Tattoo Question

In New Zealand its 16, my daughter turned 17 today and would like one. I would let her but maybe draw one on for a week or so.. I got my first when i was 18 and have since had it covered, my second at 20 and have had that lasered off so its a bit tricky. I love tatts but you really have to think about what you want, the meaning and if its just a fashion statement will it be un cool in 10 years time..I have 5 and would like a sleeve but maybe a bit old now. lol

If you saw my son you would think 24 is too young!!

Once they're 18 you can't stop them anyway ...

I think it does depend on the maturity of the person. I've waited 6 years to get the tattoo I want (I'm getting my first in a few weeks!) because I did not want to regret it or do it on impulse. I'm very confident in the getting the ink on my body now, but I have several friends who got their tattoo without much thought behind it. Some regret it now, others don't. It really does depend on the person.

This is kind of funny, talking about rules for tattoos. On some level, that might make it unattractive to kids, right, that their parents discuss the pluses and minuses of tattoos?

My grandfather had a tattoo that he got when he served in the French Foreign Legion. It was on his forearm and scary looking.

(He had a Popeye sized forearm, and he would be 112 if he were alive today, so he probably got his tattoo in 1920 or so).

I'm all about letting kids learn from their mistakes, or experience. However, I'm very glad I didn't get tattooed that young when I first wanted to. What I thought was super cool back then I now think is pretty lame at 35.

I'm making mine wait until they're 18.

I'm all about letting kids learn from their mistakes, or experience. However, I'm very glad I didn't get tattooed that young when I first wanted to. What I thought was super cool back then I now think is pretty lame at 35. At the same time, the mustache I put on my finger, and the heart on my arm that says "yer mom" will probably seem pretty silly when I'm 55. It's all relative, but if I were 17 again I would still wait to get tattooed. Of course there are exceptions, but most people don't seem to really know who they are until they are at least in their late 20s. If they do go ahead, I would advise them to avoid easily visible areas until they figure out who they are going to be and what they want to do, which again, is usally later in the 20s. I didn't get anything on my arms until i was sure about my career and possitive it wouldn't hold me back.

I was 16 when I got my first tattoo, the only thing I regret about it is that I got it on my forearm which causes some issues with the work place.

If a kid really wants a tattoo, they'll find a way. Hopefully they'd wait until they can get a professional one, some garage artists can really mess up some ink.

And getting a tattoo just to be cool will come back to haunt you.

We have asked our sons to wait until at least 20. Just because it is permanent, and what you think is cool at 16, you might not at 18 or 20.

My oldest is 17, so if he chooses to get one at 20, at least he will have a few years to think of it. Yes, I know he can do it at 18, but he understands what we are saying, so he said he won't do it until then, if not later.

I got my first one when I was 19 and honestly, I wish I hadn't done it. I don't regret it, because of the whole memory associated with it, but I'm indifferent to that spot on my body. I'm thankful I got it on my hip, so know one will see it unless I want them to. I keep saying I want another one, but I'll be excited about it for a few days, and then I forget about it. Later I will think about it, and not feel the same way I did at first. I am mulling over a memorial tat for my dad, but still haven't found a design I think fits. So, my wishy-washy thoughts besides, I always said if I had kids and they wanted a tat and was 15 or older, I would make them pick a design, then we would put it up for 6 months and if they still felt as strongly about it own their, without any prompting or reminding, I would let them do it.

I got lots of piercings between 16-18 that my mother signed off on, but those I mostly all removed.

My first tattoo was at 18 (the day after my birthday in fact) and I knew that I would be stuck with it FOREVER and chose wisely. All four of mine have special meaning to me and all are tastefully done. I get compliments on my inner forearm one all the time, and I work in a professional environment.

On the flip side, my uncle died when two of my cousins were underage, and my aunt signed off on them to get memorial tattoos with their two older siblings.

I guess it depends on what it is, and the maturity level of the kid.

I got my first when I was 16 and I don't regret it so I would say that's a good age. WARNING: They are addictive and I've got quite a few now. I'm 20.

One of my daughters got her tattoo two weeks before her 18th birthday (no parental signing allowed here) but I approved and she gets to claim that her first tatto was 'illegal'. It was very small and personally significant. I have several tattoos, but most people who meet me wouldn't know it unless I offered up the information. I have always insisted that any tattoos not be visible when dressed professionally and my children agree with and understand my concerns regarding this. My middle daughter is 18 now and I will be taking her for her first tattoo soon. (It will match her sister's but in a different color). My youngest daughter (16), is also planning her first personal tattoo and will also be getting the matching tattoo to show her sisterly solidarity with the others.

I got my first tattoo when I was 21. Although it was based off a religious belief system that I currently do not claim affiliation with, I do not regret it because it was significant to me at the time and is a chronicle of my personal history. I do not feel like all tattoos HAVE to have a 'meaning' behind them, but I do feel that whatever you place on your body permanently, you must be willing to live with for the rest of your life. Therfore, all of mine do have specific significance.

I also have very specific guidlines for piercings. Basically any single point piercing was/is fine, but anything that requires two holes and a bar of some sort, I asked that they not get until their bodies were/are fully developed to prevent complications such as migrating. I have a belly piercing, but did not get it until I was in my 30's. And facial piercings are subjective. A Marilyn, or a small nose stud is OK, but any hoops, (vampire bites, lower lip dolphin bites, spider bites, etc. I would ask that they think twice for professional issues.) I also think a tragus or single hole cartilage piercing in the ear is OK since hair can hide it in a professional setting.
There's my $.02