9/11/01        We Remember

What is the minimum age to get a tattoo or piercing at Tattoo Charlie’s?

We do not pierce or tattoo anyone under 18, no professional studio will. Under 18, the skin is still growing and stretching. While the skin is still in such a rapid state of change even the most perfectly placed piercing will end up crooked, or more likely, it will grow itself out and create a lot scar tissue. A tattoo is a much more permanant change to your body. It is hard enough trying to pick a pair of shoes to wear for a year, much less a design that will be on your body for the next 70 or 80 years.  The skin is also still growing and most tattoos done under 18 will fade out really fast and look much older than they actually are.

If you would like some information on what to look for in a studio that will pierce under 18, please check our website under studios and read the sterilization information. You can also go to the Association of Professional Piercers website for more information. At the APP website they also have a search for finding professional piercers. If you go to a place and it seems the least bit odd, you should leave. 

The same is true for tattoo studios. You can check The Alliance of Professional Tattooists for more information also.

Can I look at designs on-line or can you you email me designs?

 At each of our studios we have over 60,000 designs. Due to the sheer number of different patterns we are not able to scan them all in or email out specific designs. The best way to find a new tattoo is to come into the studio and look around. We do not hassle you like a used car lot, it is a very low pressure environment. 

If you want to bring in your own design you are welcome to.  We can take designs off of shirts, hats, cd covers, your artwork, or most anything else.  There are also many tattoo design sites on the internet.  If you go to one, you can look at thedesigns in a small thumbnail and if you find one you want all you have to do is click on the purchase button. Most of the designs are under $10 and they will email you the full size design and a line drawing.  Just bring those in and we will be happy to tattoo it on you.

I want a tattoo on my hand, will you do it?

We do not tattoo below the wrist bone. First, 90% of the bacteria on the human body is on the hands. This means an open wound (a tattoo) is particularly prone to developing an infection there.  Second, the skin on the hands is different than the skin on the rest of the body. Because there is so much friction there due to constant use, the skin regenerates many times faster than on the rest of the body.  This means that a tattoo on the hands fades very quickly and doesn't hold its color like it would anywhere else on the body. We don't want to do a tattoo that is not going to look good on you the rest of your life. We also don't want you to have a tattoo that you are not happy with.   Our reputation goes out the door with every tattoo we do. 

 Okay, how about a tattoo on my neck then?

We also do not tattoo above the collar bone. A tattoo on the neck is always visible whether you are at home, school, or work.  It is visible when you go to your child's PTA meeting, when you go on a new job interview, when you go to court over a traffic violation, and when you go to your parents house for Christmas. It is unfortunate but true that the society we live in does still discriminate against visible tattoos. Is it really worth not getting a higher paying job, not getting out of a court fine, or not getting the simple respect you deserve just to have a tattoo on your neck?