To let DD get her eyebrow pierced for her 15th birthday?

[Sparrow7]

DD is insistent that this is the only present she wants. My local piercer won't do it until she's 16 but she's found another in town that will do it as long as we both take ID. She says she knows the risks that it could grow out or get ripped out but I don't really think that she believes anything bad could happen. What are peoples experiences? I don't really like piercings (I don't even have my ears pierced) but I am bringing her up that it is her body, her choice, so torn on what to do? In case it makes any difference she is a great kid who is trustworthy and doing well at school. None of her friends have any piercings other than ears.

Every single one of my friends who had this done, when it was super popular in the late 90s early 00s, have scars from it. Most of them grew out of the skin after a few years. It would definitely be a no from me if my DS asked for it.

No.

At 15 I'd say no. My DD has had quite a few piercings - ears several times, nose, belly button and eyebrow, all after she was 16. The eyebrow piercing eventually migrated and grew out, and has left a small scar across her eyebrow.

I'd also be a bit worried about how reputable the piercer was if they allow facial piercings below 16.

School won’t allow it and it leaves an ugly scar. School might allow it, my DD's school had no problem with it, from about year 10 upwards. All piercings had to be taped up for PE though, including earrings.

I had my eyebrow done twice, once vertically and once horizontally. I’m not over the moon with the scarring it has left and it’s beyond my skills to conceal it with make up.

They are also an absolute pain in the arse every time you get your hair cut (imagine the pain of a very sharp pair of scissors getting caught up in it) and although it’s relatively painless to get them done, they hurt like buggery when something catches on them and it tears the skin. And that happens surprisingly often, so you’re left with this tiny bit of skin holding the piercing in. It doesn’t look great.

I’d be inclined to tell her that if she waits until she’s 16 without moaning or nagging, you’ll treat her to a belly button piercing as well. She’ll have probably gone off the idea by then.

I know so many people with a scar across one eyebrow. It is the most common to grow out. GRIM. She will look like an ally cat who has been in a fight...

I don’t think I’d okay a face piercing, ear or bellybutton at 15 I was okay with

Definitely not a facial piercing until she’s an adult imho.

My local piercer won't do it until she's 16 but she's found another in town that will do it as long as we both take ID.

This would be enough to put me off.

I'd say no. She will blame you in the future for not stopping her. She can't blame you if she gets it done later.

My stance on piercings (except ears) is that they should wait till 18.

My reasons being that I'd hope they'd make better decisions at 18. That they wouldn't be in school. And lastly because I feel that when people see someone with facial piercings that they presume they are 18 or older. And I don't want adults approaching my child thinking they are adults.

My son had it done years ago but took it out after a while ,it is one of the worse piercings for leaving a scar .She will regret it when she’s a bit older

It will look absolutely awful and could be a hindrance if she wants to find a part time job but at the end of the day it’s her choice. But it doesn’t have to be your choice, you can say no. If she wants it that badly she will find a way and it will be good lesson. The worst that can happen is it gets infected which is very easy to resolve.

I know lots of people with piercings and the consistently difficult ones seem to be the eyebrow!

My best mate and I had ours done at 15. Mid 30's now, she's still got hers along with several more, i took mine out at 18 and it's healed to the point it looks no different to a chickenpox scar. But there is a scar, so if she changes her mind there'll always be a little memory of it.

Only thing I'd say is they're a right bellend for migrating and moving around, my friend's is way further over now than it was at 15! And if she does any sports at all I'd avoid, I can tell you from experience what it feels like to have it pulled on and it is not pleasant.

If she's fairly sedantary, good with her hygiene and not too worried about it moving, rejecting or scarring it'll probably be fine. I'd probably encourage her to wait a bit longer though.

I agree with the make her wait another year comments, by 16 she really could have changed her mind and if not well she can have it done if she wants. It's only one more year but I do think maturity really changes around this age. I remember being 15 and desperately wanting my belly button pierced more than anything else, I was allowed to do it but by the time I'd started my first year of college I thought it was chavvy and took it out!

You are happy to go with this...
In the UK, the body piercing industry is largely unregulated. Tattooing and body piercing studios must be licensed[1] but there are no national standards to reduce health risks or specific requirements for professional competence, leading to concerns over infection and proper practice.[2][3]
Unlike tattoos, there is no minimum age for most piercings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. However, people must be over 18 to have their genitals pierced (including female nipples). In Scotland, under-16s must have a parent or guardian's assistance and the parent or guardian must be present during the piercing.[4][5] In Wales, it is an offence to pierce or arrange to pierce the tongue, genitals or nipples of under-18s.[6]
I wouldn't risk my child's health or appearance in an unregulated environment

Just google ‘eyebrow piercings gone wrong’ and show her some of the images.
Also, taking her to a piercer who’s prepared to pierce her under age is all kinds of dodgy!

I've got piercings myself and had my eyebrow done when I was 16 and it's the only one I regret because it's left me with a scar. Compromise with a nose or ear piercing instead if she really wants something done.

For me it is her choice and her choice alone and that means waiting until she is old enough to be able to consent herself - which would be 16 and the local piercer.

i would say that you know it sucks waiting but it is her body her choice and you will not consent to something that isn’t your choice - even if it means it she has to wait

Is this the UK? I’m not sure the piercer will be insured if she is under 16 and I wouldn’t allow anyone to do anything to my child who was willing to invalidate their insurance.
However if it’s horror stories you want, my best friend got her nose pierced when she was 15 at a dodgy place in town, it got so infected she had to have the stud surgically removed and take antibiotics to make sure she didn’t get that flesh eating infection. 25 years later she still has visible scarring and struggles to breathe through one side of her nose due to internal scar tissue

It would be absolutely fine at the school I teach at

I would make her wait until she is 18. That gives her plenty of time to change her mind 😉

My DD pierced her own ears at 15 (friend's house, orange, ice cube and needle). I took her to have them checked and the piercer said: 'You're mum won't want to hear this but you've done a good job.' I was relieved. I allowed her to have a helix when she was 16. She had it done - then hated it, so out it came.

I’d let my 15yo dd. She had her nose pierced last year. Schools here don’t mind.

I dunno, I've had mine out for nearly 10 years and still have a hole in my eyebrow. Although I did have it in for 10 years ish. It seems pretty permanent 😂

I wouldn't, eyebrows are notorious for growing out and leaving a massive scar (and a bald spot across your actual eyebrow!). I have had a lip ring for 25 years now and never had any problems, if she's determined to get a facial piercing I'd try and steer her towards lip or nose personally.