Teenage girls and their 'wants'

jellyhead

I would probably have regretted song lyrics I'd chosen at 16. I still like the same bands but I'd have chosen gloomy lyrics.

My 16 year old would also choose lyrics that he'd regret a few years down the line, or even his girlfriend's name.

I agree with encouraging her to design one, then waiting. You could help her research where she'll get it done and let her know that when she's 18 you'll be happy for her to get one - that will take away the allure of the forbidden.

brook2jack

Many temporary "henna" tattoos contain ppd a chemical which many people develop an allergy to, it's also present in dark hair dyes. Children are particularly vulnerable to developing allergies to temporary tattoos. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1301519/Henna-hell-temporary-tattoo-leaves-boy-scarred-life-long-allergies.html#axzz2KWiF0vWu


As said before it is illegal to tattoo someone below the age of eighteen. Permanent and temporary tattoos have health risks, in the case of permanent possibly life changing.

Is it sensible to collude in breaking a law formulated to protect the health and well being of children ?

Our local job creation scheme has looked at funding tattoo removal, as the local nhs will rightly no longer do so, as so many have ill advised tattoos which they feel are hindering their job search. How can a fifteen year old have a permanent scarring of their body that is anything but ill advised?

littlerat

No good tattooist who you'd want putting permanent markings on your skin will do it at 16. The types who will, I'd not want drawing me a facebook picture never mind something on my body for the rest of my life.

I'm 21, have known I want a tattoo since I was about 17 and haven't got one yet - there's no rush if you're getting it because you really want it. There's only a rush if you're getting it for fashion.


Piercings, I thought only intimate ones were 18 - could always let her have a legal piercing, she can take it out if she dislikes it in a year.

My view is that the laws are fine as they are. I agree some make no sense, but there's always fores and againsts. I think driving at 17 is as they work on a year of learning so at 18 you're good to go. I think marriage at 16 is only with parental consent, in england and wales. I think 18 full stop would make more sense actually.

The age of consent has changed over the years, but really I don't think it matters as much as making sure young people are having SAFE sex, as bar chastity belts, they'll find a way else. So I don't care if it's raised to 18, lowered to 14, I think the same amount of teenagers will be having sex.



Edit to add, when I do get a tattoo (or 2, 3, 5 whatever) they will be in easy to cover locations - I have career ambitions that make other types a bad idea. But even at 30 you don't know what you'll be doing in 20 years generally - so I think as long as you may want jobs, keeping them easy to cover is key. Not that I think it should matter, but it does.

loulou123

I had a tattoo of song lyrics on my lower back at 18 - fortunately I still like the song and I'm still a rock chick at heart, at the "old" age of 33!

But I'd never recommend a tattoo anywhere it can't be covered up easily, I'm currently trying to explain to my husband why he "might not" want a lower arm tattoo, but he seems convinced he'll be fine in long sleeved shirts everyday at work! He's already got several, but in easy to cover up places...

As a teenager my mum always said I could get whatever I wanted pierced (as holes heal up) but no tattoos till I was over 18, once I got to 16ish she was also very easy going about boys, sex, drinking etc, but we had a very open relationship and I could talk to her about anything.

sweetme

My daughter went out on her 16th birthday with her birthday money and came home with a pierced tongue. It was an act of defiance that failed. It lasted about a month and she took it out because she didn't like it. I'd definitely be saying no to a tattoo. 16 year olds are fickle with their likes and dislikes.

brook2jack

There is no legal age limit on piercings, although the Welsh assembly is trying to bring legislation in because of the huge problems incurred by youngsters getting piercings which is starting to make an impact on the health service. 31% suffer complications, 15% needing medical help and one in a hundred end up in hospital. http://www.news-medical.net/news/2008/06/16/39216.aspx

Ear cartilage, cartiledge, nipple, genital and tongue piercing are most likely to have complications. Tongue piercing almost always eventually damages the teeth as well.


When you give blood you are asked if you have had a piercing/tattoo as you are in a much higher risk category for blood Bourne diseases. Quote from blood donation service
"
If you have had any body piercing including permanent and semi permanent makeup and tattooing, or acupuncture outside the NHS and not perfomed by a qualified Health Care Professional registered with a statutory body, please wait 4 months from your last piercing before donating. If your treatment was between 4 and 12 months ago, you must let us know as your donation will need an additional blood test."


Piercing,tattoos can have health consequences which can be for life and need careful, mature consideration about the risks.

piglet74

My daughter will be 15 this year and she is already talking about what kind of tattoos she would like

She got her belly button pierced last year (I took her to a local beauty salon to get it done after months of her begging, I didn't want her to take herself to the grotty looking tattoo parlour to get it done) now she is talking about getting her traggis done (part of the ear) tho she can't make up her mind

I do tell her "u can get anything u want.. When ur 18'.. I know the notion for a lot of these things will have gone off her by then,

skintchick

avogadro wrote: »

There is the argument that banning things makes them more attractive to teenagers. Perhaps she wants what she can't have? When she gets to 18 she might have gone off the idea of a tattoo.

I didn't. I wanted one and my mum said "if you still want one when you're 18 you can have one" and so I did. I wish she'd said no, cos I wouldn;t have crossed her!

I don;t exactly regret mine, I've loved them for most of the 20 years I've had them, but now I'm approaching 40 I do wish I could take them off most of the time. My life has changed and so have I.

moromir wrote: »

I used to work in a bridal shop and I lost count of the women who would come in, try on a bridal dress and burst in to tears in the middle of the shop... why you ask?

Because a beautifully fitting £4,000 dress couldn't hide the fact there was a tattoo on their shoulder blade / neck / arm and that they were never going to look like 'classy' or 'like a princess' on their wedding day.

Now that isn't my opinion of them I hasten to add, but I certainly wouldn't want a tattoo in my wedding pictures.

I'd say the majority went on to get the things lasered off at great pain and cost before their wedding day.

How odd. Did they forget they had them? I just got a dress with lovely short sleeves and my tatts were covered beautifully. I looked both classy AND like a princess on my wedding day

ButtonsCat

I am quite glad I didn't go ahead with having a tattoo of some song lyrics that I wanted when I was that age. To think i'd be walking round with some "lostprophets" (of Ian Watkins recently charged on child sex offences) lyrics adorned on me.

I'm also quite glad I went off the idea of tattoos completely.

gizmo111

ButtonsCat wrote: »

I am quite glad I didn't go ahead with having a tattoo of some song lyrics that I wanted when I was that age. To think i'd be walking round with some "lostprophets" (of Ian Watkins recently charged on child sex offences) lyrics adorned on me.

I'm also quite glad I went off the idea of tattoos completely.

:eek:If I'd done it, it would have been Gary Glitter - My Gang :eek::eek: Thank god for strict mothers