My son is 16, he recently told me that a boy from the parallel class got a tattoo again. I wanted to say, "What a horror! He's not even eighteen yet!" but I bit my tongue. What if I was hopelessly out of touch? What if families were getting tattoos now? Opinions were divided. Most disapprove of such jewelry on children.
"I'm against it. After 18, let him decide," says Natalia, head of a social project from Krasnoyarsk.
"I don't have a tattoo and won't have one, and I hope my kids won't either. I'm not trying to prove anything, I just say: "Ew, how ugly and forever," writes Ekaterina, a coach from Moscow, a mother of three sons.
"I don't want my son to look like a convict," says Mikhail, a doctor from Volgograd.
"It might be worth allowing, but with certain restrictions, just like any toy that a child demands," reasoned Dimitri, a Sydney-based entrepreneur.
"You have to think, especially girls, about where to do. There are areas prone to change after childbirth. So that the butterfly does not turn into a frog," says Tatiana, a psychologist from Moscow.
"Probably, you should let the child know right away that his body belongs only to him, so that there are no consequences later. A person can only allow or forbid things that are related to his body to himself. But to explain and warn of the consequences is necessary, of course, "- says Anna, an expert in SEO-promotion from St. Petersburg. Several acquaintances shared stories.
"My son just puts me before the fact."
"He got his first tattoo when he was 15. Of course, I resented it. But my son said that the symbol on his shoulder meant a lot to him, and I didn't want to escalate things. I was comforted by the fact that everything was done neatly, covered with a special film, and that he regularly treated the place where the tattoo was. Besides, the tattoo is invisible under clothes, the teachers won't see it. But then my son got a tattoo on his forearm. It was just a geometric pattern, which he thought was beautiful. At this point I was really angry-that picture was in plain sight, and who knows how many more tattoos he was going to get. I explained that they would fade over time, that they would be hard to reconcile. But teenagers live for today and won't listen to reason.
I was furious. My son wouldn't listen to me or his father. He wouldn't tell me who had tattooed his hair so we wouldn't have to report him to the police. So I did a debriefing to reassure myself that my son wasn't the only one. I work in a military hospital, and I started asking patients at what age they got a tattoo, what they did it for, and whether they regret it. Most had it done when they were 17 or 18, and almost no one regrets it - it's cool and beautiful. Only a few said something like, "I did it because I was stupid. One colonel struck me the most. His body was all blue from the blurred tattoos, and he was a big man. But he thinks it's beautiful. And recently I was told how a 14-year-old girl, the daughter of a distant acquaintance, got a tattoo of herself on her leg. She found the technology on the Internet. This means things are not so bad here. Yelena, a nurse from Volgograd
You may get a tattoo from the age of eighteen
Parents can rest easy. Most tattoo artists, who work officially, do not make drawings under the skin to teenagers under the age of majority. Most salons require a passport. Who will certify that the teenager is of the age of eighteen.
There are, of course, underground craftsmen who are indifferent to this prohibition. But even they are aware of the dangers of working with minors. And they are not ready to take actions that can provoke a conflict with the parents of a young client.
If a teenager goes to get a tattoo in the salon, there is no need to worry. Until the age of eighteen, the drawing under the skin can be done only with the written consent of the parents.
You should not treat tattoos as something bad
Many parents perceive drawings on the body as something sharply negative. All because tattoos are surrounded by a huge number of myths. Let's dispel the main ones
Tattoo - a prison symbol
Many parents believe that tattoos are worn only by prisoners. And other asocial elements. However, this is not true.
A tattoo is a way of decorating the body. With the help of which you can add personality to your style. And also make it so that you do not look like anyone else.
If a teenager has a tattoo, it does not mean that he belongs to a certain subculture. He is just a regular teenager who has found a new way to express himself.
The myth that by getting a tattoo, a teenager will catch something
It is possible to get infected when getting a tattoo. But only in that case, if to do it at the unknown, unprofessional master. Who does not follow the rules of hygiene. Uses the same needle several times. And does not wear gloves during tattooing.
In other cases, it is not necessary to worry about contracting the disease. Most masters (especially in salons) observe the rules of personal hygiene. Do not allow the reuse of needles. And always wear gloves. Therefore, it is safe to get tattoos from them.
Pay attention to the cost of the tattoo
The cost of this or that tattoo should correspond to the market price of your city. In the regions of Russia, and in large cities, it will vary. In Moscow and St. Petersburg on causing a large-sized tattoo to spend a few tens of thousands of rubles. And in the regions a similar picture will cost up to 10,000₽.
The cost of tattooing must be in line with the market. If it is less than the average price in the city, it is a reason to be wary. Most likely, the artist uses substandard materials. And does not spend money on hygiene. Accordingly, it is not recommended to apply to such a master.
Tattoo can interfere with work and study
This is also quite a common myth. Which is partly true. If you score tattoos on your hands or on other parts of the body that are traceable through clothing, it can interfere with work. For example, teachers and television journalists are not allowed to have tattoos on places that cannot be concealed by clothing.
In other professions, there are no restrictions on tattoos. However, it is advisable to tattoo them in places that can be concealed. In order to avoid further problems at work and study.
