How Old Do You Have To Be To Get A Belly Button Piercing?

Some teenagers think of getting a belly button piercing because their friends have one or to imitate their favorite celebrity.

However, many parents and teens don’t know that there are state laws on the legal navel piercing age.

In this post, we discuss the age and requirements for your teenager to get a belly button piercing and answer some common navel piercing questions. Let’s dive in.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get A Belly Button Piercing?

The laws on the appropriate age to get a belly button piercing vary by state. 

In most states in the US, a minor (anyone under 18) can get a belly button piercing with parental consent, with some also requiring the physical presence of the parents during the act. The exceptions are Idaho, where a child must be 14 or older; Wisconsin, where a child must be 16 or older; as well as North Carolina & Mississippi where it is illegal to body pierce a minor. 

Below you can find the body piercing laws for each state.

States that do not currently have laws on age limits for body piercing:

Hawaii, Iowa, Massachusetts, Nevada, Washington, and West Virginia. 

States where minors need the written consent of a parent or legal guardian to receive a body piercing:

Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, and Vermont.

States, where minors need written parental permission for body piercing and a parent or legal guardian, must be present during the procedure:

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wyoming.

In Idaho, a child must be 14 or older and needs written parental permission, and they must be present during the procedure.

In Wisconsin, the child must be 16 or older and needs written parental permission, and they must be present during the procedure.

North Carolina & Mississippi are the only states where it is illegal to body pierce a minor. 

In addition to researching your state’s laws, you should also check the regulations for the shop where you intend to get pierced. 

A piercing shop can enforce its own guidelines, including refusing to pierce minors under a certain age, even if the parent or legal guardian consents. 

Remember that a minor must provide valid identification such as a passport or state ID. 

A parent or legal guardian must give notarized consent and should be present.

Notarized consent means your parent or legal guardian must provide proof of signature. This could include coming to the shop and signing there to avoid forgeries. Documentation and proof are also required for legal guardianship. 

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How Old Do You Have To Be To Get A Belly Button Piercing Without Parental Consent?

You need to be 18 to get a belly button piercing without parental consent in most States. 

Anyone under 18 is still a minor and will need to provide written permission from a parent or legal guardian to get a navel piercing. 

They should provide proof of identity like a passport, state-issued ID, and driver’s license, and the parent or legal guardian must be present during the piercing procedure.

Can A 12 Year Old Get A Belly Button Piercing?

In most states, a 12-year-old could get a belly button piercing with parental consent. The exceptions are Idaho, where you must be 14 or older, Wisconsin, where you must be 16 or older, and North Carolina & Mississippi, where it is illegal to body pierce a minor.

Many piercing establishments have their own guidelines and will probably decline to pierce a 12-year-old’s navel. So, if you have a 12-year-old who wants to get this type of piercing, tell them to wait till they’re older.

While belly button piercings might seem cool and effortless, they actually require serious commitment to look good in the long run. They heal more slowly than many other types of body piercings, and they require a lot of aftercare.

Can You Get A Belly Button Piercing At 13?

It’s not advisable to get a belly button piercing at 13 as these piercings typically take longer to heal and requires a lot of care. 

Although you could get a piercing with parental approval at 13 in most states, your body is still growing and changing, so it’s probably best to wait until you’re a bit older. 

Minors have to provide ID and have parental or legal guardian consent.

If you live in Idaho, you must be 14 or older; in Wisconsin, you must be 16 or older; and in North Carolina & Mississippi, it is illegal to body pierce a minor.

Many piercing establishments have their own guidelines, so it’s best to find out if they will pierce a 13-year-old before making an appointment. 

Can You Get A Belly Button Piercing At 14?

In most states, navel piercing of minors who are at least 14 is legal with parental consent.

So, if you are 14, you will be allowed to get a belly button piercing once you provide valid IDs such as a passport and state-issued ID. You will also need parental consent or approval from a legal guardian.

Note: this does not include the state of Wisconsin, where you must be at least 16 years old. In North Carolina and Mississippi, it is illegal to body pierce a minor.

Can You Get A Belly Button Piercing At 15?

