Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

to wonder why parents let their kids get tattoos?

85 replies

butterfly2015 · 17/03/2015 21:16

I'm watching the benefits thing on c4. There's a 16 year old with a full sleeve tat. And mum is standing there talking about how she wants the best for her son. Eh?

2 of my dds friends have tats. They are also 16. Why on earth do parents think it's a good idea?

OP posts:

KingJoffreyFanciesDarylDixon · 17/03/2015 22:06

A full sleeve is around £400.

I'd also love one. Want a Nightmare Before Christmas or Watership Down sleeve. I flip between the two.

Not happening though. Expensive. My most expensive tattoo was £150 and I pondered that one for a good few years.

fatlazymummy · 17/03/2015 22:13

My eldest son had his first one done at 16 (I think) . I can't remember if I gave my permission or not. In any case, I would have done. If you're old enough to consent to sex then you're old enough to decide if you want a tattoo.
He's got quite a few now, they haven't held him back at all. He can cover them with a long sleeved shirt when necessary. He isn't concerned about what anyone else might think of them.

notquiteruralbliss · 17/03/2015 23:00

If your DC is old enough to get a tattoo, it isn't really a question of 'letting' them is it. Technically they need to be 18 in the UK. And a parent can't sign a waiver.

DD got her first tattoo at 16 when on holiday with a friend in a country where she could do so legally. Not a lot I could do as I wasn't with her but I rather like it. And the ones she has had since (done by an art school grad turned tattoo artist).

Samcro · 17/03/2015 23:02

it isn't legal until 18 and is classed as assault.
ds had his first at 18

Original poster

butterfly2015 · 17/03/2015 23:23

Notquite....I am talking about 16 year olds. At 18 I would not refer to them as kids but adults. I'm wondering why (in the case of dds 2 friends) their mum's not only agreed to them having them done but one even had a matching one.

And the lad on tv had a sleeve which wasn't the work of some back street artist and nor, apparently, was it cheap as someone says they are approx £400 so obviously mum has agreed and probably paid for it.

It's illegal under 18. So either the places are breaking the law deliberately or the mum is lying for them. The girls my dd knows do not look 18 and quite honestly think it's awful that one mum has posted photos all over her fb "showing off" said tattoo and saying how proud she is of her amazing daughter. Amazing for getting a tattoo?

OP posts:

FuckItBucket · 17/03/2015 23:26

Depends where it was done. I know someone who does tattoos super cheap in his living room. Think £10 for something that would cost £60 in a proper shop.

I have 3 tattoos. One at 15, one at 18 and one last year at 24.

Mum hates them all but rather she knew where I was going for the underage one.

I paid for all mine myself. Mum said if I have the money then I can have it but she won't be paying

CruCru · 18/03/2015 00:11

I think if my 16 year old came home with a tattoo, I would complain about the tattoo parlour to the police.

Proper tattoo artists are not cheap and would never do someone who was underage.

fluffymouse · 18/03/2015 00:57

When I was at nursery, a four year old boy got a tattoo (teenage mutant ninja turtles!) I kid you not. It was definately a permanent tattoo, his dad confirmed it was, and my parents have told me my memory is correct about this.

I don't know who would tattoo a four year old..

CaoNiMa · 18/03/2015 01:06

Where can you get a sleeve for 400 quid?? 4,000 more like!

KingJoffreyFanciesDarylDixon · 18/03/2015 05:49

£400 is what I was quote by the lovely lady who does my tattoos.

That said, we're in a small, not particularly affluent town. Maybe that affects things?

slw95xx · 18/03/2015 05:53

You cannot be tattooed under 18 in the uk without parental consent. I have 18 tattoos, 12 of which i got before the age of 18 (By a reputable artist thankfully) as I had a fake ID. I'm now 20 and dont regret them but i wouldn't advocate my child doing it

Witchofthenorth · 18/03/2015 06:40

You need to he 18, a reputable tattoo artist will not tattoo someone under 18.
I have loads of tattoos, and am in the process of getting a full sleeve done just now. My mum is horrified, feels it is unprofessional, unfeminine and not very business like. (I am 37 ffs!)
I wouldn't be happy with my kids getting one before they are 18.

