Please Do Not Tattoo Your Kids

For all you parents out there who think its going to be a good idea to let your children get tattooed, think again: I had a lady call me that i had tattooed before and asked if i would tattoo her son. No prob as long as she signs for him. I'm thinking that this kids around 16 or 17... Hell No, she tells me he's 11. Tattooing a child that age is wrong on so many levels. I told her that there was no way i'd do it and it was sort of a crazy idea to even ask. This is basically a warning to the parents: If your kid wants a tattoo, let 'em wait. So many shops out there won't even let children into a shop let alone tattoo them. Tattoos arent some cool fad like having a cell phone or a certain hairstlye. They're permanent, so what seems so cool for them today may end up being one of their biggest mistakes later on. If they approach you with this idea, tell em its out of the question and let them think about it for a while (like a couple more years). So keep this in mind and you'll stand less of a chance of getting laughed out of someones shop.

I'm not sure about the laws in other places, but here you can't sign for any one under the age of 18 for tattoos, but you can for piercings. I had a woman bring in a 13 yr old for a tounge piercing and I wouldn't do it, 1. I don't think she's responsable enough 2. why does a 13yr old need a tounge piercing any way (I hope not for the reason I have mine LOL)

Well I hate to say it but.... I think that tattoos are already mainstream enough to be "trendy" in many cases. Take a look at the amount of girls that have butterflies on the small of thier back. I dont know out of all them, how many will actually feel meaning behind the butterfly in years to come or if it will be a "well it was a good idea at the time" thing. Besides money and other such material factors, the trendy mindset is another reason I have been cautious about getting a tattoo. So many teenagers (and IM 23 and see this) get a tattoo not thinking about how important the picture will be down the line to even what place they get it done at. No research is done into the design process, place to have it done, etc. I know that when I go under the needle Im going to have the comfort of knowing I have researched different artists, different shops, and exactly how the tattoo is going to shape the canvas that is my body. Tattooing is art. As for a child getting a tattoo, I dont think that a kid is old enough to realize what they are doing and how this is going to be very permanent. A parent should be keeping that in mind and telling the kid to wait, not trying to appease them. Kat