NBR: Would you give your underage child permission to get a tattoo?

KNemo · March 2011

My friend's daughter's FB status led me to ask this question. It reads "about to get inked! "

I have one. My hubby has multiple. Yet, it still bother's me that this friend is allowing her 16-year old to get a tattoo. That means that mom has to sign away permission for her daughter to get tattooed.

So what do you think? Is 16 too young or is this acceptable? Am I being an out of touch prude?

My vote: Too young!

JRS72206 · March 2011

Too young!

ChubbyCheekiesMom · March 2011

IMO it's too young, and if they are going to a good place to get the tattoo they will tell them that as well. When I was 16 I went with my mom to get her belly buttoned pierced and I also wanted it. The guy told me that because I was so young, my body would more than likely change, or I could change my mind. He suggested I wait a few years. I did, until I was 18. I wouldn't allow my child to get a tattoo at 16. Getting a piercing is one thing, it can leave a scar but a tattoo is forever.

I can't imagine liking a tattoo I got at 16 now at 29. Half the time I don't like the one I have that I got at 21.

scrh2010 · March 2011

definitely too young... especially at that age your tastes change from day to day haha

ohyeahdollface · March 2011

I'm 21, and just felt at the age of 19 that I was mature and responsible enough to decide on a design that I could handle for the rest of my life. Although I wish parts were placed differently as it does not compliment many shirts. (A large piece on the chest.)

But 16 is WAY to young.

KNemo · March 2011

Part of the issue is this kid and her mama act too much like friends. I love my friend, and I love this little girl (I've known her since she was two), but I don't approve of half the stuff she is allowed to do. I would never let my daughter act the way that her mom let's her act.

There are really questionable photos of her on her FB page as well. REALLY PERVY QUESTIONABLE PHOTOS. I showed them to my hubby and he said, "Oh hell no! Our daughter will never dress or act like that!" At least not in public, right?!

LauraLynneC · March 2011

My daughter was finally allowed to wear makeup at 16. HelltotheNO on ink. Hell no to additional holes anywhere in the body. I still strictly supervise all internet use and they don't watch more than about 10 hours a MONTH of TV.

I am a VERY strict parent though - admittedly.

doublem · March 2011

I vote for too young, too.

I think about the types of designs I might have tattooed on myself at that age and cringe. DH wanted to get one then, too, but his mom said that she would save his design and if he still wanted the same design when he was 21, she would pay for it. Guess what?! She never paid for that tattoo.

Ciaram22 · March 2011

Too young.

ckmommy · March 2011

I also say too young. I have 3 but all have significant meaning to me and are placed so that clothing covers them. I do have 3 little flowers on my right foot that are visible when I wear sandals but I feel they are tasteful. Another is on my hip that is a design I found when I was 8. I held onto it for 11 years and still loved it. Another is a tribute to my mother and part of it is a symbol she uses at the end of her signature. My dad always told us if we got a tatoo before we were 18 he would kick us out. I got my first one at 18. My brother saw it and was hoping my dad would be angry when he told him. Instead he was disappointed when my dad just shrugged and said "her body now." Made my day.

xosheenaox · March 2011

My vote is too young as well. My sister got her first tattoo at 16. My parents were against it, her boyfriend at the time his cousin did tattoos. My parents finally gave in because they knew she would do it anyway. Then this way they atleast went with her made sure everything was clean.

MOHjen · March 2011

Oh hell to the no! That is too young. I got one at 18 and I wish I had waited until I was older.

kaskade · March 2011

Too young! No way. If she wants it that bad she can wait the two years and get it then; then you know she's serious about it.

~Lynchie~ · March 2011

I got one at 17 and I HATE it!! HATE! So I definitely think 16 is too young, I even think 18 is too young... I think the rule should be 25, tattoos are forever, y'all!

cwhip77 · March 2011

I almost got a Hello Kitty tattoo once in Vegas. And I was like 20.

16 = too high of a chance of getting something stupid.

cwhip77 · March 2011

~Lynchie~:
I got one at 17 and I HATE it!! HATE!

WELL???? What is it?? Stick out tongue

~Lynchie~ · March 2011

cwhip77:

~Lynchie~:
I got one at 17 and I HATE it!! HATE!

WELL???? What is it??

Its this huge, ugly, god-awful, purple and black, heart thing on my back. You can kind of see it in this pic:

.

cwhip77 · March 2011

~Lynchie~:
cwhip77:

~Lynchie~:
I got one at 17 and I HATE it!! HATE!

WELL???? What is it??

Its this huge, ugly, god-awful, purple and black, heart thing on my back.

Damn! I was hoping it was a tramp stamp!!! Wink

KailaF10 · March 2011

I vote too young. I have 2 and my mom made me wait till I was 18 but that was bc my father was totally against it. I regret getting them as a money issue and I don't get to really show them off unless its swimming suit season and even then I need to lose some weight.

newmommy74 · March 2011

Definitely FAR too young!!!!

mishquiche · March 2011

Too young!

pinktulips · March 2011

Too young. I am not much of a prude when it comes to things like that, but if I have to sign for it, then you probably don't need it.

skenyon · March 2011

I have many tattoos and I love them all, (with exception to the drunken tramp stamo I got in Canada). I think that 16 is too youn,. if they are going to any reputable place they will not do it. Washington State law deems tattooing of a minor as cruel and unusual action . My family got memorial tatoos for my Grandpa when he passed away recently and my brother is not quite 18, our artist gladly drew up his stencil and has it filed away but will not touch him until his birthday in May.

