Are Tattoos and Piercings Unprofessional in the Workplace?

Are piercings and tattoos still unprofessional at work?

Body art, such as tattoos and nose piercings, is no longer automatically considered unprofessional in today’s workplace. As norms evolve and companies prioritize inclusion and personal expression, many employers now accept visible body art, although attitudes still vary by industry and role. Experts point to a few clear trends:

Supporting employee self-expression

For example, many businesses are placing more emphasis on employee well-being, which often includes supporting personal expression through tattoos and piercings. “I think most workplace practices now revolve around the well-being of their employees,” Eyal Pasternak, founder and CEO of Liberty House Buying Group, told us. “Part of this is respecting their bodily autonomy, including being able to get piercings and tattoos. Some of these are even cultural practices, as is the case with some Native American tribes, and should be respected as such.”

Pasternak isn’t the only one who has noticed this workplace shift. Jim Whitehurst, former president of IBM and former CEO of Red Hat, agreed that respecting bodily autonomy is a growing trend and shared his past experience at Red Hat. “Red Hat is an open organization, accepting of people and how they choose to express themselves,” he said. “Whether you have tattoos or piercings, we [wanted] people to feel comfortable and free to be who they [were] here.”

Red Hat’s enthusiastic workforce even mixed this freedom with unprecedented employee loyalty. “In fact, we [had] at least three associates who [were] so passionate about our role in changing the world through open-source technology, they [got] tattoos of our company logo, Shadowman,” Whitehurst recalled. “How many organizations can say the same?”

While tattooing your current company’s logo on yourself may make future job interviews a bit awkward, Red Hat’s employee-centric company culture demonstrates that you can be successful and appreciated for your ink.

Loosening outdated standards to attract top talent

Kirsten Davidson, former head of employer brand at Glassdoor and current managing partner at Employera, pointed out that self-expression is important for employees — and that includes visible tattoos and piercings. Companies are realizing that to attract talented and experienced workers, they need to loosen outdated appearance standards.

“Labeling something taboo is dangerous for workplace transparency,” Davidson cautioned. In her time at Glassdoor, she saw that companies rated highly for culture and values often let people be themselves. “[We often saw] employee feedback about feeling comfortable bringing their whole selves to work or feeling free to be authentic.”

Encouraging people to be themselves means getting the best version of your team members, which can build confidence and improve how they show up at work. “When we encourage people to be themselves, we foster creativity and innovation that is essential for producing the highest-quality work,” Davidson added.

How does body art in the workplace affect how you’re perceived?

Despite shifting perceptions and a more diverse workforce, negative attitudes about body art and piercings persist and can affect how you’re perceived at work. Pasternak said that although many employers respect employees’ bodily autonomy when it comes to tattoos and piercings, “[Some] workplaces, unfortunately, don’t feel the same way and continue to see them as unprofessional.”

You may encounter resistance to tattoos and piercings in these types of work environments:

• Businesses with strict dress code policies: Businesses can include tattoo and piercing rules in dress code policies that prohibit visible body modifications. These policies can vary widely.
• Businesses where workplace safety is a concern: Some roles require employees to remove jewelry from piercings for safety reasons.
• Industries with wide-ranging restrictions: Some industries have strict tattoo policies. For example, most U.S.-based airlines require that no tattoos be visible when cabin crews and pilots are in uniform. Military policies vary, but the U.S. Army now allows tattoos on the hands and behind the ears but still prohibits them on the face and neck. The Marine Corps updated its policy in 2023 to allow full-sleeve tattoos and hand tattoos but still prohibits face, head and neck tattoos. The U.S. Navy allows tattoos anywhere except the head, face or scalp. For medical professionals, body art regulations are typically set at the facility level.
• Businesses where customer bias may be a factor: Sales professionals in customer-facing positions who have body modifications may encounter customer bias. “In sales, you have to be prepared to close a deal with anyone, and unfortunately, you can’t control what biases customers bring into your interactions,” said Oliver Zak, co-founder and CEO of tattoo skincare company Mad Rabbit. “However, in more private, non-sales-driven environments, body art is now considered art, created to connect with yourself and others.”

How prevalent are piercings and tattoos?