Do not scold a teenager and dissuade him from tattooing
Remember: a fight with a teenager and direct attempts to talk him out of getting a tattoo will not lead to the desired result. You need to act more cunningly. Treat the fact that the teenager wants to get a tattoo neutrally.
Invite him to choose a drawing together. Take a photo of the teenager at full size. And then use photoshop to apply the tattoo to the spot where he wants it. Perhaps the teenager will see that the tattoo doesn't look very pretty on him. And will start choosing another tattoo.
It is quite possible that the teenager will go through several pictures. He will not like any tattoo. And he will refuse to do it. Without spoiling the relationship with you.
Offer your teenager to earn his own money for a tattoo
The price of a tattoo is formed depending on several factors:
- The time to be spent applying it.
- The type of tattoo. Will it be colored or plain black.
- Size.
- The popularity of the master.
- The location of the tattoo parlor.
- The complexity of the tattoo itself. Its sketch.
And many other factors. Accordingly, the cost of a tattoo can reach several thousand rubles. Tell the teenager that you are not ready to spend that kind of money. Suggest that he earn his own money.
Your actions will motivate the teenager to get a job. Start earning money. And build a career from an early age.
Perhaps the teenager will be able to earn a few thousand rubles in a month for a tattoo. However, he may refuse to do it. Because he will realize that he spent a lot of time and effort on the work. And that spending a month's salary on a tattoo is impractical.
Talk to your teenager about the style of tattoo
Explain to your teenager that his taste is still in its formative stages. Suggest that he choose his tattoo responsibly. Because at his current age, he may apply something that will no longer be relevant to him in a few years. And will not match his interests.
Suggest a teenager:
- Look online for examples of tattoos he likes. Choose a sketch that excites him. And, in doing so, consider whether it will please him even in a few years.
- Think where to put the tattoo. On what part of the body so it does not interfere with his studies and work. Be sure to show your teenager a so-called "pain chart. An image showing the parts of the body to be tattooed. And also indicators of which ones are painful to be tattooed on. And which ones are not.
- Draw your own tattoo sketch. Or pay for this work to a designer.
- Wait a few years. At least until graduation. Explain that the world view of teenagers will finally form only by this point.
It is possible that in the latter case, the teen will cool down in relation to the tattoos. And he will no longer want to put drawings on his body.
Tattoos should match the style of the teenager
Certain tattoos require a particular style of dress. Some allow the wearer to dress in a business style. Others can be worn while dressing only in sportswear.
The teen should consider this when choosing a tattoo.
Ask the teenager to wait a month before getting a tattoo
It is possible that the teenager's desire to get a tattoo was driven by emotion. Suggest that the teenager wait a month before getting a tattoo. If he wants to do it even after thinking it over several times, don't stop him. Then it is his dream.
It is quite possible that in a month the teen will change his mind about getting a tattoo.
If a teenager gets a tattoo once, it does not mean that he will continue to do so
Many parents fear that if a teenager gets a tattoo once, he will continue to do it. He'll keep going to tattoo parlors. And get new drawings under his skin.
This is not the case. It is quite possible that already after the first tattoo, the teenager will lose interest in this area. And in the future will never again apply drawings under the skin. Because he will consider it a completely pointless procedure.
"My son and daughter got a tattoo together without my knowledge.
"My son was 16 and my daughter was an adult when they did little ankle drawings. They were having fun. It was a conspiracy, a joint underground affair. I tried to talk me out of it-it didn't work. My son had always been able to convince me, since he was a child he had had the upper hand over me in arguments. The art of persuasion later helped him to succeed in business.
When he became an adult and independent, he got another tattoo, a bigger one, in a more visible place. I still don't understand why. He has loved ties and suits since he was a kid, and I don't think business style goes well with them. I can't say I like tattoos. But it's not a tragedy, especially since they have delicate drawings that are done in sterile conditions, not in a back alley." Anna, a dentist from St. Petersburg
Written parental permission for tattoos for minors
Most qualified salons will give you a sample permission, on which you only need to leave a signature. Usually a copy of the parent's or guardian's passport and a copy of the child's passport are attached to this permission.
The permission is written in a free form, which specifies:
- Surname, first name and patronymic of the parent
- Date of birth of the parent
- Address of residence
- Phone number
- Tattoo Permit
- Surname, first name, patronymic and date of birth
- Indication that you have no claims against the artist
- Date and signature.
"My body is my business."
"I really wanted to get a tattoo, but my mother absolutely forbade it. She said it was ugly and would be impossible to get it removed. She assured me that I liked it only when I was young and that I would have to "pay for this mistake" all my life. But I didn't believe her too much, believing that I would never dislike it. Even my father's blue-green tattoos, the memory of his submarine service, didn't stop me. He had a hard time getting them removed, leaving scars.
At 18-19, when I got my first salary, I got my belly button pierced. There was a terrible scandal waiting for me at home. Then, whenever my mother saw my belly, she would exclaim: "How could such an ugly thing be done?" She didn't achieve anything by banning me, but she still wanted to do it. Just this year I did two, and another one is on the way. I am sure that the child's body belongs only to him. But it's easy for me to talk about it, I don't have kids. In any case, you have to talk to children without intimidation, and calmly explain the consequences: "It's hard for you to imagine right now, but you might not like it." A child does not have all the information and it is more difficult for him to predict than for an adult. Yulia, a journalist from Moscow
