Kids 16 and under with tatoos? Mostly girls. WWYD?

[JanaNs]

I came home from a business trip 2 years ago and my son, who was 16 at the time had gotten a tattoo while I was gone.....on his hand! Not really something you can cover up. He said the tattoo artist never even asked him how old he was. I reported the shop and they are now closed (not because of my report alone I assume) but since then my son has gone to a different shop and gotten 2 more tattoos, still under the age of 18. Goes to show my lack of control, huh?

 

[amandamims1]

I've actually had a tattoo since I was 18. My moms best friend did it in her home. My boyfriend has 2, first one at 19. My brother has one of his daughters name. My sister in law has 2, she'll be 19 in november. My mom has 6.

Tattoos are no big deal in our family.

Live and let live.

 

[MichelleVW]

I am waiting till the ones with the tramp stamp turn like 85 and are in a nursing home....how stupid will that look hanging out of a johnny?

I have 3 tattoos and I love them all. I don't buy into the "what will they look like at 85" because I figure at that point who the heck cares what I look like anyway. Will I care that the butterfly on my ankle has gross veins near it...nope..


My girls both want tattoos, and the rule is not during high school and please nothing you can't easily cover after that.

The girls are in Europe right now visiting their dad and when they get back I'm taking DD18 to get her tattoo. She wants a peace sign on her foot, I can live with that. I thought she was going to tell me she wanted a Jonas Brothers tattoo....

 

[okeydokey]

I'm sure the fad will pass and then there will be big money to be made in removing them from people. Thankfully my kids think they are unattractive.

 

[terri01p]

The problem with tattoos at such an early age is you are not the same person at 16 that you will be at 30 or 40...that cute frog you put on as a teen will make you sick at 30.
You do not know how many people have been turned away from a professional business job I worked in because of a tattoo that they couldn't conceal, I had one guy about to cry because he was turned away from a job that would have been a decent living for himself and his family all because of a cupid doll on his arm that he got as a teen.

 

[MichelleVW]

The problem with tattoos at such an early age is you are not the same person at 16 that you will be at 30 or 40...that cute frog you put on as a teen will make you sick at 30.
You do not know how many people have been turned away from a professional business job I worked in because of a tattoo that they couldn't conceal, I had one guy about to cry because he was turned away from a job that would have been a decent living for himself and his family all because of a cupid doll on his arm that he got as a teen.

And that is why we have had discussions for the past 6 years or so on where you should get a tattoo.

They know they could possibly not get a job in they have visible piercings/tattoos so hopefully they will have enough sense not to do it.

 

[imabrat]

Mine is on my foot, so it's easily hideable. The only time it shows is when I'm barefoot, or during the summer when all I wear are flip-flops. It is fairly small, only about 2 inches long by 1 inch wide. I guarantee you I won't regret this one because, my cancer will live with me forever. As much as I try to push it away, it won't go away - that's why I got the tattoo. To remind me of my battle and if I can beat cancer, I can do anything.

I know my circumstance is different than most, but it annoys me when people say I'll regret this because I got it so young. Or that it'll look crappy when I'm 85. I don't even know if I'm going to live to be 85, so I'm going to live while I can.

 

[MichelleVW]

I know my circumstance is different than most, but it annoys me when people say I'll regret this because I got it so young. Or that it'll look crappy when I'm 85. I don't even know if I'm going to live to be 85, so I'm going to live while I can.

Honey, I was 30 when I got my first tattoo and I heard the "you'll regret it" and "what will it look like when you're old"

I'm 42 and my only regret is that I can't see the one on my back since it's my favorite one!!

 

[m&m's mom]

If it is done with consent, it's fine by me. If not, I'd sue them to recover the cost of removal. Personally, I can't wait until this and the piercing fad have passed.

I cannot agree with you more!
How many other fads mark you for life?

I don't care for tattoos on anyone, man or woman. being a nurse, I have seen what they look like when the person gets older and the skin becomes more fragile and translucent and loses its elasticity and so forth...it ain't pretty.

I also hate all the facial piercing, other than ears.

But I am old-fashioned I guess.

Count me in as old-fashioned too. I am 43 and there is simply no way I would ever have a tattoo. I take that back- if I had a scar that could be concealed by a tattoo (flesh colored) that maybe.... but I would sure try everything else first

I loathe tattoos. In my state, it is illegal to tattoo someone under 18 even if the parents give consent. If a child of mine came home with a tattoo, I would contact the police and report the place.

The child would be grounded for life, and she would be on her own once she hit 18. We would not fund her college education as we are planning to do. Our rules on this are crystal clear--no tattoos or body modification on our dime.

I like your attitude.
Thankfully my DH and I both feel the same way about them.
My 13 (in 5 days) year old DD and 9 yo DD do not even want their ears pierced.

The problem with tattoos at such an early age is you are not the same person at 16 that you will be at 30 or 40...that cute frog you put on as a teen will make you sick at 30.
You do not know how many people have been turned away from a professional business job I worked in because of a tattoo that they couldn't conceal, I had one guy about to cry because he was turned away from a job that would have been a decent living for himself and his family all because of a cupid doll on his arm that he got as a teen.

Our company (Fortune 50) has very strict rules about tattoos. If they are visible they are to be covered. I always laugh at a co-worker that has to wear long sleeves in 100 plus degree Texas heat to cover up her tattoo.

