Tattoos on teens - opinions pls

[borzoimom]

Well I agree with your point of a 18 year old, especially a young man, without your conscent getting one in a not so sanitary situation. And also as long as it can be covered for working etc, that would be fine with me. I will admit a tattoo on a woman gives me a quick eyebrow raise, but see nothing wrong with it for a man. My step son, the ex marine has two. Very tasteful, and mostly able to be covered. ( on his arm, and his chest.) Please remember- at 18 they are able to be drafted so they are adults. They can also vote- he does not need your consent, and all we can offer is opinion..
My daughter is now 21. All I can do is advise, and I have found being supportive not only has her more honest with me about adult problems to "discuss" with "mom"- but also having her trust, I know more what is going on with her. ( she lives 60 miles away.) I would have to say yes, and offer to help him find a good tattoist. Remind him he will have this for life, so it needs to be done WELL... And where ever he puts it, if the muscle mass behind might change with age, he needs to consider that as well. I think the upper arm is pretty popular..

[Kfamr]

If he is 18 and doesn't need your money to get a tattoo, I'd imagine you have no way of stopping him, as he can just go behind your backs and do it anyways. My sister was not allowed to get her belly button pierced according to my dad, however, she did it anyways and they had NO clue!


I'd say research with him, go with him, and make sure it's done in sanitary conditions. Try to make your husband realize this point, too.

[Husky15]

I agree with Kay, you probably couldn't stop him, so it's best you research with him and go with him. Or maybe just put your foot down. I mean, I wanted a lip ring, but my father said that if I get one, he will kick me out, and my parents are pretty lenient about body alterations, so I knew he meant business. Needless to say, I wont be getting one.

[wolfsoul]

I say yes! If the conditions aren't sanitary, he could get HIV or something else. I think it's fair the he can gets one as long as it's in a place that can be covered -- which he may thank you for in the long run!

[TFTpwnsYou]

I say go with him. I begged my mom since I was like 12 for one, and at 16 it was my birthday present. He is 18, but it is always better to have someone go with you on that very 1st trip. I'd say just discuss, and even though he knows it's permenent to get something that he will forever love because it is a big decision. Find some shops, check them out, ask to see their work and such and how they go about with the tattoo. If they're not willing to show you then well that's a no. And discuss about putting it somewhere it can be covered for work as you said. It is better so support on something like this than to try and fight it. Us kids have a way with things, and don't necessarily make the right choices. Good luck on that though.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

I'd go for yes - he's 18 not 8

[PJ's Mom]

Let him do it. I made my kids wait til they were 18 to do anything like that and my daughter and I went to have our first tatts done together.

[jackmilliesmom]

My friend's dad has some and he regrets where he got them and has always told us of the pain he suffered getting them in the first place and then having to live with them for the rest of his life until now when he went to get one removed and it turned out to be more painful than when he got them in the first place.

When my friend got married it was a really hot day and her father could not take his Jacket off and roll up his sleeves when the photo's were over because he was ashamed of his tattoos as they were in a very visible place.

His son went to get one and the guy had to stop half way through because he could no longer stick the pain and now he is left with a half a tattoo that means absolutely nothing so your son should go and discuss this with the artists and be aware of all of the dangers as well as the pros to having one, such as blood poisining, HIV, skin burning and so on.

But definitely do not say no as he will go anyway.

[buttercup132]

If he is 18 and doesn't need your money to get a tattoo, I'd imagine you have no way of stopping him, as he can just go behind your backs and do it anyways. My sister was not allowed to get her belly button pierced according to my dad, however, she did it anyways and they had NO clue!


I'd say research with him, go with him, and make sure it's done in sanitary conditions. Try to make your husband realize this point, too.

Exactly , he is a 18 and can sign for him self now. MY parents say once your 18 get whatever wherever bbut while in their house I get my tattoos where they say I can and I have to show them what I want first and if they think it's something I will regret I pick something else that I wanted and wait till I'm 18 to get the other thing.

Most places are clean with their needles etc.
I would advise you to maybe talk to some people near you who have tattoos and see where they recomend.

I think it's fine that a teen gets a tattoo so long as they know what they are getting into and it's not just a spur of the moment thing. But you said your son has wanted one for year already so that isn't the case here. I don't regret any of mine and I KNOW I never will.I will always look back on them and remember things. If theres ever one I dont like I would look back and think wow I was so stupid for getting that.

[cyber-sibes]

It's his body, he's got to live with it. It would be better if Dad went along with it too. Maybe he can approach his dad again with a copy of the artwork?Tattoos are so popular, and the ones like you said, celtic knots & tribal designs, look pretty good & are neutral enough not to freak people out.

I'm with you, though, put it where you can cover it up if the situation calls for it. No face/head/necks please. I've met kids who got passed over for good jobs because of visible tattoos & facial piercings.

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

that is kind of sticky seeing how dad says no...

I personally would let him do it.. I agree that he should wait and find some artwork that meant something to him and wait till he is 100% sure that is what he wanted.

I think you are going about it the right way...

[carole]

I am personally not a fan of tattoo's at all,no offence mean't to anyone who has them and i know quite a few do on PT, just not my thing,as he is 18 it would be legal for him to have it done i imagine, as it is in my country, i do think you should talk to your hubby and try to see whether he would agree, because if he is determined to have one he will either way, and as you pointed out far better somewhere safe and sanitary, if it is only a small one and hidden should not be too much of a problem,anyhow good luck with your decision.

P.S I think Kitcat was merely trying to make the point that there are quite a few people who have had tattoo's at a young age and regretted it and now they have to have painful removal done, some so they can actually get jobs, this is probably the extreme cases i guess, but she is right in stating that to a degree in my opinion ,that is why tattoo removal has become a big business.

[Argranade]

Well I geuss he is 18 and should have a choice but maybe you should try to talk with the dad first because you don't want him pissed because he wen't behind his back, Tattoos should be considered over & over untill for sure you know what you want because I know MANY! people who grew older then hated themselfs for getting tattoos. Yes he is old enough to choose what he wants but I think it is true ... if he's under the roof the parents should choose cause maybe this could realy bother his dad for some reason who knows.

This tattoo should mean somthing with in himself, don't let him get it just because it looks cool, he might regret it in the future .. I'm sure if you had a tattoo and someone asked what it ment you would realy want to say somthing speacail about it not just ''Oh I thought it looked cool''

You can't say you thought, you have to actualy know.

[RICHARD]

This is an easy one...


He get's his tattoo....

His DAD picks the pattern

MOM pays for it and picks where it goes...


Cam gets a tattoo!

[Queen of Poop]

I vote that you and dad discuss the permanance of the tattoo with him, ensure he picks a design that he loves, take him to a place that is clean, sanitary and has a good reputation. Then talk with the artist, discuss all the details and let him make the final decision.

I'm 41 years old, I want to have paw prints for each of my RB animals tattooed on my right shoulder walking down my back (away from me). One paw print for each missing furbaby. This has serious and significant meaning for me and will one day become reality.