Tattoos: My granddaughter asked my advice about getting a tattoo. Why do teens want a tattoo?

I dont have a tattoo, but I have wanted one. I am not sure what I would get though. For me it would be something that will remind me of something. I am very sentimental. I have lots of things that people would have thrown out, but I keep because they mean something to me. I would get a tattoo for this reason, but it would be smaller and easily hidden if I want to do so.

I am a parent, and am 52. My kids are 21 and 18. When my son, now 21 was your granddaughter's age, he wanted a tattoo and my most reasonable arguments against it had no impact on him because it was what all the kids were doing, it was "cool" and sexy, etc. He didn't want to be a dork.

Now he is 21 and very glad he didn't get one because he has a lovely girlfriend who really doesn't like them very much. I don't know that she would have rejected him on that account, but she might not have been attracted so much in the first place.

How did I keep him from getting one at 16? Well, I didn't forbid him, that's for sure, because then I thought he might go somewhere for it where it wouldn't be sterile. I just told him that if he thought it was such a great idea, that I loved and respected him, and I thought maybe I should have one, too. In fact, I thought it would be really amazing for us to have the same one in the same place--an experience neither one of us would ever forget and a story we could tell forever whenever we showed people our matching tattoos. I couldn't understand why he decided not to do it after all, then. I think that would have been very special.

A lot of people generalize and say teenagers want it for a 'fad' or a 'coolness'.

Why don't you ask HER this? Why does she want it? Does the tattoo have any special meaning to her? It doesn't have to, but if it doesn't, there should be a reason beyond "it's cool". Maybe it doesn't have any personal meaning, but she appreciates it as a beautiful piece of artwork, or whatever else.

As long as she has a genuine desire for the tattoo, you should let her have it. She's old enough to have an idea of what she wants to do with her body, and even if she waited until she was eighteen, she could still regret it later - hence talking to her and making sure she understands its permanent and wants it beyond a 'trend'.

If she does genuinely want it and you deny it to her, she might be inspired to go through 'under-the-counter' means of obtaining the tattoo, which will ultimately be less safe and of a lesser quality, and more regret!

I got my first one around the same age, and I got it because it got so much attention from my friends. I ended up getting 5 more tattoos since then and I can honestly say that I wish I hadn't gotten them.

The ink has faded and I did not know it at the time, but I am slightly allergic to the ink. If something aggravates my allergies, the tattoos will puff up and the lines get bumpy...it's noticeable and unattractive.

I am embarrassed to have my tattoos exposed when I'm around family or small children because small children are so impressionable. I also did not realize how many people are offended by tattoos because of religious reasons. My friend was joking around with her parents one night and asked them if they would approve of me marrying her. They said I was a great guy but no because of the tattoos.

You have to really be careful when you get a tattoo. Most places are clean because they don't wanna get sued. If you do decide to let her get one, make health precautions a priority. There are so many chances for blood from a previous customer to somehow find it's way back to your chair.

Lastly, you have to realize that tattoos are addictive. Most people who get one tend to get another one, and then another one. Even though I don't like my tattoos any more, there are times when I look at my arm and think "hey, this would look cool there."

Teens want a tattoo for the same reasons they start smoking and drinking, they want to be cool and fit in. I don't like tattoos for the pure reason that they are permenant (well, you can remove them through surgery, I guess). But, she has to think, whatever she gets, is she really going to want this when she's your age?? I have seen so many tattoos on older people (for instance sailors that are now in their 70s) that just look hidious, also what if she gains and looses weight (like with pregnancy), it will look good now, but what about later? I'm 26 now and I would never even think of getting one for the fear that I would not like it later in life.

If she truely wants it THAT bad, she can wait another year until she is 18.

I got my first tattoo when I was 16. When I got it, I thought it was so cool, so the next year I got another. Well now it's been a while and I often don't remember I have them, until I try to wear a formal/cocktail dress or just a plain tank top and I see my name in script on my left arm and a red rose on the other arm. I hate it. It doesn't make me look cool or "bad". It makes me look retarded. It's like wearing the same sweater everyday, it gets really old. Good thing is, I'll never forget my name. Bad thing, when I'm older, my rose will wither...

I would never let my child get a tattoo at that age. I was 29 when I got my first one and knew exactly what I wanted. Teenagers have no idea what they'll want in 10 years from now.

Ok first of all, please stop stereotyping teenagers. Each generation is different. Not every teenager wants to smoke pot, get drunk, or get a tattoo either.

I do agree that she should wait until she 18 to get it and I think she has to be 100% sure that she wants it.

And technology is now advanced enough for safe tattoo removeal so you can not really say anymore that tattoos are permanent. I think if she wants the tattoo she should wait until she is 18 and make her pay for it. They are expensive so she might think twice about getting one.

No. Absolutely not. I have a daughter 17 and a daughter 23. The rule was nothing that is permanent (outside of pierced ears) until they turn 18. I wasn't going to be responsible for allowing them to do something they will definitely regret in the 30s. So many of my friends are dealing with having those removed now. It's painful, expensive and leaves scars.

Teenagers' want for a tattoo varies from person to person. The main factor in why teens want a tattoo is the people they hang out with. If those people have one, then the teen is likely to want to get one, too.

So, the main reason teenagers want tattoos is because they want to "fit in".