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Are Tattoos Unprofessional and Are Nose Piercings Unprofessional in the Workplace?
Shifting perceptions are changing how tattoos and nose piercings are viewed at work.
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Tattoos and facial piercings are taboo in the workplace, right? Not so fast. Conventional wisdom is starting to shift. As body modifications become more mainstream and the competition for top talent grows more intense in the hiring process, many workplaces no longer frown upon tattoos and piercings.
We’ll explore the current state of body art in the workplace and answer these key questions: Are tattoos unprofessional in the workplace? And are nose piercings unprofessional too?
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, though attitudes still vary by industry and role.
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, managing director of Silver Lake, executive chair at Unity, and former CEO of Red Hat, agreed that respecting bodily autonomy is a growing trend.
Whitehurst 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.
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 up 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, imbuing them with self-confidence. “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 changing perceptions and a diverse workforce, negative attitudes about body art and piercings persist and may affect how you’re perceived. 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 about these 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 enact tattoo and piercing rules as part of dress code policies prohibiting visible body modifications. These policies can be unpredictable and varied.
- Businesses where workplace safety is a concern: A job may have workplace safety issues that require the removal of jewelry in someone’s piercings.
- 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 and Marine Corps have strict policies prohibiting visible body art, while the U.S. Navy is more lenient. The Navy allows tattoos anywhere but the head, face or scalp. For medical professionals, body art regulations are in the hands of each facility.
- 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 ubiquitous these expressions of personal style 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
It’s safe to say that many people in the workforce already have body art, and many with tattoos and nose piercings are likely in hiring positions recruiting new employees.
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 than not, you may run into resistance or run afoul of 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 effectively hide large tattoos on your arms, chest and back.
3. Keep tattoos off the face, hand 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 removable.
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 filled in with a clear plastic substitute. If a customer or colleague has an issue with a piercing and you are aware of it, consider swapping it out with one of these alternatives to avoid causing someone discomfort.
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 consulting with the company lawyer or HR personnel before getting a tattoo or a piercing can help identify any employee handbook clauses you may violate by getting body art.
“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. Some source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.
