[leewhite]

What is the legal age which a person can have a piercing????? (apart from ear piercing). I always thought it was 18, but there is outrage in our local press that a tatto/piercing/beauty parlor has pierced the nipples of a 13 year old girl. It also goes on to comment that this particular parlor regulary performs piecings and bikini waxes on girls well under 18......

Surely this is immoral if not illegal????

[Tycho]

I don't know if there are any strict age limits apart from that you must be 18 or over, or have a responsible guardian with you.

I think it is pretty sickening, but what I find worse is tattooists that perform work on minors - These aren't removable so easily.

its says here there is no age limit

http://www.consumereducation.org.uk/.../piercings.htm

[me@home]

Originally Posted by kizzie

its says here there is no age limit

http://www.consumereducation.org.uk/.../piercings.htm

This is something that needs to be regulated via legislation a bit more. No one under the age of 16 should be allowed to get body piercings or tatoos. Young people who are quick to rush out and these things may not be thinking what a tatoo will look like when they're old and have sagging skin. Even if they don't think that far ahead they may regret at 25 what they permanently did to themselves at 15. The nipple piercing at 13 may even not be safe as the breasts may still be developing and who knows what that piercing may do to the underlying tissues. Definitely proof of age and accompanying parent should be required for all piercings and tatoos under the age of 16. How many parents would allow their daughters to get a nipple pierced at 13 and accompany her to the place to get it?
The same goes for tatoos.

[lulu]

One thing I cannot bear to see is very young children with pierced ears. Cruel into the bargain.

Originally Posted by lulu

One thing I cannot bear to see is very young children with pierced ears. Cruel into the bargain.

Absolutely, it's quite ugly, and when you see a child who can hardly speak yet with its (usually her, but not always) ears pierced, it's hardly as if the child has asked to have it done, is it?

Not to mention the fact it might be painful to the child, nor the dangers of children + playing + metal piercings through skin.

Yuck.

[Arwen1972]

When I had my eyebrow pierced (although I am talking 10 yrs ago) in Soho, London the piercer had a huge sign saying strictly no under 18's unless accompanied by a guardian. I assumed this was law but it seems it was just that this guy had morals.

[me@home]

Originally Posted by Arwen1972

When I had my eyebrow pierced (although I am talking 10 yrs ago) in Soho, London the piercer had a huge sign saying strictly no under 18's unless accompanied by a guardian. I assumed this was law but it seems it was just that this guy had morals.

That sign was there for legal protection. Do you think he really adhered to it though? Do you think he asked for proof of age of everyone who went there?

[Purity]

Originally Posted by lulu

One thing I cannot bear to see is very young children with pierced ears. Cruel into the bargain.

I agree too, even worse when it's a baby. I wasn't allowed mine done til I was 13 which looking back now was a sensible age.

The babies in question always seem to have chav parents too!

[timey]

Originally Posted by Purity

I agree too, even worse when it's a baby. I wasn't allowed mine done til I was 13 which looking back now was a sensible age.

The babies in question always seem to have chav parents too!

To me, doing that to a baby or young child is child abuse.

[Carlos_dfc]

And have you noticed that the vast majority of eyebrow piercings seem to cause a squint.

Next time you see the video of Atomic Kitten's 'Whole again' check out the head-and-shoulders shots of the one with the eyebrow piercing - her eye is only open about half as much as the one without the piercing.

If it were down to me:-
Facial piercings (other than ears) would be banned, they just look horrible.
Ear piercings would have a minimum age limit of 12
Other piercings would have a minimum age of 18

Tattoos would have a limit of 21
Unlike piercings, tattoos are permanent - and a lot of people are mentally still very immature at 18.
OK - some people are very mature at 18, but a wait of 3 years, for something that will last the rest of your life, is no big deal.

[Nanimo]

In defence for having ear piercings done at a young age, I had mine done at age 6 or 7... young enough for me not to be afraid of the impending pain or to remember is properly now that I'm older... and at that age certainly old enough for vanity. :P

Although having said that, I don't really agree with ear piercings for anyone much younger... and other body piercing or body modification should definitely be 16+ or with parent in tow.

[MapMan]

Originally Posted by me@home

This is something that needs to be regulated via legislation a bit more. No one under the age of 16 should be allowed to get body piercings or tatoos. Young people who are quick to rush out and these things may not be thinking what a tatoo will look like when they're old and have sagging skin. Even if they don't think that far ahead they may regret at 25 what they permanently did to themselves at 15. The nipple piercing at 13 may even not be safe as the breasts may still be developing and who knows what that piercing may do to the underlying tissues. Definitely proof of age and accompanying parent should be required for all piercings and tatoos under the age of 16. How many parents would allow their daughters to get a nipple pierced at 13 and accompany her to the place to get it?
The same goes for tatoos.

You can't get tatoos under 18

[Jumpy]

In response to this, I had my ear pierced when I was really young....5 I think and it was because I asked. I am glad I got it done then as I couldn't remember the pain. Saying this I had my ears pierced for a second time when I was about 14...bloody regret it now!!!

[lulu]

Originally Posted by Purity

I agree too, even worse when it's a baby. I wasn't allowed mine done til I was 13 which looking back now was a sensible age.

The babies in question always seem to have chav parents too!

My daughter had hers pierced just before starting high school. She was going on and on and on asking for them to be done. I had point blank refused up until then. It was my mum that talked me round by saying that all her friends had theirs done blah de blah etc. She now is more often without earrings than with and not that fussed about it. *kids*!

[loddellbosh]

Originally Posted by Vodka Squirrel

Absolutely, it's quite ugly, and when you see a child who can hardly speak yet with its (usually her, but not always) ears pierced, it's hardly as if the child has asked to have it done, is it?

Not to mention the fact it might be painful to the child, nor the dangers of children + playing + metal piercings through skin.

Yuck.

Lol I had my ears pierced when I was four months old. Then again at just under three years old (which I agreed to). And since a few other (eight) piercings.

[Patti]

Originally Posted by jakesales

You can't get tatoos under 18

Yes you can, I know a couple of people who were about 15/16 when they got a tatoo.

I got my ears pierced when I was 9/10 (can't remember exactly when) which was mainly for my cousins wedding, although I had been on about getting them pierced for a while before that.

I was thinking about getting a tatoo but I'll wait for a few years until I'm 100% sure that I want one and if I do, what I will get.

[Arwen1972]

Originally Posted by me@home

That sign was there for legal protection. Do you think he really adhered to it though? Do you think he asked for proof of age of everyone who went there?

Thats rather cynical isn't it ? I acutally thought he was being very moral but now that you've said that I'm like, oh, maybe not - I'm so trusting