He dreams of a tribal motive on the shoulder, she swears by a piercing in the language … Yes, but until his majority, he needs your agreement. How to react to such determination? Our advice.
Whether it is to follow a fashion, send a message, assert its difference or wear a symbolic sign, your teenager keeps repeating to you that he wants a tattoo! Even if he would be tempted to do it in the gentleman, he needs the agreement of one of his parents until he was 18 years old. So, should we dissuade him from making his body, finding common ground or giving his consent? We take stock of the attitude to adopt.
Find the right posture
If you understand his desire, do not give in to all his whims! Before 16 years old, it is better to refuse: your child has not finished growing up and his body continues to transform, the drawing may distend and deform. So not terrible. Likewise for teens who do not heal well or those who have sensitive skin. Before giving your answer, ask him what he wants to be tattooed and where, then, seek to understand his motivations: beyond the fashion effect, the will to be tattooed can express the desire to appropriate his body, to embellish or differentiate it. A well-marked desire for adolescents, in search of identity or emancipation from his parents. Then, let him share the risks and the fact that he will have to live with this indelible drawing all his life (even if today, processes, nevertheless tedious, long, expensive and painful, exist to erase a tattoo. Note more than certain tattoos, because of their colors or the ink used, are impossible to remove. It is also an opportunity for you and your adolescents to discuss his desires His apprehension. Provisional (but not with black henna, dangerous for the skin) which disappears after a few months.
Choose the tattoo artist
That’s it, your teenager has finally managed to convince you! All that remains is to take action. But, even if he does not agree, accompany him to be tattooed because yes, you have a right of gaze on the size, the drawing and the location of his tattoo. Before choosing the show, ask the hygiene and sterilization rules used by the tattoo artist beforehand. According to French legislation, all tattoo artists must be declared to the prefecture and must have undergone hygiene training in a center certified by the National Union of Tattoo artists. So make sure that it is declared and that he has the authorization to practice in his premises. Back home, say that a tattoo requires care and rigorous maintenance (renewing the dressing several times a day, cleaning with an antiseptic solution, etc.). If in doubt, ask for a medical opinion.
| What does the law say? According to the public health code, tattoo artists cannot practice a permanent tattoo on the skin of a minor without a written authorization of parents accompanied by a photocopy of the identity document of one of the two parents. This essential parental agreement must be kept by the tattoo artist for 3 years. As a precautionary measure, some tattoo artists or perceurs require the presence of one of the parents. Before 13 years, it is forbidden to tattoo a child. |
My teenager wants a piercing
The installation of a piercing is prohibited for minors without parental authorization. If the tattoo is indelible, the piercing, meanwhile, can be removed. A priori, parents will be more inclined to accept a piercing than a tattoo, even if for some, it is the “marginal” or “bad gender” image that the disturbing piercings convey. For others, these are the risks of complications linked to an allergic reaction, an infection or poor healing. Whatever your decision, take the time to calmly chat with your teenager to prevent him from being pierced with your knowledge, tell him that you understand his desire, but that there are other ways to distinguish himself. Also, find a compromise on the location of the piercing: the one in the mouth or the tongue can cause erosion of the teeth and unbalance the oral flora. Depending on their location, some piercings can be torn off, irritate the skin and leave scars when removed. As with a tattoo, impose on your teenager that this is done in good hygiene conditions (clean local, material sterilization, skin disinfection, gans port, etc.) and in a declared pierce. Subsequently, make sure that your teenager is cleaning up his wound well and that he does not expose it to the sun.