 

[KristaTX]

At my compound, there are several people who do very nice tattoos. They all use fresh ink and new needles. It's an art form. I am not personally tattoed as I do not inflict pain on my body purposefully, lol.

I am just curious and it has nothing to do with tattoos. What's a compound? A military base?

 

[Shmily1]

I took DD18 to FL to get a tattoo when she was 17 because I could sign or her there and not in GA. It was a reputable shop and they were very good with her. She got a very pretty butterfly on her lower back (I know, a tramp stamp--haha!). By me signing and paying, I got to make sure it was something that could be hid, not be offending, and something that she wouldn't be ashamed of when she's 50. I don't regret taking her and she loves it!! It hurt a lot so I doubt we have to worry about her doing it again!

 

[MichelleVW]

I took DD18 to FL to get a tattoo when she was 17 because I could sign or her there and not in GA. It was a reputable shop and they were very good with her. She got a very pretty butterfly on her lower back (I know, a tramp stamp--haha!). By me signing and paying, I got to make sure it was something that could be hid, not be offending, and something that she wouldn't be ashamed of when she's 50. I don't regret taking her and she loves it!! It hurt a lot so I doubt we have to worry about her doing it again!

IDK, I thought my first tattoo hurt A LOT, but I got 2 more after that!

 

[NC State]

Personally, I can't wait until this and the piercing fad have passed.

Me too, I haven't seen one that looked good on someone.

 

[Inigo]

I don't like tattoos, and hope my kids don't ever want one. DD18 says she may decide to get one someday, but only after she picks something she could live with for the rest of her life. DS22 says he won't ever get one, and he's pretty sure DD will change her mind before she ever picks a design.

As for me, I can't even pick a hair color to stick with for more than a few months, so how could I pick a tattoo to have for the next 50 years?

Another thing I don't like is piercings other than normal piercings in the earlobes. Those huge gauges in the ears are hilariously funny, IMO. Once they take the huge rings out, they're going to have big holes there that will flop in the breeze. (kinda like in the song "do you ears hang low, do they wobble to and fro")

At my office, the only piercings allowed while at work are in the ear lobes. All tattoos have to be covered up. It's that way in most of the established businesses in the community.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

I have no moral or ethical issues with tattoos. I just hate seeing someone so young make any permanent changes to their bodies. At 33 my interests are way different than they were when I was a teenager and I'm really glad I wasn't able to permanently mark myself then because I am sure I would regret it now.

 

[Pigeon]

I'm sure the fad will pass and then there will be big money to be made in removing them from people.

There already is big money in this. BIL is a dermatologist and gets many people every week looking to have tattoos removed. The problem is, it's expensive, not covered by insurance, painful, and often unsuccessful. He tries to talk them out of it.

 

[islandmum]

my advice would be show a teen girl how many women at age 50+ are either trying desperately to hide their tattoos or how bad they look now with wrinkling and stretching after many years. Also go see someone who's had a tattoo removed and the scarring thats left.

All I needed to see was a 50 year old woman on holiday with her tats and her desperately trying to cover them, couldnt wear a nice small sundress or swimsuit from her embarrassment of something she'd done 20 years earlier to be "cool". They were the bain of her life.

There should be some kind of system (invention really) where a persons first tattoos are ones that have a life of say 10 years before fade away, and then if you still want one get permenant ones.

My best pal got hers as a teenager and now as she stands at the school gates as a middle class mum picking up her kids she HATES what she did to herself.

It used to be cool and hip and different - amusing that now its so common you're not being different or rebellious at all, just following the herd.

 

[xCourxCorex]

I just got my third tattoo done last week, and this subject came up. In MA it is illegal to tattoo a minor even with parental consent. Some former tattoo artists operate out of their own houses, or make house calls to do tattoos for minors. Clearly these girls (and others getting tattoos not done in a professional setting) are not considering the reasons WHY that individual is not licensed and working in a shop somewhere - probably violated rules of the shop, lost their license, etc.
Ick!


Also, I do not agree with PP who says they are done to be "cool". Not all teens or young adults get tattoos to be cool or stand out. Believe it or not, some people genuinely like the idea of artwork on their bodies permanently.

 

[rie'smom]

My daughter's friend got one at 13. Her sister's friend did it-black market. It worries me that these people don't clean their equipment properly. What kinds of diseases can these kids get by going to disreputable tattoo "artists".

My daughter mentioned wanting to get one and I said no. When she's old enough to earn the money for one, fine. However, I think maybe she has changed her mind, please God.

Her godmother has a frog tatoo she got on her senior trip 10 years ago. He's moved south and a frog that has a stretch mark running through him is not pretty.

 

[SamRoc]

I don't care for tattoos on anyone, man or woman. being a nurse, I have seen what they look like when the person gets older and the skin becomes more fragile and translucent and loses its elasticity and so forth...it ain't pretty.

I also hate all the facial piercing, other than ears.

But I am old-fashioned I guess.

I dont like tattoos, either. My dh, ds and ds also dont like them. There is one family member who got one and thats my brother. He developed hepatitis and its was awful watching him give himself injections. He said the liver biopsy was painful too. I like skin just the way it is! Pamela Anderson also contracted hepatitis C from a tattoo.