Environmental Health

• Tattoos and Permanent Makeup

In order to perform body tattooing, you can either go to a school or learn side-by-side with a practitioner at a body art establishment. In NJ, the state health department (NJDOH) doesn't issue a tattoo license to individuals, but rather an approval, and that's through the local health department where your body art establishment is located. The local health department will verify your credentials, as well as any other artists in your firm. The body art establishment itself is licensed and inspected by the local health department. The tattooing regulations can be found in Subchapter 7.

The level of tattooing that you will be doing is dependent upon how many hours of tattooing experience that you can document, by employment records, business records, references from previous employers, etc. If it's less than 2000 hours, then you would have to work as an apprentice under the supervision of a licensed practitioner until you get to the 2000 hour milestone. You will also need 10 client applications and 10 photographs or digital images of tattoos that you have personally performed. Copies or original consent forms or testaments from 3 clients are also required in order to be qualified as a practitioner. All apprentices and practitioners must obtain bloodborne pathogen training that is compliant with OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.1030.

If you do not meet the above standards, then you will need to apprentice under a licensed practitioner until you obtain the experience/documentation to become a practitioner and/or operator.

Please note that generally, all body art procedures must be performed in a commercial body art establishment, approved by the local construction, zoning, and health departments.

• Directory of Local Health Departments [PDF]
• N.J.A.C. 8:27-1 et seq. Body Art Procedures [PDF]

Microblading is the practice of using a hand-held instrument, tipped with a grouping or configuration of needles, utilized for penetrating into the lower epidermal layers and/or dermis, so that pigments are introduced and implanted into the lower epidermal layers and/or dermis. It is also known by a variety of names such as eyebrow embroidery, micro-stroking, feather touch and hair like strokes as a form of permanent makeup that provides a means to partially or fully camouflage missing eyebrow hair with the appearance of simulated hair using fine deposits of pigments, colors, and/or dyes. While some refer to microblading as “semi-permanent cosmetics” because the colorants eventually fade, there is no conclusive, consistent, and reliable proof that the pigments, colors, and/or dies will be completely eliminated from the dermal and epidermal layers of skin.

In N.J.A.C. 8:27-1.3, "Permanent Cosmetics," "Micropigmentation," or "Dermal Pigmentation" are defined as the implanting of inert pigments, colors, and/or dyes intradermally which results in permanent alteration of tissue to gain a cosmetic effect." By definition, Microblading is Micropigmentation. Therefore, operators, practitioners, and apprentices of microblading are subject to the requirements of N.J.A.C. 8:27, and in particular subchapter 8 Permanent Cosmetics.

• N.J.A.C. 8:27-1 et seq. Body Art Procedures [PDF]
• Microblading/Permanent Cosmetics Guidance Document [PDF]

In order to perform body piercing, you can either go to a school or learn side-by-side with a practitioner at a body art establishment. In NJ, the state health department (NJDOH) doesn't issue a piercing license to individuals, but rather an approval, and that's through the local health department where your body art establishment is located. The local health department will verify your credentials, as well as any other artists in your firm. The body art establishment itself is licensed and inspected by the local health department. The piercing regulations can be found in Subchapter 6.

The level of piercing that you will be doing is dependent upon how many hours of experience that you can document, by employment records, business records, references from previous employers, etc. If it's less than 1000 hours, then you would have to work as an apprentice under the supervision of a licensed practitioner until you get to the 1000 hour milestone. You will also need 10 client applications and 10 photographs or digital images of piercings that you have personally performed. Copies or original consent forms or testaments from 3 clients are also required in order to be qualified as a practitioner. All apprentices and practitioners must obtain bloodborne pathogen training that is compliant with OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.1030.

If you do not meet the above standards, then you will need to apprentice under a licensed practitioner until you obtain the experience/documentation to become a practitioner and/or operator.

Please note that generally, all body art procedures must be performed in a commercial body art establishment, approved by the local construction, zoning, and health departments.

• Directory of Local Health Departments [PDF]
• N.J.A.C. 8:27-1 et seq. Body Art Procedures [PDF]

Establishments that perform piercing of the lobe ONLY are no longer exempt from the Body Art Regulations. As of July 18, 2022, they are now subject to licensure and inspection by local health departments. For establishments that perform any type of ear piercing, the following requirements apply:

Ear piercing apprentices must complete a training program, either provided at a piercing school, by their body art establishment operator, or by a practitioner. Proof of successfully completing a training program must be maintained by the operator on the premises.

The apprentice must then perform three ear lobe and three cartilage procedures under the direct supervision of the operator before performing ear piercings independently.

• N.J.A.C. 8:27-1 et seq. Body Art Procedures [PDF]

The following procedures are not considered to be permanent cosmetics and are therefore not subject to the Body Art Rule N.J.A.C. 8:27:

Eyelash Extensions

Cosmetic Application used to enhance the length, curl, fullness and thickness of natural eyelashes. The extensions may be made from, but not limited to mink, silk, synthetic, human or horsehair. During this process cyanoacrylate is the main method of application.

