Teens with different looks

[Tonya]

I have kind of an offbeat theory on teens who want body piercings, different hair colors, etc... I was just wondering what everyone else's take is.

Ok, when I was in highschool, my parents pretty much let me do whatever to my body. I had my nose, tongue, belly button pierced. I had all sorts of stupid hair styles and colors... My best friend, on the other hand had very strict parents. They always told her that she couldn't do any of that stuff until she was out of the house.

Well, I got everything "wierd" out of my system. By the time I was an adult, I didn't have a desire to look different. Therefor, I had no problem getting a good job and whatnot. My best friend, on the other hand...the day she turned 18 got her belly button pierced. Flash forward a few years, we're now 25 and Kim has a zillion tattoes and body piercings. Even her gums above her two front teeth are pierced. She has several college degrees, yet can't get a decent job because she looks different.

Would you rather have your kid get everything out of their system while they are in highschool and appearance isn't so critical? Or would you rather have them do everything that they ever wanted to do after they are out of your house...when they are supposed to be becoming responsible adults?

[wolf_Q]

I never had the desire to color my hair, tattoo, or pierce anything in high school. Yes, my parents probably would have been angry at me if I did, but I mostly didn't do that just because I didn't want to. Now I'm out of high school, and I still don't want to, and I don't think I ever will. Maybe a small tattoo or pierce my ears but it's not very likely.

[Glacier]

My parents' rule was that I could do whatever I wanted with my hair, but nothing permanent to my body until I was 18. My hair has been every color known to man and then some. I still dye my hair. I'd have to look at pictures from before I was 14 to tell you what my natural color is. It worked well for us. I got to play around with my look, but I could always correct it if it was awful!

[binka_nugget]

I've never thought about it that way. When I'm older, I won't get any piercings or tattoos that'll conflict with any jobs. Maybe I'll get my nose pierced but that's probably it. I dyed my hair to red, blue and green..and now that I've done it, I don't feel the need to do it again.

[Tonya]

Yeah, I deffinately wouldn't let my kid do anything permanent to themselves. But if the teen has a desire to do something that isn't permanent, mind as well do it while they are young...

[RubyMutt]

My parents let me do just about anything (besides my piercings & tattoos - I had to wait until I turned 18 to get them). I had blood red, hot rod red, orange hair... in high school. I still got a job I now have piercings & tattoos... still have a decent job (they can easily be covered by clothing). I don't have any children, but when I do I'm sure I let them dye their hair, pierce, and what not. I probably won't let them tattoo until they're 18 - it gives them more time to really think about it. It lets the realization of how permanent a tattoo is really sink in.

[tikeyas_mom]

My best friend has alot of percings. she is soo pritty just the same. She has he chin peirced, her toungue peirced, her nose peirced, and her eye brow peirced. She also has for peircings on each ear. The only reason she is alloud to get thoughs things done to her is because she gets on the Government princaples list EVERY year, she is the smartest person I know in my school lol. She wants to be a Marine Biologist (sp?), and she could do it. She is soo smart. Her teachers always judge her right away when she is in their classes, they assume she is a druggy and going to skip classes and fail horridly, but she doesnt, prooves them wronge. I only have my nose and belly peirced, and I have had them done since I was like in grade 7, I am in grade 12 now. lol. My mom ever did her nose with me. I love tattoos, and I will always have them mwahahahahha lol.

[Kfamr]

I see nothing wrong with piercings, tattoos, or hair coloring at ANY age. People should stop looking at it as some sort of sin or something.

[babolaypo65]

I don't see anything wrong with tattoos or piercings as well, however, tattoos at least, are pretty darn permanent (or at least very hard to remove). Until a certain age or maturity level kids aren't always able to see far enough in to the future to a time they might not want to have...say... taz on their forearm, so it's up to the parents to help make those choices. What that age is exactly depends on biology and social maturity.

[Kfamr]

The only tattoo i've really dreamed of getting is a lifelike picture of Simba on my back, or maybe upper arm.

[ILoveMyAbbyGirl]

Well, I don't think I would ever dye my hair a wacky color, but maybe like blonde, or back to my natural color or something.
As for piercings, I have my ears pierced, I want to get the tops pierced, I would do my bellybutton if I wasn't fat.
Tattoos- I wouldn't mind getting one, like a multi-colored cosmic sun, like my sis has.

[wolfsoul]

Well, I'm allowed to dye my hair whatever I want, but I'm not allowed tatoos or piecings anywhere other than my ears.

I think it's best to let teens wear and look like they want. It's the most stressful point in your life. Being yourself can loosen that up and make you independant.

I know when I'm out, I'll probably go get a tatoo right away.

[Tonya]

I think it's best to let teens wear and look like they want. It's the most stressful point in your life. Being yourself can loosen that up and make you independant.

Exactly.

[Uabassoon]

I had strict parents and was never allowed to dye my hair when I lived with them. So as soon as I moved out of the house and started college I dyed my hair almost every color imaginable. As for tattoos and peircings I do have several but they can all be easily covered. I want to be able to cover them for when I need to look professional and hide them from my parents who would go nuts if they ever saw them

[aly]

I don't think that everyone has the desire to do that. I'm almost 25 and only have a couple ear piercings. I have no desire for tattoos or anything like that. I have very strict, conservative parents, but even when I moved out, I never wanted to rebel or be different looking.

I think I would rather have a kid who also didn't have the desire. However, I wouldn't have a problem letting my child dress differently as long as it didn't interfere with their lifestyle. What I mean is .. in high school, all the druggies dressed the same way. I would let my child dress that way, but if I ever found out my child was doing drugs ... the *you-know-what* would hit the fan!