Tips for Talking to Teenagers About Tattoos

Tattoo's are all the rage these days, and it is many a parent's nightmare seeing their teenager roll home late one Friday or Saturday night sporting a brand spanking new tattoo! It is not a new phenomena, but has increased in popularity, and many teenagers don't consider the aspects of their actions in later life. Tattooing in modern society has always been a form of rebellion, and an expression of individuality. It has been a part of culture for many thousands of years as a form of spiritual and ritual initiation and it is back with a vengeance.

There are not many teens that will approach their parents asking for permission for a tattoo, so it is very likely that you are going to have to make the first approach and have enough information on hand to be able to give your teenager enough advice to hopefully make an informed decision to not get ink! The following tips should be taken into consideration and should allow you to be able to have an informative discussion with your teenager.

Laws do require that minors have parents permission before obtaining a tattoo and the last thing you want to happen is for your teenager to have a friend or an inexperienced backyard operator, performing any sort of body art on your child.

Disease Risk Of Tattooing
Risks of disease such as hepatitis and AIDS are relatively low in reputable tattoo studio, nonetheless, these are serious health risks and should be understood. Infections can also occur in new tattoos, if not properly cared for. Allergies can also be a consideration as pigments used in tattoo ink may have FDA approval, the inks for tattooing themselves are not regulated.

Do They or Don't They?
How sure is your teenager that they want a tattoo, and why? Is it because a friend or friends have recently had a tattoo, and they feel left out of the status quo? Make them aware that tattoo is a permanent markings that in later age fade in colour and become generally very unattractive. Laser removal of a tattoo is is a painful process and will leave scar tissue, so that tattoo has never really gone.

And If They Still Want A Tattoo?
Well, unfortunately, there is not going to be a great deal you can do to prevent this happening, If your teenager is so determined to undergo tattooing after understanding the risks that tattooing involves. What can you do? As difficult as it may be, a consideration may be to offer to accompany them to the tattoo studio, at least this way you can appraise the professionalism and hygienic standards as well as discussed your concerns with the tattoo studio. You might also consider going to visit a tattoo studio on your own so that you can see first hand what is actually involved in getting a tattoo. I do know of one mother who accompanied her teenage daughter to a studio and ended up getting an ankle tattoo herself! Mother/Daughter tattoo's have gained in popularity

Further Tattooing Considerations
Try to guide your teenager towards a smaller and subtle design and a choice of position on their body that can easily be covered by clothing. This can help avert many lost employment opportunities, as highly visible tattoos can be very off-putting to potential employers. As a final determination of whether your teenager who really wants to have a tattoo asked the tattoo artist to give a dry run. This involves the tattooing process, but with no ink in the gun and your teenager will get the full pain sensation that tattooing involves! At this point, they may very well decide that is not such a good idea to get that tattoo after all.