How do you go about selecting a piercing or tattoo place?

Question

My sisters 11 year old girl wants to get her belly pierced and a tattoo on her lower back.

Answer 1

ARE YOU KIDDING, AN ELEVEN YEAR OLD?

First of all, a tattoo at 11 years old...I am in shock...

No reputable piercer ar tattoo artist will touch an 11 year old. Children's minds are not nearly fully developed at that age. She probably wants Barney tattooed on her. What makes you think she wouldn't completely regret it anyways?

Buy her some temporary tattoos from the toy shop.

Answer 2

In most states its illegal to tattoo anyone under 18, and many piercers will not work on anyone under 15-16.

11 year old children really are not ready (physically or emotionally) to be tattooed. Their bodies are still changing at an incredible rate which will distort a tattoo just about anywhere you place it. 11 years old is also too young for a belly piercing. Her abdomen is going to get about a foot longer over the next few years and completely change proportions. This will make any piercing done now likely to be in the wrong place as she grows.

To answer your actual question you start choosing shops with a good reputation. Speak to people with work that has healed well and looks well done.

Then go to the shops they have reccommended and see how the shop looks. The staff should be clean and friendly. The whole place should be well lit and ultra clean. The staff should be wearing gloves when they are touching work instruments or clients and should change those gloves after touching anything else. You should be comfortable in the shop and feel that you will be well taken care of.

All of that said, you will not find a shop like this that will work on 11 year old children (except to pierce their ears). Reputable shops are run by people who care about their clients' future happiness with the work they do. Your sister will not be happy about a belly piercing that doesnt look right once she grows or a tattoo that ends up distorted and misplaced.

Do her a favor and find something else for her to want. Or at least convince her that she should wait to be pierced until shes 15 or 16 and tattooed until she's 18. Maybe trade her another set of ear piercings to let her feel grown up without risking putting marks on her that wont be as beautiful later.

Answer 3

I don't know of any tattoo shop who would tattoo an 11 year old...it is against the law...and I don't know why a parent would allow their 11 year old to get a tattoo, at the age of 11 they just aren't mature enough to be sure it's something they are going to want to live with for a long time.

piercing they may allow with parental consent, and I suggest if she is going to allow this to research piercing places in her area to see which is best and follows health and safety procedures.

Answer 4

I am not prude but i would be concerned about an 11 year old who wants her belly button pierced. It is just a creepy thought

Answer 5

Can someone please give this kid her childhood back............