Gone are the good-old-days when teenagers expressed themselves with oddly colored hair, strange clothing or noise-like music. Today’s teen wants a more permanent statement of style—one that won’t wash off after a few months. Enter the tattoo.
What was once only the branding of service men, sailors and bikers is now a trendy accessory that has teens foaming at the mouth. In fact, American Academy of Dermatology stats show that 24% of 18-24 year olds are painted up. Additionally, 39% of 18-29 year olds surveyed admitted to having at least one tattoo.
Although the art of tattooing has been around for centuries (some researchers trace the practice back to ancient Egypt) the resurgence in modern culture came in the late 90’s. Prompted by celebrities, teens view tattoos as body art or a method of self expression. The problem is that they don’t think long term about the decision.
While most states require parental consent for clients under the age of 18, some establishments won’t even consider ‘inking’ anyone younger. Perhaps that’s because teens live in the ‘now’ and don’t consider that their love for ‘Tweety’ or unicorns may change by the time they enter college or the workforce.
The question to ask a teen dead set on getting a tattoo? What happens when body art is no longer trendy? You might even site the 2009 Pew Research Center Study; 72% of adults with tattoos cover them during business hours. Additionally, only 13% of those studied (all men) get inked in areas that can’t be hidden by clothing.
Discuss the topic with your teen and ask lots of questions. Although they need your permission to sport a tattoo, take the opportunity to help them learn some serious lessons in decision making….especially when peer pressure is involved.
Tattoo Regret Spurs MultiMillion Dollar Industry
Just as the popularity of tattoos have increased, so has the number of those wanting their body art removed. A recent article by the New York Times sites the newest trend; tattoo removal studios. You’ll see names like ‘Dr. Tattoff’, ‘Tat2BGone’ and ‘TattooMD’offering tattoo removal services with an average cost on $39 per inch per treatment…with some tattoos taking up to 30 treatments to remove.
Top Ten Tattoo Designs
- Tribal
- Stars
- Lion
- Angels
- Sun
- Cross
- Wings
- Dragon
- Phoneix
- Butterfly
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