Are Beards, Tattoos, Piercings & Body Modifications Allowed in Freemasonry?

Can I become a Freemason if I have tattoos?

This is a question we get 3 or 4 times per week, along with another related question, which is…

Is it ok if I have a beard and/or piercings?

The answer to both questions is yes, you can become a Freemason if you have tattoos, a long beard, piercings, or even all three.

There is no rule in Freemasonry that prohibits either of these things.

This will be a quick article as there’s not much else to say about that, but I will add some more context down below as to what could be seen as offensive as well as rules and regulations about certain other body modifications.

Does Freemasonry Allows People With Tattoos?

Yes, it does.

There is no specific rule that says you cannot have a long beard or a tattoo and be a Freemason.

In fact, there are many Freemasons who have both and there is no issue with it.

The only thing that is important is that you are a good person and meet the other requirements to become a Freemason.

What if my Tattoo is X Rated?

The answer to this question is a little more complicated.

While there is no rule against having an X-rated tattoo, it is generally recommended you make sure it’s well hidden as you do not want to upset or offend any of your fellow Brethren.

The same goes for offensive or profane language tattoos.

Although I’m sure many wouldn’t mind, it’s best to err on the side of caution and cover it up when/if you’re asked

Are Super Long Beards Allowed in Freemasonry?

This is a funny one but yes, (long) beards are also allowed in Freemasonry.

There is no rule that says you cannot have a long beard and be a Freemason.

The only thing that is important is that you are a good person and meet the other requirements to become a Freemason.

Do You Need To Shave Your Beard For Some Ritual?

Not at all. There is no requirement to shave your beard for any part of your initiation ritual or for any other degrees.  You are free to keep your beard as you like for as long as you like.

What About Piercings?

Yes, piercings are also allowed and would not hinder your chances of becoming a Freemason.

However, please note there are parts of the initiation ritual which ask for you to be “divested of all metals and metal substances previous to entering the Lodge” so it might be that you would have to take it off then.

Besides that, I see no issue with piercings when you’re a Freemason.

What About Other Body Modifications?

There are no rules against any other body modifications (such as implants or hair coloring) in Freemasonry.

Again, as long as you are a good person with good morals and you meet the requirements to become a Freemason, you will be welcomed into the fraternity.

How To Become A Freemason

Now that you know that beards, tattoos, and piercings are allowed in Freemasonry, you might be wondering how you can become a Freemason.

The first step is to find a local lodge that you would like to join. You can do this by searching online or asking around.

Once you find a lodge, the best way to get more information is to reach out to them and ask.

They will be more than happy to answer any and all questions you may have (we also have a list of questions we answered here) and tell you more about the process of becoming a Freemason.

If you’re serious about joining, you can also check out our book “How To Become A Freemason”. 

This book will walk you through everything you need to know about becoming a Freemason, from the history of Freemasonry to the requirements and rituals.

You can buy this book here.

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In Conclusion

Yes, tattoos, beards, piercings, and other body modifications are allowed in Freemasonry although there may be some caveats to this (such as the example with piercings).

But rest assured there are no rules that say you cannot have any of these things and be a Freemason.