Teens with different looks

[Kfamr]

I wouldn't call it ugly. I know it is YOUR opinion but, it that just basically calling everyone who had piercings,tattoos, and dyed hair - ugly.

My friend Nicole has about 5 or 6 piercings in each ears, and one in each stretched, her nose pierced and everything. She dyes her hair a different color (Blonde with pink, red, orange, green and so on) almost every week -- She is the prettiest girl I know.

Not letting your child do what they want with THEIR hair or their body, is not letting a child live or be a child.

It's not going to hurt them to pierce or dye hair (unless they do it the wrong way, which is something that should be talked about) rather than having sex or doing drugs, which could hurt them.

[Kfamr]

Oh yeah -- And I remember asking my dad if I could put red streaks in my hair and would he kill me if I did..

He said no, "It would be ugly."

Well, I said "Atleast I have hair to dye!"

[Uabassoon]

I think its more of a peer pressure than something someone really wants to do to themselves. I mean, if they're friends didn't do it, the kids probably wouldn't even think of it.

I don't fully agree with this, while yes sometimes it can be from peer pressure like the frat boy who goes down will all his buddies to get their frat tatoo. But it's not always like that. I got my tattoos for me, not for anyone else. I only have one tattoo that can actually be seen when I want it to, it's on my calf but even then not too many people have seen it. My tattoos tell a story, they each show a different part of my life like a stressful time in my life that i feel I overcame or something I feel that I accomplished. I feel they are symbolic, this is how tattoos originated. Tribes from all over the world use tattoos so show personal battles that have been won and lost. I don't feel my tattoos make me "cool" or make me fit in, in fact when I got my first tattoo I didn't know anyone else that had one. I like that I have a permanant reminder of these certain events in my life so that I never forget the things that have happened to me I'm able to think about it everyday and know how and why I am the person that I am. While I agree that I don't think tattoos are for everyone and I don't run around telling people they should get them. In fact when one of my friends mentions wanting to get a tattoo I talk to them and make sure they know that it is something that needs to be thought about for a long time. But for me personally my tattoos are just for me and they aren't about anything or anyone else.

[babolaypo65]

Well, as you could probably guess I dont fully agree with this. Not letting a child do what they want with their body is called being a parent.

Originally posted by Kfamr

Not letting your child do what they want with THEIR hair or their body, is not letting a child live or be a child.

I also believe that children live in families and are, to a certain extent, responsible to those families. While I personally probably mind if my kid dyed their hair (imaginary since I dont have a kid ) I can understand why some parents aren't comfortable with it and I respect that. A parent does what they think is best, and kids live within families. If the family values are such that purple hair would be unacceptable, then that's the way it is.
Kids do become adults and then can and should live their own lives.

[puppygrrl4eva7]

I think lots of parents are too strict. My dad thatnkfully isn't, a while ago I had a phase that I went through where I really wanted my Belly Button Pierced, I did lots of reaseach for a couple months, my dad said as long as I paid I could get it done. Even though I knew he'd rather me not do it he still said I could. Well after much consideration I decided not to do it. Now if he would have totally freaked and forbid me to Pierce my BellyButton I think I would have gotten pissed and gotten it pierced to spite him anyway. I think Parents should give childern more space and freedom and let them experiment with things to find out who they are. Now I'm not saying let kids stay out until 3 am or let your kids do drugs or anything, but just let kids be themselves. About hair color I don't see what the big deal is, if a kid wants pink hair let em have it, It doesn't hurt them physically, it can be eaisly changed, and it's their head, let everyone decide for themselves.

[Cataholic]

Hmmmm.....I have my ears pierced, and have thought about doing the upper part (right, Baylee?), and a tatoo at various points in my life. I think I hold off because of soceital constraints. I don't think tatoos/peircings on people, once they reach a certain age, are very becoming. I will be that age, at some point.

As to having it effect your ability to get a job- I think that is LARGELY true, for most MAIN STREAM professions. Sure, a rock star, or someone in the music industry can be tatoo'd to pieces, and there not be any stigma...but, put that person in a bank, an upscale restaurant, department store, eeks, court...and it would be problematic. Right, wrong or indifferent, that is still the society MOST of us choose to live in.

[GoldenRetrLuver]

I would *love* to get a tattoo when I'm older and more responsible.
I agree with KayAnn...I don't think "ugly" is the right word to describe it, even if it is your own opinion. I have friends who dye their hair, and have peircings, but I don't hold that against whether there a good person or not.

JMHO.

[Twisterdog]

My parents' rule was that I could do whatever I wanted with my hair, but nothing permanent to my body until I was 18.

