"Welches" wrote in message
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"MarieD" wrote in message
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Am I an old fogie at age 31? I keep having this shocked feeling when I
find out 13 and 14 year olds that I know are having their lips, tongues,
navels and/or noses pierced. Is this just normal now-a-days and I am
behind the times, or what?
This is not a case of my being a prude or uptight about the idea; I've
had tattoos and some piercings, but I was an adult, not a 13 year old. To
me there is quite a large difference in an adult and a 13/14 year old
having something like that done.

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One of the things when I was growing up, was that basically the reputable
places wouldn't do non-ear piercing for under 16s (and ear piercing only
with an adult). So anyone under that age that had it pierced had gone to
one of the backstreet tattoo places where they didn't ask too many
questions-and the hygene was supect.
As far as I'm aware (and I haven't researched this) this is still the case
in the UK. I know of a few 17/18yo with piercings, but not noticed many
obviously under age around.
Debbie

I think this is an unfair statement about hygene and all that.
Here at an actual piercing shop, the norm for piercings is around 14-16. It
has been a couple years since I've walked into a shop, though. With a
parent or guardian's permission, it can be younger. I also know that
there's certain situations where they won't do it until 18. Something like
a tongue, genitals, bla bla bla. Or with parents' permission - although I
am not sure, but I think a piercing in certain places is 18+, no matter what
(I believe they're piercings like a Prince Albert or something lol)
A number of years back, I had a few other piercings. At one point, I had my
eyebrown, labret, lip and tongue done, along with 2 in each of my ears. I
now no longer have the labret and lip due to tooth/gum damage as a direct
result of the piercings. I also have my ears at a 0ga on the bottom lobes
and about 4ga on the top holes on my lobes.
I was, I believe, 16 when I had my tongue and lip done. 17 or 18 with my
labret. 18 or 19 with my eyebrow.
For all of them when I was under 18, I did need parental consent. I went to
a reputable shop with full health inspections and it was not dirty. Maybe
kids will be kids, or teens will be monsters, but I managed to get by the
"parental consent" by bringing a "signed" letter from my "mom"... which was
actually a letter a friend wrote and signed and gave HER phone number for in
case the shop wanted to contact my "mom" to double check for the permission
thing. They did call and my friend/mom said yes, I had permission.
I think with piercings, the one good thing is that they aren't permanent.
My labret and lip are both fully grown over. If I keep my eyebrown barbell
out for any length of time, it does start to grow over. That's the good
thing about piercings - they can still grow over and be gone.
I know I'd be ****ed off if my child came home with piercings. I also do
know that I would get over it. It's not permanent. I also am pretty sure
that my anger wouldn't be from the actual piercing itself, but more because
I said no, I said wait, we didn't discuss this, you went behind my back,
etc.,if this was the case. If one came home with a tattoo, however, I'd
literally flip out and I would NOT get over it. Tattoos are permanent and
there pretty much for good. I really would lose it with a tattoo.
Oh, and neither of my girls - now 2 and 3 - have their ears pierced. This
is something I feel strongly about to wait until their old enough to make
their own decision about an actually ask to have their ears pierced - and
will do that if and when they are old enough to ask.