattoo once you’re of age.
In our shop, minors are welcome to visit, ask questions, and even get the design going for that 18th birthday tattoo. Get informed, plan carefully, ask the right questions, and give your design ideas some time to develop. You’ll be much happier in the long run with your tattoos and your health.
Tattoo by Design 