Body art is increasingly common across all age groups as tattoos and piercings become more mainstream. A 2025 YouGov survey highlights how common these forms of personal expression have become:

Currently have tattoos:

• Ages 18 to 29: 25 percent
• Ages 30 to 44: 34 percent
• Ages 45 to 64: 27 percent

Considering getting tattoos:

• Ages 18 to 29: 65 percent
• Ages 30 to 44: 58 percent
• Ages 45 to 64: 37 percent

Currently have body piercings (excluding ears):

• Ages 18 to 29: 10 percent
• Ages 30 to 44: 11 percent
• Ages 45 to 64: 5 percent

Currently have facial piercings:

• Ages 18 to 29: 8 percent
• Ages 30 to 44: 11 percent
• Ages 45 to 64: 1 percent

These numbers suggest that body art is already common in the workforce, and many people with tattoos or piercings are now in positions where they’re recruiting new employees and shaping workplace norms.

What should workers consider when getting piercings and tattoos?

If you’re considering body art such as tattoos and nose rings, or if you already have tattoos or piercings and are seeking professional employment, here are some tips and best practices to consider:

1. Avoid offensive body art.

Anything involving nudity, hate symbols or graphic violence is generally a no-go. You likely won’t get hired for a pharmaceutical sales role with a visible skull-and-knife tattoo on your arm. Employers are also concerned about preventing workplace harassment and ensuring co-workers aren’t exposed to images that could be considered inappropriate.

“I think the main thing workers need to keep in mind while getting tattoos is that they don’t get an offensive phrase or symbol, because this can disrupt and offend their co-workers, making the workplace unsafe for them,” Pasternak said.

2. Consider the tattoo’s extent.

If you have small tattoos — like your children’s birth dates or meaningful symbols — most people won’t mind. But if your tattoos cover more of your body or are highly visible, you may run into resistance or conflict with company dress codes.

Think about the size of the tattoo, where it’s located, and how much it might impact your job. For example, clothing like shirts and jackets can often hide large tattoos on your arms, chest and back.

3. Keep tattoos off the face, hands and neck.

Face, neck and hand tattoos are major commitments, and you should consider your long-term career goals carefully before moving forward.

“As all tattooers know, a neck or hand tattoo is a big commitment and traditionally is reserved for those heavily covered and ready to confront society on a daily basis as a heavily tattooed person,” explained tattoo artist Dan Bythewood.

Bythewood cautioned that certain tattoo locations should be thoroughly considered. “Although tattoos are more accepted now than ever, we are still judged daily for our appearance. A hand or neck tattoo may mean the difference between that next job or promotion, and also may spur daily judgmental looks and harassing comments from strangers, as many of my friends have experienced.”

Bythewood explained tattoo artists’ reluctance to create face and neck art on someone who may not be ready for the repercussions. “It’s not a thing to be taken lightly, and I long ago drew an ethical line in the sand for myself as a professional tattooer to turn down ‘job stoppers’ on those who are not already committed to living as a heavily tattooed person.”

4. Get piercings that heal quickly or are easy to remove.

Most people agree that in roles where you’re dealing directly with customers, facial piercings might be distracting. However, they shouldn’t change your customer service approach, even if a customer judges you based on your piercings.

“With piercings, I think it’s important to not get a piercing that is going to hurt or take a long while to heal, which hinders your performance as an employee — for example, a tongue piercing,” Pasternak said.

Many facial piercings, like nose and eyebrow rings, can be replaced with a clear plastic retainer. If a customer or colleague has an issue with a piercing and you are aware of it, consider swapping it out to avoid unnecessary friction.

5. Consider your career goals.

“Workers should consider their current work situation and future career goals when getting tattoos and piercings,” advised Ray Leon, managing partner at Pet Insurance Review. “You should abide by your employer’s guidelines, if any, as this may affect what part of your body you can get a tattoo or piercing.”

Sharon Dylan, co-founder and career coach at Management.org, said that consulting with HR or legal counsel before getting a tattoo or piercing can help you identify any employee handbook clauses you may violate.

“If you plan on entering a career where a ‘clean’ professional look is paramount to success,” Dylan said, “then you may want to reconsider getting a tattoo or piercing.”

Julie Thompson and Suzanne Lucas contributed to this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.