Tattoos.

[Eldora]

Well, I've been thinking about getting tattoos for a long while now, mostly because I think they're awesome, and I now have set in my mind a few tattoos I'm going to get as soon as: 1) I can convince my parents to let me get them, or 2) I am old enough to get them myself.

I'm a bit confused on one thing: Do you have to be sixteen or eighteen in order to get tattoos without your parents' permission?

And what do you think would be the proper way to speak to your parents about getting tattoos? I've thought it over for about a year or two now, and my plans haven't changed. I still want the same tattoos I've wanted forever, and each of the tattoos have a symbolic meaning to me and my personality, and I know that I wouldn't regret getting any of them.

I thought about talking to my mom, showing her pictures of what I want tattooed, and telling her the reasons I want each tattoo.

For instance, one of them (the one I want most, and probably the only one I'll get until I've had a few more years to think things over) is a logo that stands for my favorite band, and in turn for the ideals of that band which I myself share, like being true to myself, never using harmful drugs, and -- this is the symbol's meaning to me -- always having hope, no matter what's going on in my life. It'd be small, and as I want it on the back of my neck and my hair is long, it wouldn't be visible unless I had my hair up on top of my head in some way, or if I was swimming, which I don't do much of anyway.

My mom's conservative, and my dad really didn't like the band because a lot of the lyrics had suicide in them -- little did he know that my thoughts did at that time in my life, too -- but I think that if I presented my reasons, they might not mind as much.

So what do you guys think? And honestly, do you think fourteen is too young to get a tattoo that you'll have for the rest of your life? I don't mind if you think it's too young, because I just want some opinions, to be even more certain that I'm not rushing into something I'll come to regret.

(I'm a very cautious person, if you can't tell. )

[Concrete Angel]

Hi Eldora!
It's awesome that you're really strong in your beliefs and who you are!
But, you've got a lot more growing to go through. I mean, physically. If you get a tattoo now, then when you grow, the skin's going to grow along with you and the tattoo stretches along with it. So it may turn out looking bad later. Girls stop effectively growing at 18, so that would be a good time to get a tattoo. And yup, it's 18. the legal age, that is! :P

When you're old enough, I think it'll be easier to talk to your parents about it.
I only suggest don't get it if you're 14!

If you have anymore questions, feel free to pm me!
Take care <33

[Maloo]

I absolutely think 14 is too young. And as for how old you have to be, it depends entirely on where you live. All I know is that in new york, you have to be 18; there's no such thing as parental consent in this state

[Eldora]

What if you've been told by your doctor that you should be finished growing? As of right now, I'm 5'8-1/2, and haven't grown since... I forget when.

And in my state (I remember now) the tattoo parlor that my aunt goes to has a sign on it that reads '16 unless parental consent'.

[The Morrigan]

In my opinion 14 is a bit young for getting something that will last forever. If you're sure you want these tattoos then what harm is waiting going to do? It's not going to do any harm at all but if you get them now and in say 4-5 years time you regret them then there's nothing you can do about it really (unless you can afford to have them removed)

I was looking at tattoos when I was your age and the ones I wanted back then compared to the ones I'd want to get now are completely different and I'm glad I haven't got any yet because I want to be absolutely certain I won't regret them.

[Melody Pond]

I had a tattoo Idea when I was 14 and I changed my mind about it a few weeks ago at 18. You may feel you are 100% sure now but things change. I was sure about mine for 4 years but recently things changed and I decided against it.

As for age of consent use this site to find out the age of consent in your state.
http://www.everytattoo.com/tattoolaws.shtml