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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to let DD2 get pierced and get myself a tattoo at the same time?

69 replies

AtYourCervix · 07/08/2011 20:12

DD2 wants the top of her ear done. I have wanted a tattoo for the longest time but always thought I was too old and fat and wussy to actually do it.

Anyway - DD is being pierced tomorrow. should I go for it and have a tattoo? is that being a shockingly bad role-model/influence? will I look ridiculous?

OP posts:

PumpkinBones · 07/08/2011 23:53

at chavtastic, what an amazingly bright and incisive comment.

OP, I had the top of my ear done at 13, and I didn't want a tattoo done the week after, I had one at 19, and then a second tattoo at aged 31, I shall probably have another in a few years. Don't understand all this handwringing about it really, when I had mine done (my ear, I mean) I didn't even ask my mum, I just went and had it done. I really don't know what all the fuss is about.

PumpkinBones · 07/08/2011 23:54

My top of ear piercing, btw took moments and healed fine. But you are probably too late to get a tattoo tomorrow, if it's a reputable place! Use the time to think about what you want, and talk to a tattooist, good ones are always happy to discuss the process / potential designs.

acsec · 07/08/2011 23:55

You shouldn't get cartlidge piercings done with a gun it can shatter the cartlidge, should def be a needle and a titanium ring as they are the least reactive (one of my bfs is a body piercer)

Mabelface · 08/08/2011 00:04

my nephew had the top of his ear pierced, age 15, with a gun. He ended up needing an operation to drain an infection and now has a third of his ear missing.

LauLauLemon · 08/08/2011 00:08

I have the top of my ear pierced and my tragus and I didn't find it awkward to sleep on at all.

Not all good tattoo artists have a waiting list, just the well known ones. Check out a portfolio before you commit.

Birdsgottafly · 08/08/2011 01:16

I have just gone with my 15 year old DD to get her belly button done (i lied for her). She is 16 in a few months and could have it got it done by herself, without my permission.

I felt that it would be more sensible for me to choose where she got it done and be there to have the care instructions given to me.

Also it has time to heal while she is off school.

OP if she is the type to do it herself or sneak and get it done somewhere unreputable, then go with her.
Everyone who i know who has had a tattoo (in the same place) has had to book in advance and put a deposit down, to secure the booking.

27tilly · 08/08/2011 07:21

I had my belly button done on my 14th Birthday, My mum took me and signed the consent forms... My Mum isn't and was not irresponsible,She knew I'd end up doing it behind her back so wanted to take me and know I was getting it done at a proper place. I also had my tongue pierced at 15. The deal with my parents was I could get piercings (not go ott) but no tattoos.

I don't know if I would do the same for my DD, Depends if she is as headstrong as I was, I would have done it anyway and suffered the consequences from my parents! however she has just had her ears pierced at the age of 8.

My parents were relaxed at some things but god forbid I bunked off school or didn't do my homework, There was HELL to pay!

FrenchRuby · 08/08/2011 08:58

zukiecat guns are bad for a few reasons. The gun forces jewellery through the ear and it creats a jagged hole rather than a smooth hole that a needle makes. Guns use a lot of force and can shatter the cartalidge, obviously not all the time but I'd rather not take that risk.
And for me the main one is, it cannot be cleaned properly. I've worked in Claires before a I know they don't have Autoclaves (the only good way to sterilise piercing/tattoo equipment) and they just wipe over the guns with an antibacterial wipe, which doesn't get rid of tiny blood flecks etc. It's just unhygenic. I didn't realise all of this until I got a job in a piercing studio and saw how it was ment to be done.

helendigestives · 08/08/2011 10:22

I'm glad you're having her piercing done at a proper studio - never go to somewhere like Claire's. I think tattoos are good if you have decided on them, are sure, prepared, etc. I chose something very small and simple but there was a two-week wait and she discussed my choices beforehand and made sure I was ready and certain and had thought about it as it was my first one. You are very unlikely to get a walk-in for those reasons.

I had my ears pierced at Claire's when I was eleven then my nose pierced at a proper studio when I was in my early twenties. It's no big deal - take the jewellery out and they heal over and then you can have them redone if they school won't allow them. shrugs No biggie.

ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 08/08/2011 10:33

AtYourCervix You should know better than to ask about piercings tattoos on MN

I think if you are happy for your DD to have the ear done then that is yours and her decision. It can be removed and healed if she decides against it in a few months and cartilidge piercing doesn't hurt that much I found.

However, think long and hard about the tattoo. Personally, after having 5 of my own that I now hate and hide I would tell anyone not to get one.

But piercings are fine IMO.

spiderpig8 · 08/08/2011 10:36

Depends if you both want to look like chavs.i

timewastingaway · 08/08/2011 10:54

I had the top of my ear pierced when i was 13.I havent worn an earring in it since i saw sense that it looked awful was 14
I tried to put an earring in it out of curiosity a few months back as i can still see the hole and it went straight in!! I am 26 now!

BulletWithAName · 08/08/2011 10:55

Am rolling up at the over-reaction on here to a teenage getting the top of her ear pierced. Get. A. Grip!

BulletWithAName · 08/08/2011 10:56

*teenager

You do you that piercings and tattoos don't instantly turn you into a bad person, you know?

Continuum · 08/08/2011 13:05

Get a tattoo if you want one, although first you should research artists and also have an idea of what you want bearing in mind it will be on your body for life!

I wanted my first tattoo at 9 and finally got it at 19 and I still love it even though it's just a rose, not flash though. It means something to me. I love tattoos, but it took me until last year at age 35 to get my second because there was nothing until then that was meaningful, plenty of pretty stuff I sort of wanted, would be nice, but this meant something. Once I'm done with pregnancy (and maybe breastfeeding haven't researched that!) I will be having a third that means a lot to me.

I'm old and fat and I don't care! But then I also have 5 piercings in one ear and 2 in another! I also get the feeling that anyone who thinks I'm a chav etc. because of it is someone whose opinion I don't much care for anyway!!

Continuum · 08/08/2011 13:08

Oh and the piercings include two at the top which I got as a teenager!

steamedtreaclesponge · 08/08/2011 13:14

Would second all the people saying don't get it done at Claire's - you need a good piercing studio. I had the top of my ear done when I was a teenager (with a gun, although I was lucky and had no problems), and another two recently. They do take a little while to heal (mine are still healing, 5 weeks later) and I couldn't sleep on that side for a week, although that was mainly due to them being placed halfway down my ear.

My one bit of advice would be to make sure that she gets the piercing done with a bar rather than a ring. I initially wanted a ring but the woman doing my piercings said that if you get a ring put in straight away it will take longer to heal and be more painful. You also have to use a bigger needle for rings, which means that the piercing is likely to bleed. In the event I had two bars put in and there was no blood and I've had no problems with them since.

MooMooFarm · 08/08/2011 13:18

Personally I don't like tattoos but if you want one, go for it. I don't really get the argument that they look horrible when you're old - I don't think they look any better on young people

BulletWithAName · 08/08/2011 14:04

Yes, I agree, don't get it done at Claire's, go to a proper piercing studio. And I agree with getting it done with a bar, I had my nipple done with a ring and it took far longer to heal than it should have, bars are always better I think for body piercings.

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