That's my rule, too, pretty much. I don't care what my son does to his hair. For Pete's sake, it's only hair. It's not worth a fight. Wise parents pick their arguments. My son's hair has been long, shaved, blonde, black, green, blue, etc. It's only hair.

He also has his ear pierced. He has for several years. Sometimes he wears an earring and sometimes he doesn't. Ear piercing is so mainstream for both sexes now that I let him do that.

But, that's it. No more piercing and no tattoos until he's grown. I have nothing against it, per se. I do personally think it's not attractive to have 78 tattoos and 59 piercings, but to each his/her own. I have two tattoos. However, I got them when I was about 30, and I finally knew what I wanted them to be. Perish the thought that I would have gotten a tattoo when I was eighteen. It would have probably said, "I love Jon Bon Jovi" or something equally stupid, and I'd be sick about getting it now!

[carole]

I am kinda middle of the road where my daughter is concerned, I am not over strict, but I do have certain absolute NO to certain things, besides she is still only 11, she has plenty time to experiment, and knowing my girl she will indeed, she is somewhat a free spirit and I can imagine her doing her own thing when she is older, and some of it I will not like I am sure.

As for tattoos, I don't mind small ones, but not so keen on large ones, however it is each person's choice, only trouble is if you have lots of piercings and tattoos, it is very hard to gain employment, probably the main reason I would use to tell my kids against it.

My eldest never went that way, but he did have a thing about having his hair braided for a while, but he has outgrown all that stuff, but that was all he ever did, he shaves it now and then, mainly for his sport, but grows it again, and I have to say I am relieved thats all he does.

I was brought up rather strict, hence I left home at 16, but my worst fashion adventure was to be a bit of a hippy, for a short time, but I never felt the need or wanted to be different, I was happy being rather conservative.

I am ok with hair colouring, have put a couple of wash out ones in my girls hair, but nothing outrageous.
Anyway thats MHO.

[CathyBogart]

My parents usually let me do as I wished with my hair, and I had six piercings in my ears for awhile. Now I don't bother with my hair, and I've let the piercings close up.

One of my dearest friends has neon green hair, more piercincs than most women, and wears a leather trenchcoat no matter the weather. He is one of the sweetest, friendliest, most lovable people I know, but you would never guess that from looking at him!

I'm wierd about tattoos since they are *SO* permanent, but I personally like piercings. My mom lets my little brother buy colored hair gel so that he can have his hair a different color every day. I think it's a good thing to let kids get things "out of their systems" at a younger age. I am not, however, saying that I would condone young kids going all-out wild...just that some "experimenting" is OK in my opinion.

[Dakota's Mommy]

When I was 18 I came home one night asking my mom what she would think if I got my belly button pierced since I really wanted to do it. She about flipped out but told me that she wasn't paying any medical bills if it got infected and that was where it was left that night. The next night, I walked in the door and she wanted to see my belly! I was caught. Oh well, I was 18! I don't have the desire to pierce anywhere else, only my belly button because I think it's cute and it can easily be covered up whenever I don't want it showing, or during a business day since I do work in business environments! One day I'm considering getting a tatoo too, but I only plan on getting a small one on my upper leg or something like that that I can cover up when I don't want it exposed! My husband has 4 tatoo's, but they are all covered by the average t-shirt!

[wolfsoul]

Originally posted by popcornbird


Also, I don't think teens doing these things are just being themselves. They themselves are the way they look naturally. The *add-ons* are not *themselves*. Its someone different.

I don't agree with this. The style of your hair, clothes, earrings, ANYTHING on you tells alot about your personality.

If we technically wanted to be ourselves, then we'd walk around naked, because wearing clothes isn't how we look naturally, right? :P

[binka_nugget]

*shudders at thought of parents walking around naked*

[RubyMutt]

Originally posted by wolfsoul
I don't agree with this. The style of your hair, clothes, earrings, ANYTHING on you tells alot about your personality.

If we technically wanted to be ourselves, then we'd walk around naked, because wearing clothes isn't how we look naturally, right? :P

lol, I love how you put that

I agree, I love my tattoos. I put years of thought into them, they are very much a part of me and DO tell a lot about my personality, likes, & beliefs.

Tattoos are expensive, painful, and permanent... I think most people realize that before getting one. I don't know anyone who just got a random tattoo that doesn't have much meaning to them.

[sasvermont]

"It" will always be around....and that is what I believe the fads, trends etc. are all about. They, the fads etc., have been around for centuries. Could it be considered "fashion"? I think so.

To each his own.