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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nose piercing.....how old is old enough?

106 replies

AjasLipstick · 20/03/2018 06:54

My 14 year old wants her nose pierced. She's at a school which allows one facial piercing in secondary school but I am not sure about this.

She's been asking since she was about 12 and I did have my own done when I was about 17....but it seems faddy and too young.

Any advice? Do I just say no?

OP posts:
MoistCantaloupe · 20/03/2018 06:57

I think it’s hard to say no if it’s just based on your opinion that it’s faddy, rather than a consequence that might occur from her having it. If she’s wanted it for two years, I’d just let her get it personally - or she might just do it herself. I don’t think nose it too extreme nowadays - might ask that she get a small stone rather than a ring though

SquirmOfEels · 20/03/2018 06:58

16+

And that's backed by my local council that says - as a condition of the special licence under which all legal tattoo/piercing places must operate - that only earlobes of U16s can be pierced. That doesn't apply everywhere, so don't claim that for your address without checking. But I mention it to show that it's not unreasonable to hold out until then.

OnlyTheWelshCanCwtch · 20/03/2018 07:01

My daughter was 14 when she had her nose pierced, she had it done during summer holidays to give it time to heal then wore a retainer when in school as facial piercings weren't allowed, she also stretched her ears as well but just kept hair down!

hotcrossbunsandtea · 20/03/2018 07:11

Most reputable piercing places won't pierce anyone under 18 without parental consent, so if she's really determined I would go with her so she gets it done somewhere clean and professional.

jaseyraex · 20/03/2018 07:13

Is she likely to attempt to do it herself do you think? She's been asking for two years, it's obviously not just a fad to her. I think I'd let her get it done.

I had my belly button, tongue, lip and nose pierced by the time I was 14 Blush

Buggeritimgettingup · 20/03/2018 07:13

Mine were 14 one nose one septum (septum actually much easier to hide and no scarring if they change their minds)

SingleAgainThen · 20/03/2018 07:16

I’d let her do it, what’s the harm? I had mine done at 18, soon got bored with the faff & took it out, you’d never know now. It’s just a tiny hole, it’s not permanent.

WeAreGerbil · 20/03/2018 07:24

Mine had hers done at 13 then it came out and healed and again at 14.

SelfID · 20/03/2018 07:25

Never!

LifeBeginsAtGin · 20/03/2018 07:58

No, they are awful.

kaytee87 · 20/03/2018 08:03

I don't think anyone should get their face pierced at any age so hard to give an opinion. Maybe 16?

LuckyAmy1986 · 20/03/2018 08:13

I would let her but compromise so she has a very small stud. My teenage cousin has one and it’s barely noticeable. I had mine done at 14 but got bored of it shortly after it hasn’t left a hole or mark. If she had been asking fir a week I’d say no but two years is a long time.

FauxFox · 20/03/2018 08:18

I’d let her. She’s obviously thought about it for a long time and if she’d look after it to avoid infection and the school are OK with it it’s not really a big deal... she can always take it out if she doesn’t like it so much when she’s older .

IanRushesInadequateFlushes · 20/03/2018 08:23

I think old enough to know her own mind and to be sure she likes the look with a temporary/fake one. A couple of my friends had it done when we were about 16. One girl was half Indian and it looked beautiful on her; she still wears a nose stud sometimes many years later. It looked pretty shit on the other two, so they took them out after a year or two - one of them still has a very visible hole.

So I would say it's more about her knowing her own mind/tastes and understanding it can leave a small scar than an actual age, IYSWIM. Hope she's happy with it if she does it :)

CryingMessFFS · 20/03/2018 08:26

I was 15 and I think that’s fine

Iooselipssinkships · 20/03/2018 08:32

I'd let her as long as I could go with. I had my first piercing at 13 and tattoo at 16, went with Mum both times.
I'm biased though when it comes to body mods as DP has his nose pierced with a ring in and I have one in the centre of my top lip.
If she doesn't like it there's hardly any scarring anyway. It doesn't half make your eyes water having it done though.

Original poster
AjasLipstick · 20/03/2018 08:55

I personally don't like the look of noserings at all...or any facial piercing. I think I'd rather she got her septum done as there's less chance of a visible hole later on!

She has asked about both ordinary nose piercings and septum peircing.

We're in Oz and all the local studios allow peircing on under 18s as long as we have ID and a parent with her apparently.

Bah. I just don't want her putting holes in her lovely face :(

OP posts:
Purplerain101 · 20/03/2018 09:00

I had mine done at 14. Just compromise and say she can get it done but only if she gets a tiny stud. When I remove mine you can’t see any hole unless you literally peered at my nose with a magnifying glass

Newtothismumthing · 20/03/2018 09:06
  1. No point at school!! I'm 24 so don't think I'm too out of touch ha!
dingdongdigeridoo · 20/03/2018 09:08

Had mine done at 16. I don’t think they’re a fad. They’ve been popular pretty much since the 90s.

I eventually removed mine because I worked in a strict workplace. Didn’t leave a hole or scar.

IAmMumWho · 20/03/2018 09:14

I'm 35 and recently got my nose pierced. I did have it first done when I was about 16/17. Had my eyebrow and tongue done in the past also, these have now been removed and healed up

Original poster
AjasLipstick · 20/03/2018 09:16

Newtothis she goes to a school which allows one facial piercing.

OP posts:
lightcola · 20/03/2018 09:22

I had my nose pierced on and off from 16 to 32 and it has scarred. I now have a permanent hole/dent. I would make sure she understands that before she goes ahead with it.

Onlyoldontheoutside · 20/03/2018 09:23

Just tell her she can have it at the same age you were,this makes it harder for her to argue and is fair.

GladAllOver · 20/03/2018 09:24

Never.