Despite the fact that getting a tattoo is an extremely painful process, people get them all over their bodies, whether it be their face, torso, or in some extreme cases, eyeballs.

Since the popularity of tattoos has risen in the past years, people of all ages want tattoos, including adolescents. However, it is illegal for anyone under the age of eighteen to get  a tattoo, with or without parental consent, yet we see many of our peers in the hallways with tattoos.

Piercings have also risen in popularity, with the belly button piercing, nose piercing, or a standard ear piercing often being the choice for most. The law applies as well, but there is a difference between the severity of underage tattooing and piercing: someone under 18 years old can actually get a piercing with a parent’s consent.

A student with a tattoo, Hiba Aly told me “Its just a cultural thing, it wasn’t intended to be a tattoo but it was done wrong and it scarred.”

According to the Department of Health, “It is violation of Section 260.21 of New York State Penal Law to tattoo minors under the age of 18, regardless of parental consent.” This law also prohibits body piercings for children under the age of eighteen unless consent is given by the parent. These laws became effective in 1997, however before 1997, tattoos were banned for thirty-six years as it was believed to be a harbinger of diseases such as Hepatitis.