Military Tattoo Regulations

So you have made up your mind and have decided to serve your country and join the military, but the recruiter gives you some devastating news-your tattoo is preventing you from enlisting. Not to worry, you can still get the opportunity to serve, it is just going to take longer before you can enlist. Depending on what branch of service they you wish to join, your tattoos will be evaluated based on content, location of the tattoo and how many tattoos that you have.

Offensive Content- All five military branches have regulations based on the tattoos content. Tattoos deemed offensive based on gangs, violence, drugs or sex will not be accepted. The same applies for any tattoo that discriminates against race, sex, or religion.

Body Placement

Navy: The Navy allows multiple visible large tattoos on the arms and legs, they just can not be visible through dress whites. Tattoos are allowed on the hands, and you can have one tattoo on the neck as long as it is not larger than one inch. No tattoos on the face, scalp, or forehead.

ARMY: No tattoos allowed on the face, head, neck, or hands. Additionally, no tattoos in the mouth, ears, or eyelids.

Marines: No tattoos on the face, head, neck, or anywhere above the collarbone. Hands must be tattoo free except for a single tattoo on one finger no wider that 3/8 of an inch. No tattoos larger than your hand, and arm tattoos must be two inches below the elbow or one inch above the elbow. Half and full sleeves are not allowed. Tattoos on the legs can not be placed two above or below the knees.

Air Force: The Air Force will not allow anymore than twenty five percent of the exposed skin in any uniform to be covered with tattoos, and no tattoos are allowed on the face, neck, head, or scalp.

Coast Guard: No tattoos on the neck, head, face, and hands. Tattoos on the arms and legs is limited to twenty five percent based on a visual inspection.

North Houston Laser Tattoo Removal supports our military and your decision to serve. We offer military discounts and will work with you and your recruiter to get your tattoo removed to be compliant.

How long will it take before I see my tattoo fade?

How quickly that you notice results from laser tattoo removal varies greatly from person to person. Tattoos fade at varying rates due to a number of factors from the color of the inks to the customers immune system and many other reasons. In this day of instant gratification and same day amazon deliveries; laser tattoo removal can be frustrating due to the length of time that it takes.

In Most cases , fading can be seen within a few weeks after the first laser session. However, with very dense, high quality inks the initial fading can be minimal and often not noticed until compared to your “before” picture.

These slow to fade tattoos will begin to fade dramatically after a few sessions, and often friends and family even start to notice that your tattoo is starting to fade away. The customer in this photo had a co-worker tell her that she needed to get her tattoo touched up! Be patient, give it time, and you will eventually see results.

Getting Ready for Tattoo Removal

So the big day has arrived, you are about to begin the journey of laser tattoo removal. Here are a few tips to help things go smooth as possible:

  • Stay out of the sun– If you are a sun worshiper give your skin a break from tanning for a couple of weeks. If your skin is sunburned we will not be able to begin until your skin has healed.
  • Avoid topical creams and cosmetics– Do not use lotion, concealers, perfumes, etc. on the area of the tattoo. Make sure the area is freshly shaved and washed.
  • Wear comfortable clothes- Especially around the area where your tattoo is located. Tight clothing can increase swelling and cause discomfort afterwards.
  • No Ibuprofen or Aspirin- Ibuprofen(Advil) and Aspirin can thin the blood thereby increasing the chances of bruising and pin-point bleeding in the area being treated. If you prefer, Tylenol can be taken before and after your session.
  • Eat a Hershey Bar! Studies show, and my customers can attest that eating a Hershey’s bar on the way to your appointment helps with the pain of laser tattoo removal. Cacao, the ingredient in chocolate increases your endorphin and serotonin levels. Plus, it tastes good!

Can I get a Tattoo removed from my face?

While tattoos have become widely accepted in today’s society, they can still have a negative stigma associated with them.  They can make it harder to find a job, get a promotion, or even finding that significant other.  Having an unwanted tattoo that you can hide with a jacket or long sleeve shirt is nothing compared to having a tattoo on your face or neck.  So unless you are Post Malone or Mike Tyson, these facial or neck tattoos can present a challenge in your professional and personal life.

 

If your tattoo is close to your eye you will need to come in for a consultation so that we can verify that our eye shields will cover your eyes so your tattoo can safely be removed.   Lasers and eyeballs do not get along together.