For more information, contact the New Jersey Board of Cosmetology

Eyelash Perming

This is a perming process that uses protective cream and small curved pads or rollers on the eyelids. The eyelashes are coated in glue and pushed against the curved pad. The glue keeps them in place while a curling solution is applied. The solution stays on for 10 minutes and a second solution follows. The solution is then washed off and the pads are removed, leaving lashes with a freshly curled appearance.

For more information, contact the New Jersey Board of Cosmetology

Lash Lift

Is the same basic process as a perm, adds a lash tint or a keratin solution, which is supposed to thicken and lengthen the hair.

For more information, contact the New Jersey Board of Cosmetology

Vitamin Lash Lift

This incorporates tinting which allows lifting, strengthening and straightening (with a slight curve) eyelashes using a combination of vitamins, natural oils and amino acids. This process utilizes silicone pads to lift the eyelashes and coat them with vitamin based lifting product. This allows the eyelashes to grow as much as 50%, for a thicker and longer look.

For more information, contact the New Jersey Board of Cosmetology

Eyebrow Waxing

The removal of stray strands of hair with a single strip of wax.

For more information, contact the New Jersey Board of Cosmetology

Eyebrow Threading

Eyebrow threading is a hair removal technique for eyebrows and other facial and body hair. Eyebrow threading involves twisting a piece of thread, usually cotton, into a double strand. This double stranded thread is used to pick up a line of hair and then remove it, creating a precisely shaped brow or hairline.

For more information, contact the New Jersey Board of Cosmetology

Micro-needling

This is also known as (collagen induction therapy) which is a minimally-invasive treatment that is intended to stimulate collagen in the skin. A small device with fine needles creates tiny punctures in the top layer of the skin (typically 0.5 – 1 mm deep), which stimulates the skin’s natural ability to heal itself and, in the process, produces collagen and elastic. This will improve the texture and firmness of the skin, as well as reduce scars, pore size and stretch marks.

For more information, contact the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners

Laser removal, laser resurfacing, and laser skin rejuvenation

In New Jersey, laser devices are used exclusively by licensed physicians to remove or treat skin conditions. It can also be used for removing tattoos.

For more information, contact the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners

Scalp micropigmentation falls under the same requirements as general permanent cosmetics guidance. Permanent cosmetics apprentices and practitioners, regardless of which specialty they wish to perform, must successfully complete a 100-hour basic permanent cosmetics course. The course can be taught by a trainer or instructor from any of the following:

SofTap, Inc. (SofTap) - www.softaps.com

Society for Permanent Cosmetics Professionals (SPCP) - www.spcp.org

American Academy of Micropigmentation (AAM) - www.micropigmentation.org

Apprentices and practitioners must gain the required experience by perfmorning 5 procedures for lips, 5 for eyebrows, and 5 for eyeliners. They must also successfully pass either the AAM, SPCP, or SofTap examination. 

Once the applicant has completed these requirements, they shall notify the local health department, if they're already working for an existing licensed body art establishment. Applicants can also apply for a body art establishment license with the local health department, if they desire to operate independently.

The applicant must meet all of the requirements of a general permanent cosmetics practitioner and successfully complete a training program in areola restoration of at least 16 hours in length. The course can be taught by a trainer or instructor from any of the following:

SofTap, Inc. (SofTap) - www.softaps.com

Society for Permanent Cosmetics Professionals (SPCP) - www.spcp.org

American Academy of Micropigmentation (AAM) - www.micropigmentation.org

Once the applicant has completed these requirements, they shall notify the local health department, if they're already working for an existing licensed body art establishment. Applicants can also apply for a body art establishment license with the local health department, if they desire to operate independently.

According to N.J.A.C. 8:27-1.3, "camouflage" is definied as a body art procedure that a permanent cosmetics practitioner performs to restore by pigment insertion the appearance of skin that has been altered by: 

1. An injury (such as scarring resulting from an accident, a burn, or a communicable disease, such as varicella or measles);
2. A clinical condition (such as pigment loss resulting from vitiligo); and/or
3. The clinical treatment of an injury, an illness, or a clinical condition (such as scarring that results from surgery or the application of hair transplants, and hyperpigmentation that results from chemotherapy).

Applicants must meet all of the requirements of a general permanent cosmetics practitioner and acquire six months of experience as a full-time permanent cosmetics practitioner. Timesheets, paystubs, an employer or operator certification under the penalty of perjury, or other documentation must be provided for the health authority to confirm the length of the practitioner's practice experience.

Applicants must successfully complete a training program in camouflage of at least 16 hours in length, provided by trainer or instructor from any of the following:

SofTap, Inc. (SofTap) - www.softaps.com

Society for Permanent Cosmetics Professionals (SPCP) - www.spcp.org

American Academy of Micropigmentation (AAM) - www.micropigmentation.org

Once the applicant has completed these requirements, they shall notify the local health department, if they're already working for an existing licensed body art establishment. Applicants can also apply for a body art establishment license with the local health department, if they desire to operate independently.