KameronLee98 · March 2011

skenyon:
I have many tattoos and I love them all, (with exception to the drunken tramp stamo I got in Canada). I think that 16 is too youn,. if they are going to any reputable place they will not do it. Washington State law deems tattooing of a minor as cruel and unusual action . My family got memorial tatoos for my Grandpa when he passed away recently and my brother is not quite 18, our artist gladly drew up his stencil and has it filed away but will not touch him until his birthday in May.

I just saw this law posted in a tattoo shop a few days ago when I was with my brother. I got a tinkerbell tatoo on my hip when I was 20 and I am thankful it is hidden bc I don't know what I was thinking. Its not horrible but I wish it wasn't there. I agree with everyone that 16 is just way to young!

tfarabians · March 2011

I won't even give my dh permission to get a tattoo lol!!! 16 is way too young!

mrssmith717 · March 2011

Too young!

StellaZ · March 2011

Yep, too young. You can get a henna tattoo and color your hair anything you want - heck, get a mohawk...but nothing permanent. I like the idea of "if you still want the exact same one in the same spot at 21 I will pay for it." Will never happen. My 25 year-old Sis wanted a scrabble tile tattoo saying "vegan".... Aaaaand one year later, no longer vegan ((insert eye roll here)) BTW- the image of all these old ladies in nursing homes in 2050 with blurry unintelligible tramp stamps cracks me up!!

IdahoGirl · March 2011

I'm suprised at how many "too youngs" there are here! I would have thought I was the only one to think it was too young since I'm so much more conservative than alot of ya'll.

I'd wanted a tattoo at 18 and I'm SO glad I waited and never did it. It's far too permanent.

The s-kiddo has a couple of them and I truly wish she'd waited until she was older. As many of you have pointed out, what you want when you're 18 is not what you want when you're 25 or 30 or 35.

If you're older and you know your mind, go to town.

I'm also one that thinks they should be someplace inconspicuous regardless of your age because there are just too many people in the workforce that still give it the side eye - and those sorts of things do affect how you are perceived.

But that's just me and I'm a conservative sort and some of my dearest, most beloved friends have a ton of art and I don't think twice about it.

~Lynchie~ · March 2011

cwhip77:
~Lynchie~:
cwhip77:

~Lynchie~:
I got one at 17 and I HATE it!! HATE!

WELL???? What is it??

Its this huge, ugly, god-awful, purple and black, heart thing on my back.

Damn! I was hoping it was a tramp stamp!!!

I would actually prefer a tramp stamp. At least a tramp stamp is easily covered!

breebree13 · March 2011

As someone who's mom took them to get a tattoo at 17 I say too young! (My dad was furious too!) I was just telling a friend how I want to get the tattoo removed...actually I want to get a couple removed. If they ever have a groupon on tattoo removal I'm all over that! Lol I hope that I can discourage my kiddos from making my same mistakes!

IkesHawaiian06 · March 2011

Too young. I have thought about getting a tattoo since I was 18. I always thought a hibiscus flower would be cute on my foot or ankle, but I went with a friend when she got her tattoo on her foot and she squeezed my hand so hard I decided it wasn't worth the pain. :-)

I agree with others, if you still want it at 21 or 25, then fine. I understand tattoos that people do in memory of, but I'd still say wait.

jcyahne · March 2011

DH got a tattoo around 19 or 20 that he ended up hating and eventually got covered up with something else (he has full sleeves now). I would ask my 16 year old to wait a couple years until they are 18 and then they could decide for themselves.

dawnies79 · March 2011

I proudly have a "tramp stamp". I got my tattoo when I was 18, and it was drawn by a very good artist friend of mine. I'm still very happy with it (and it's location) today. I do agree that 16 is too young...I even think 18 is too young. I shudder to think what I would have chosen if I hadn't had a friend drawing me something original. I'm so completely different now than I was back then. I'm pretty sure whatever I would have chosen, I probably would not still like today.

KNemo · March 2011

I got mine when I was 19, and though I don't hate it, I am super glad that I don't have to look at it everyday. I would have also chosen something completely different now. (It is also a tramp stamp, sort of ... it's a little higher up on my back!)

nykola · March 2011

Too young!

At 16-years-old, few people know where they'll be in life in 10 years. It's not the best time to permanently alter your body. Granted, even without permission, she may do it anyway, but as a parent, I would never give the okay.

Given that the tattoo removal industry is booming, I'd say there's a lot of ink regret out there. She should wait it out...

pixelvixen · March 2011

Way.too.young... my parents' rule for any piercings (other than the ears) and tattoos were "not in my house". I obeyed, but I got my first tattoo about 3 weeks after I moved out at age 19...

cari12 · March 2011

At that age? No.

Hair dye: sure, piercings: possibly, but no tattoos.

hepcats · March 2011

My mom approved one for me at age 17 but the rule was that I had to want the exact same design for at least one year prior to her agreeing to it. Once I hit that 1 year mark, I was all over it. I'm 33 now and still haven't changed my mind about it. However, desires are so fleeting at that age that I'd probably enforce the same rule - if you have staying power with your interest in a design, you'll probably continue to like it even later. I'd also want to ensure it wasn't some place that could jeopardize his/her professionalism later in life. All mine are in places that are fairly hidden - nothing too out there and nothing I can't easily hide - as it can definitely jeopardize people's opinions of you (fortunately or unfortunately).

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