How old should you be to get your first permanent tattoo?

Question

My son really wants one and he's 16yrs old
should I let him it's his body...I need some feed back

Answer 1

18! i waited 2 years before i got mine and its good to have lots of time to think about your tattoo.

Answer 2

Legally 18, but with a parents permission any age. I would tell him to wait until he's 18 so he can make the decision better and have a better idea of what type of tattoo he wants. Going now he might pick something he won't like.

Answer 3

As a teenager myself, I'll be expected to be all, "It's his body! Let him do what he wants!" But I'm not. I think you'll save him a lot of time, money, and pain later on in life in case he decides that his sixteen-year-old impulse was a bad idea. Hey, a couple of years ago I wanted to shave my head. At least that would have grown back.

For me, at least, my mind changes wayyyyy too much to ever get a permanent tattoo. I love temporary ones, like Henna, but to get a permanent one is to be tied down to one look. Never.

Answer 4

I'd say 21, even though I know in most states the law says 18. I don't think a 16 year old is emotionally mature enough to make a decision that's going to affect the rest of his life. He'll have the rest of his life to enjoy his tattoo - he shouldn't be in any hurry to get one.

Answer 5

I'd say he can wait another couple of years until he's an adult. Do you want to be his parent or his friend? For instance:
Do you want him to go out and sleep with all the boys and girls he wants? After all, it's his body. How about letting him have a motorcycle? Ride around with a kid you don't trust? Let him smoke pot or pop E? Not let him brush his teeth or wash his hair or shower? After all, it's his body.

"The rules for parents are but three... love, limit, and let them be."
- Elaine M. Ward

Answer 6

My son is 21 and living on his own. If he wants to get a tatoo now (and he's been talking about it) then it's up to him. I would not have let him get one back when I had any say on the subject.

Answer 7

I'd say 18 and he has to have a design in mind and not change his mind for a year (what a friend of mines sister in law (who had tattoos) recommended to her).

Answer 8

i will personally never get one, but i think you should be at least 16 maybe 18. my friend who is 15 got one recently, and i think she is mature enough to decide, it depends on the person. If he can explain why he wants it, and that he won't regret it when he's older, why not let him get it?

Answer 9

I think hes old enough as long as he understand the consequences and is absolutly sure of what he wants.please make sure you see some actual work of the tatooist you are going to use getting a bad tatoo can be painfull and regretfull.

Answer 10

18 at this age you able to do alot of things and getting a tattoo should be one of those and he needs to make sure that the tatttoo has a meaning to it and not get it just because he wants one.