15-year-olds can get a navel piercing with parental consent in most states in the US.

You will need to provide valid identification at the piercing shop, like a state ID. Also, your parent will be required to provide written consent and be present during the procedure.

Note: this does not include the state of Wisconsin, where you must be at least 16 years old. In North Carolina and Mississippi, it is illegal to body pierce a minor.

Can You Get A Belly Button Piercing At 16?

16-year-olds are mature and responsible enough to handle a navel piercing. However, since they are not 18 yet, they are minors and will require written consent from a parent or legal guardian and provide identification such as a passport or driver’s license to get the piercing done. 

Note: In North Carolina and Mississippi, it is illegal to body pierce a minor.

Do You Need ID For Belly Piercing?

If you’re over 18 you need valid identification such as a passport, driver’s license, or state-issued ID to get a navel piercing.

Minors will also require written permission from a parent or legal guardian and their presence during the procedure. Note that School IDs are not valid forms of identification.

Check the different US state piercing regulations if you’d like to verify your state’s specific policies.

Piercers sometimes go further and say they won’t pierce minors for certain types of piercings or won’t pierce anyone under 16 even with parents’ or guardians’ permission.

In addition to researching your state’s laws, you should also check the regulations for the shop where you intend to get pierced.

What Age Is It Appropriate To Get A Belly Button Piercing?

Although most states allow belly button piercings with parental consent, it really depends on the maturity of the teen. Because of their location, navel piercings take longer to heal and require good care to heal completely.

Sixteen is probably the recommended age for getting a navel piercing because teens are probably more likely to be able to take care of themselves well at this age.

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Belly Button Piercing Questions

Here are answers to some common navel piercing questions:

How Much Does A Belly Button Piercing Cost?

The cost of a belly button piercing varies from place to place. Expect to pay anywhere between $40 and $75 for both the piercing procedure and the jewelry. You should also consider giving a 10% to 20% tip, especially if the body piercer does a commendable job.

Do Belly Button Piercings Hurt?

Belly button piercings don’t hurt a lot like other body piercings, such as helix piercings (upper cartilage of the ear) where the cartilage is pierced. You will only feel mild pain similar to that of an ear lobe piercing. Throbbing and soreness are common in the first few days, but you won’t feel any more pain after that.

Can You Get Your Bellybutton Pierced If Your Fat?

If you are overweight, you can get a belly button piercing, but it is not advisable because the skin will occasionally cover your navel. This will block the piercing and cause a buildup in sweat, creating the perfect environment for bacterial growth and posing the risk of infection.

Can You Get A Belly Button Piercing With An Outie?

If you have an outie, getting your navel pierced is a bad idea as it typically involves piercing the inner part of your navel. So, when you get an infection, there’s the risk of it spreading to your abdomen’s internal organs, leading to serious health problems. 

In order to determine if your anatomical setup allows for the piercing to heal safely, the piercer should examine your belly button carefully before starting the process. Many reputable piercers won’t take the risk of piercing an outie belly button.

If you can’t get a belly button piercing or are not quite ready for the real thing, you can fake it.

Watch this video below to show you to DIY fake piercings in minutes.

How Long Does A Belly Button Piercing Hurt?

You will experience mild pain for 3-5 seconds when the initial piercing is made and experience tenderness or itchiness for a few days. 

Navel piercings usually take between six months to a year to heal fully because of the constant movements on your belly as you do various activities.

Aftercare is vitally important in the first few months, so you should wash the piercing twice a day with a sterile saline solution and pat dry with a paper towel. Check with your piercer when you believe that it has fully healed before stopping aftercare.

Do Belly Button Piercings Bleed?

A little blood will come out when the piercer creates a hole in the belly button area. Later, a yellow or white colored may ooze from the new piercing. It will create a crust that feels tight or itchy, but this will come off by itself as the piercing heals.

Are Belly Button Piercings Still In Style 2022?

Belly button piercings have regained popularity in the last few years and are just as fashionable as any facial piercing. You can pierce the top or bottom of your belly and use a wide range of jewelry. It’s a great style for piercing enthusiasts.