This page is for the Minor as well as the Parent, to help shed some light on concerns and considerations when getting a tattoo before you are 18.
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
the Design and the reason for it. A lot of things seem really cool at first but then become less interesting as time goes on. Once you think you have found a design or idea you like, look at it everyday for the next month or two and see if it is still inspiring for you. Some designs don't hold much meaning while others can be very meaningful, it's a good idea to know why you want something.
Visibility. There are still places on the body that having a tattoo can hinder certain opportunities such as future employment or military service. Think of different seasons and different occasions where you may have to consider it being seen. Even nice images can be offensive to certain people, having the tattoo exposed will attract the attention of others, some will have nice things to say and some not so nice.
Your age and body. Most people's bodies grow into their early twenties. When you get tattooed at a young age, your tattoo can physically move it's location depending how your body fills out. For example, a tattoo on a male bicep at the age of 16 can move out of center as the muscles develop, resulting in a crooked looking tattoo that will most likely need to be redone or even added onto.
The Skin also needs to stretch with your growing body which can 'fuzz-out' a tattoo within a few short years, again resulting in the possible need for the tattoo to be redone. Skin regenerates for your entire life, but especially at a young growing age, this also causes the tattoo to age prematurely.
Your Artist. Always talk to an artist first, they should understand these variables and be able to assess if your idea is the best decision for longevity of the tattoo. There may be no reason for concern, but any concerns should definitely be addressed and discussed. Be sure to look at previous work by the artist you are considering, just because they say they're awesome doesn't mean they are, look at their work.
Mom and Dad. Bottom line is, without the consent of the parent, there is no tattoo. Mom and/or Dad have to sign for a minor to get tattooed (at least in the state of Ohio). The parent has to agree to exactly what is to be tattooed, just because they sign the paper doesn't mean the minor gets the freedom of having anything they want tattooed, the design and placement has to be determined and agreed on before signing.
Best thing is to call or stop-in with questions or even just ideas, then the artist can help you determine what will work best for your particular scenario. There is no reason to have a bad tattoo experience, if you do a little homework and find an artist who understands Your concerns and ideas, then the tattoo experience will be an awesome one.
