The age limit for getting a tattoo varies from state to state. Any licensed tattoo artist will be able to tell you the minimum age limit for your state. But generally for most US states including in the United Kingdom, you need to be 18 before you can get a tattoo. You would need to also have a government issued ID as proof of your age such as a passport, driving licence or military ID. Some states still have a higher age limit of 21 years so you do need to find out for your state or country. If you are below 18, you can still get a tattoo provided you get parental consent. The procedure for this varies but your parents may have to go with you to the tattoo shop. Too bad if you are trying to do it without your parents knowing. Also tattoo artists are required to demand some proof of your age if they suspect that you are younger than 18. But even with parental consent, you have to be at least 16 years old for some states.

If you're below the legal age and you are considering getting a tattoo, remember it is always best to wait until you are of legal age, which is 18 in most cases. Since your body is still growing, if you get a tattoo too early it might stretch out as you grow and change its shape into something that you didn't anticipate. Remember tattoos are meant to be permanent, so your only option would be to go through some removal procedures which may leave scaring and could also cost you a fortune. There are also cases where some tattoos just won't go away except through surgery.

Another thing to consider is that many people change as they grow so you're very likely to change your views and tastes quite radically. A tattoo that looks interesting now may not be so cool 5 years from now and may in fact be annoying.

There are some tattoo artists who will give you a tattoo even if you are under age but stay away from these people. Anyone willing to break the law and risk imprisonment has big problems you don't want to be part of.

In the mean time, you can get one of the many types of temporary tattoos available. Some of them look just like the real thing. You can try on different types before you are of legal age and when you are ready, just settle on the one you like. There are some good tattoo design galleries online where you can go to find a tattoo design.

Click here for a list of tattoo design galleries and get instant access to millions of designs online.