My daughter's going to get a tattoo...

[seeker]

.......and I hate them soooooooo much! I know she's 17, and it's her money and her body and her choice, but I hate that she's going to do something so permanent so young.

who would tattoo an under 18?

I'm with you

Can you show her pictures of them when they get old? Can you persuade her to have a small one somewhere discreet to see if she'll stil like it in six months?

Any chance they won't do her til she's 18?

you can get tattoos removed really effectively with lasers now, so although its a shame, it isn't necessarily permanent.

She'll need my permission- but I'm not going to refuse. It would only put it off 6 months anyway, and it would seem a bit petty anyway.

I am tattooed.. my dh is tattooed all over apart from his face and hands. Never had a problem with jobs. Both university level educated, both managerial job level.

I doubt showing her what they look like when people get old would make a jot of difference. As my dh says he will care more about whether he can take a pee on his own at 70 / 80 than what his skin looks like.

Remind her that under 18 it is illegal. And make sure she gets something that actually means something to her if she is dead set on it. Get the artist to design something just for her. Not something from a book of designs. Then she won't regret it as it will always mean somethingto her.

Am I making it up or are there sort of semi-permanent tattoos that wear off after about 3 years? Maybe that would be an option (if it isn't a figment of my imagination)?

I don't think it would be petty. Dd had her nose pierced, all fine then went on and on about having the bit of your ear pierced that's right next to the eye - the little flap on the head - a trager or something?

It looked really dangerous to me, I initially thought she meant the top of the ear through the cartilage and she needed my permission as under 16.

I said no she'd have to wait. Within a few months a friend of hers got some horrible infection on that bit of the face where one was and now has some giant gouged scar on the face where it was dug out

Maybe she might go smaller if she leaves it a wee while? I think it takes a lot of thought to mark your body so permanently.

Has she seen the white tattoos? I actually think they're much more discreet and can be much more easily covered up - they're growing in popularity now but it's much more skilful so less people do it.

I have several tattoos. All are hidden apart from my wrists. I was 18 when I got my first one and i hate it now although I still love the rest and have had many compliments. Make sure it's something she really really wants done and not just a picture out the shop window. It's actually illegal to tattoo someone under the age of 18 and not many shops will do it even with parental permission so i would triple check the tattoo artist who is doing it and ask for pics of his work. A lot of artists do it because they love doing it, others do it for money and you can tell the difference easily from the standard of work and the care they put into making sure it's something that the individual really wants.

My mum took me for my tattoo at 15. I had another at 18 and she now begs me to not have any more

My first tattoo is small and hidden. My dad didn't know about it for at least a year!

Cant you say you will give permission but hopes she gets it in a place ut can be covered?

By white tattoos do you mean branding ? (As it leaves a white scar). It's actually quite a lot more painful and you really need someone very experienced to do it which is few and far between as not a lot of places do it.

If you are in the Norfolk area I really recommend indigo tattoos in Norwich. Especially Joe or heather. They do amazing work. Proper artists.

Be thankful you know about it. My mum didn't know about my first tattoo until I showed it to her
Just tell her to think long and hard about it. My lovely neat Chinese symbol on my 17 year old flat tum is not the same now I am 31 and heavier and post dc with stretch marks. I still love it though cos of what it represents to me. Make sure she gets it somewhere it can be covered up.

Here is Joe's page on facebook - even if you are nowhere near Norwich it's worth looking at the photos to see the standard of work so you will have some idea of what level to look for ..

m.facebook.com/joecarpentertattoos?id=1315668746&_rdr

im 36 and when i got a tattoo last year my mum CRIED and said i must hate her.

It wasnt even my 1st tattoo but it was my biggest

She'll need my permission- but I'm not going to refuse it'd an urban myth that a parent can give permission for an under 18 to get tattoed. It's illegal until 18 - no exceptions.

Did she tell you that you needed to give permission OP?

not legally, she isn't. Your permission is irrelevant.

any reputable tattoo place will want proof that she is 18. Anywhere that doesn't is not reputable. That may mean dirty equipment which may mean hepatitis or HIV which cannot be lasered off. That's why she waits until she is 18.

I don't like the look of tattoos, but then I don't like the look of silly high heels or many other fashion items. Each to their own - but silly shoes don't give you diseases.

No, we both assumed that she's need my permission if she was under 18. Thank you- decision put off until December!

Make sure she listens to 'when tattoos go wrong' on 'You and yours' radio 4 last week (listen again - here)

16 yo girl who regretted both her tattoos, but especially the more visible one.

I've of my friends has recently spent over £1000 having a tattoo, no more than a couple of inches square, removed. She said the pain was indescribable, could only compare it up having boiling oil poured on her skin

That's great news seeker ! Ps. I just had a quick look at your pics, is that your daughter in the first pic and on the horse? She looks lovely!

Thank you, pinkyred- yes, that's her. I think I'm particularly worried about her having a tattoo because her skin is so pale it'd really show up

So I would love a tattoo but can't find mysf getting one as my dad always regretted his. The laser treatment is not an easy option. It took my treatments that are far more painful them having it done to get rid of most of his.

Leave her till she's 18, just make sure it's one that can be hidden easy.

(white one are my current fav)

seeker yes she's pale and a tattoo would really stand out on her. She's gorgeous as she is she doesn't need ink to enhance her.

ps. your cat is mega cute and if those are pics of your house on your profile then it looks awesome! (envious emoticon)

I have 6 tattoos, all of mine can be covered. I only regret one, I was very drunk when I got it done. I had it fixed up a bit by my friend a few years back but I still hate it.

Most recently I got a birdcage 'falling' with 3 birds flying out to represent my little family, it's my favourite. Although it was extremely painful.

I'm planning my next one at the moment. I know where I want it but not what I want. I'm in no rush to decide.

my dd is 17

I would actually block her for 6 months

they change a lot even in 6 months at this age, and I would hang on and hope she changed her mind when she turned 18

Just have the same to say as everyone else really; a proper tattooist will only tattoo you if you're 18+, anyone who's prepared to do it at 17 I wouldn't trust! When I was 18 I went and got a tiny heart on my toe in Ibiza, it's small enough to cover up easily and it satisfied my 18 year old 'I want a tattoo' without being a massive regret.

Show her this website; failblog.cheezburger.com/ugliesttattoos and encourage her to spend the time until she turns 18 really planning her tattoo and researching proper artists! Tattoos can and do look amazing, but only if people have really done their research before! That website is hilarious and will show her what happens when people don't think before they get inked!!