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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Samcro · 18/03/2015 07:54

i don't agree that you can get a tat with parental consent under 18. my ds was refused(rightly) and I was with him.

SirChenjin · 18/03/2015 07:58

You learn something new every day Fairy! Smile Should you report a place that is tattooing teenagers under 18 then, even if there is parental consent? And do you know if that's the case in Scotland?

slw95xx · 18/03/2015 08:02

Samcro (SOA Fan?!) My older sister was also refused by a studio at 17 with my mum there with her. If these artists (the ones who knowingly tat kids or operate on a "No questions asked" basis) will cut corners regarding the law, They're at least one of these things (if not all)
-A "scratcher" working out of a living room
-A terrible tattoo artist.
-Willing to cut corners regarding health and safety and hygiene regulations.
-Not fully qualified (So unaware of the law) as when you qualify everything is sort of drummed into you in one way or another.
I wouldn't want a tattoo artist that is any of the above.

Fairylea · 18/03/2015 08:04

Yes sirc absolutely report them. Please do!

slw95xx · 18/03/2015 08:04

SirC- You absolutely should report, at the end of the day if you're not 100% that they're tattooing young 'uns you've got nothing to worry about (in case you are) as everything will be investigated before the artist(s) get into trouble.
Yes the law is still 18 in scotland

Samcro · 18/03/2015 08:06

slw95xxGrinoh yes

i was glad my son was turned down. 2 years later he got a good tat done at a good place where they checked his age.
he has been there for all of his(bar one) and has had no problems. they even re do them for nothing if they need a touch up.

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 18/03/2015 08:07

My XH is a tattooist and there is now way he will tattoo someone under age. It could cost him his license and therefore his career which he has spent years building. A full sleeve by him costs in the region of £1.5k so it is not cheap by any means.

Samcro · 18/03/2015 08:08

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1969/24

Fairylea · 18/03/2015 08:10

One of the main problems at the moment is actually there are no recognised "qualifications" in tattooing. You don't need any to open a shop and that makes it open to anyone. There are however health and hygiene laws and laws regarding minors.

The main way into the industry is through an apprenticeship via a recognised and experienced artist who has years of experience themselves. Before getting a tattoo people should always check the portfolio of an artist and also do some research to ensure that they aren't passing someone else's photos off as their own! They should also not be prepared to copy anyone else's work - all work should be custom created for each client or from their own original book of work. It is extremely badly thought of to copy another artists work.

There are "tattoo courses" popping up all over the country but these only cover the basics of how to use a machine, they don't guarantee a good piece of art or that the person doing it isn't prepared to cut corners.

There definitely needs to be more regulation and investigation.

Samcro · 18/03/2015 08:12

Fairylea so agree.
I like the fact that when ds wants a tatt, he has to go see man first to discuss design, the go back to get it done. that way he has always ended up with what he wants and is happy.

SouthernComforts · 18/03/2015 08:17

I got a tattoo at 15. Its a 'good' tattoo in terms of quality but given my time again I wouldn't choose it! I'm planning to have it lasered when I have the money for a cover up. I didn't need ID or my parents approval I just went and did it! My parents didn't see it for months.

The tattoo parlour is long gone, no idea if he just moved or was shut down.

Fairylea · 18/03/2015 08:27

I think it's absolutely shocking that anyone can buy a "tattoo kit" from amazon starting at 24.99! Seriously horrifying. (Especially when apart from anything else the machines professionals use often cost upwards of £250!)

I absolutely adore tattoos, they are my main passion in life (apart from my dc obviously!) and it just makes so angry when the art isn't treated as respectfully and as seriously as it should.

Aridane · 18/03/2015 08:29

because if they're going to do it anyway, might as well make sure it's being done in a safe environment by a competent tattoo artist

(or so says my friend in relation to her 16 year old daughter)

Pantone363 · 18/03/2015 08:34

Fairy is 100% right. Totally illegal to tattoo under 18s even with permission.

To be able to afford a full sleeve at that age they are either independently wealthy or they've gone to some 'artist' who works from home or is mobile.

DP has a full back piece and two full sleeves, about £3000 at the last count! His artist is £360 a day and has a years waiting list. There's no way in hell he would tattoo a 16 year old.

slw95xx · 18/03/2015 08:39

Fairylea, No there isn't but you do need to "qualify" under the local council for your hygiene license, Which is easy to do as although I'm an apprentice I have a hygiene license. I only had to show I could assemble a(tattoo) gun, use the equipment safely (i.e choosing the right voltage on the power pack), could cover my machine appropriately with plastic and set up appropriately. I didn't actually have to tattoo anything. But I don't know how it could be properly regulated tbh you go down a slippery slope once you start telling people what is and isn't art

slw95xx · 18/03/2015 08:42

I actually had one of the cheapie amazon machines when i first started out, but that was to learn how to put everything together and tattoo fruit and pig skin, not tattoo people. My actual gun that I use for work cost me £465

Fairylea · 18/03/2015 08:43

Slw95 yes I can see that. I'm not sure either to be honest. I just know that something more needs to be done, maybe even on a very basic level in the media to educate people as to what a good tattoo should look like and what to look out for when choosing an artist.

Brainnotworking · 18/03/2015 08:43

Ridiculous - to talk about a "good tattoo".... No such thing....

NoArmaniNoPunani · 18/03/2015 08:47

Very appropriate username Brainnotworking

Fairylea · 18/03/2015 08:47

Brainnotworking .... of course there are good tattoos, just like there is good and bad art in any form. It is just another form of art. You may not like the idea of tattoos, each to their own but there are definitely good and bad tattoos in terms of artistic talent and line work skills.

AnotherGirlsParadise · 18/03/2015 08:49

The whole 'you can get a tattoo under 18 with parental consent' thing drives me mad. I seem to have to argue with at least 2 customers a week about it when they come into the tattoo studio where I work.

Their answer is invariably 'Well, if YOU won't do it, I'll take my business to someone who will'. Usually with quite a smug air.

You fill your boots, love - we actually care about our clients and the Tattooing Of Minors Act is no joke!

YANAgurl1973 · 18/03/2015 08:51

Makes you wonder re the dodgy tattooists...if they're not bothering to check ages of customers,what else are they being slack with? Hygiene? :0

slw95xx · 18/03/2015 08:53

AGP- Exactly. Can't stress that enough. we get at least 3-4 a week in the studio that I apprentice in, mainly because theres a studio a few streets away that are said to tattoo 16+ with parent present (Not sure if its true though) makes me mad. If you're sure you'll want it for life just wait until you're 18.

SoonToBeSix · 18/03/2015 08:53

Effjay , yes if you bring up your dc properly you can stop them having a tattoo. I hate that argument.

slw95xx · 18/03/2015 08:55

I was brought up just fine, still have close to 20 tats.

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