RattieofCatan · 18/03/2015 06:51

A lot if my peers went to somebody dodgy and got it done. I haven't got one yet but I've wanted the same tattoo since I was 10 so I don't think that I'd have regretted it at whether I had it at 16 or now, I just would have had some dodgy fucker do it then had I gone for it!

wheresthelight · 18/03/2015 07:05

butterfly to be honest even with sex my opinion to some extent would be they will find a way so I would rather provide a safe environment and hand over condoms than imagine dd on some park bench or back alley.

and the law in the UK does allow tattooing at 16 with parental consent

slw95xx · 18/03/2015 07:07

wheresthelight...
I'm an apprenticing tattoo artist. they absolutely do not. it is against the law.

slw95xx · 18/03/2015 07:08

Under the tattooing of minors act 1969 it is illegal to tattoo ANYONE under 18 with or without parental consent unless for medical reasons

Witchofthenorth · 18/03/2015 07:13

I thought the same slw95xx but wasn't certain. My DP is a tattoo artist and I was sure he had told me before it was against the law.

buttercupbear · 18/03/2015 07:16

Where's the light, no it is illegal under 18 even with parental consent, don't provide people with false information

buttercupbear · 18/03/2015 07:17

Sorry x post

Fairylea · 18/03/2015 07:19

Anyone who tattoos in their living room or tattoos someone under 18 is known in the industry as a "scratcher" and amongst the proper tattooists of the world they are absolutely loathed.

A decent tattoo studio will always check passports and birth certificates of anyone who looks under 21.

A decent tattoo artist charges £60 plus an hour. A small thigh piece normally costs about £300 ish. Most recognised and sought after artists have a waiting list and will charge £80 plus an hour. £50 an hour is usually the rate for an apprentice (which is the only legit and respected way to train in the industry).

A full back piece or sleeve by a well respected and celebrated artist will cost £1000 upwards. A full back piece by a certain artist we know who tends to do all the tattoo artists themselves costs £2000.

Tattoos are not cheap and should not be cheap. If someone if scratching 16 year olds or working from home they should be reported and shunned by all for ever deeming to be a tattooist.

Myself and dh are very involved in the industry, both tattooed (dh more than me).

Fairylea · 18/03/2015 07:20

To be very clear even with parental consent it is 100% illegal to tattoo anyone under 18.

Jackieharris · 18/03/2015 07:20

I'd be so disappointed if my DCs got tattoos at any age tbh.

They know how I feel.

Hopefully they will grow up with similar values.

I recognise that once they are 18 I don't have a say though.

If they have any sense they will keep them secret!

NoArmaniNoPunani · 18/03/2015 07:45

I'm covered in tattoos and there's no way I'd allow my child to be tattooed underage. No decent tattooist would break the law like that and there's no way any child of mine is going to a shit tattooist. I pay £80 per hour to my tattooist.

SirChenjin · 18/03/2015 07:50

To be very clear even with parental consent it is 100% illegal to tattoo anyone under 18

Is that right? I thought that if a parent gave written permission then it was OK? That's utterly depressing that so many tattoo places seem to ignore the law - and that so many parents would be happy for their kids to be tattooed by someone who is happy to ignore the law. Makes you wonder what other laws they ignore in the course of their work .

Fairylea · 18/03/2015 07:52

SirC I can promise you that is correct. Anyone who tattoos anyone under 18 even with parental consent is committing a criminal offence and can be prosecuted.

It is absolutely awful how many places do break the law and one of the reasons why proper tattoo artists and studios are calling for more regulation in the industry at the moment and harsher penalties.

Flip

1 2 3 4