Can someone please, please tell me if I can get a tattoo at 16 with my parent's signature in California?
And, if I can, are there any recommendations for a great place in the L.A. area?

Thanks!

Whether its legal or not, most accomplished artists wont tattoo people under 18 with or without permission. Good artists are usually too busy tattooing adults to deal with the headaches of tattooing kids. You best bet will be to learn as much as you can about tattooing and art for the next 2 years. California has some amazing artists there... if you really think and learn you will be in for a great tattoo, if you rush and find some hack to do it, you will be disappointed.

Thanks a lot for your input, but I really just want to know if it is legal or not!

Thanks a lot for your input, but I really just want to know if it is legal or not!

Hoo Boy, here we go yet again

You also asked for recommendations for great artists in the area. There are a bunch, but I doubt they will tattoo you. Mike Devries, Carson Hill and the guys at Tried and True, more are on the artist list. Take it from us, you will regret the tattoos you get at 16. Many of us have made that mistake and had to cover up the tattoos we throughout were great when we were kids... Its awesome that you are looking for good artists, that makes for good tattoos. dont settle for second best...

Your best bet is to call some shop's in LA,and ask them..I got my first tattoo when i was 23,and i still got a few lasered off..Usually when someone young want's a tattoo,they just wan't to be marked..they don't really know what they wan't,and usually get a small tattoo that they end up covering up later..As for good shop's to call..www.spotlighttattoo.com is one of the best..
www.truetattoo.net www.shamrocktattoo.com
www.thetattooroom.com www.saltwatertattoo.com
www.chrisconn.net www.mdtattoos.com
outerlimitstattoo.com www.ignitiontattoo.com

Thank You for giving me some suggestions!

I'm torn. When my son was 11, he started talking about a tattoo. I said when he was 16, we'd talk again. If he was still a good kid, yada, yada, yada, we'd consider it. Well, at 16, the laws changed to 18, parental consent or not. He won't be 18 until next April. He's probably not going to grow much more and he wants a simple black ink design on his inner bicep. He knows a place that will consider his age that older friends go to - it's clean, reputable, all that good stuff. I hate to be too stiff about it - he is a great kid. This has been a desire for so long, but I'm thinking to set a good example, he should just ride it out for 10 months. If you had an older teen, pretty much grown, solid head on his shoulders (but yeah, I know, he is still a teen), what are your thoughts on going ahead with this now?

You stated in your post that it is no longer legal to tattoo anyone under 18...if the shop is reputable they WILL NOT tattoo him anyway!!....If they fudge on laws regarding the business then they may very well fudge on important things like sterility...you can get rid of a bad tattoo ...you can't get rid of AIDS or HEP C!!!

I think you answered your own question...TAz, Painted Angel

If your son is mature enough to get a tattoo, then he'll certainly be mature enough to understand the importance of shops that abide by the local laws and regulations, and he'll have no problem waiting. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with waiting for the right time to have a tattoo done correctly and safely.

My opinion is: I'll teach my kid rules are rules.
plus if he has waited this long whats another 10 months?

You got that right Molly!!...10 months isn't long to wait for something you live with for the rest of your life....have him spend the next few months researching artists and tattoos...I'll bet that in that time he will change his mind about what he wants...Props to you for bein a good parent!!!...TAz

hey bro,
don't look like too many have said anything about your tattoo quest, but to have ink done in a tattoo parlor in cali, you have to be 18 years old, period. but hey, try heading up to nevada, you can get it done there. hey, you said you live in L.A. i'm sure you could find a homie that would hook you up. shit, thats how i got my first tattoo done. well hope this helped you.
PEACE,
Dluv

Yes, plenty of Homies looking to hook you up. Sounds perfect- Oh wait, no health department regulations to follow, homemade tat guns, needles sterilized in alcohol, crappy little apartment (if its even indoors), drunk, wasted, dirty, sounds fantastic.
Don't forget to get tested for Hep when your done. Hope it was worth it. Not only is the tattoo for life, but so is Hepatitis.

And in the words of a famous man (well...ok he ain't famous!)..

"We DO COVERUPS!!!!!!!"...Cactus Al

so, can i go to Nevada and get it done there??.. i'm 17////????

Wow....just....wow!

i just wanted to say i am 16 years old and i have had a tattoo for almost 3 years i got it when i was 14 and i have not regretted it one bit. Also i got it done at someones house and i was fine he had everything he needed and made sure everything was clean. I have friends that do tattoos at home to and everything is clean. So dont think just because someone says homies it means there wasted drunk and not clean. I also got my tattoo for a best friends dad died so honesty if you dont no if there isnt a reason for the tattoo or the situation of the place where they might get it done i suggest you dont judge you sound like a person who is very quick to doing so.

no u cnt u fukin dik u shuld no if ya r on england 18