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Tattoos
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Legally, you must be 18 or over to have a tattoo. The tattooist can be prosecuted if you get tattooed under the age of 18
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A tattoo is created with a vibrating needle which injects ink into the skin’s dermal layer. It can be a painful experience
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If you are thinking about getting a tattoo, make sure:
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The equipment used is sterilised. All needles must be new, clean and sterile for every tattoo. Dirty or shared needles carry a risk of hepatitis B and HIV
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The tattooist is registered and their certificate is on display
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- Tattoos can cost anything from about £10 upwards, depending on size, detail, colour and shape
- Tattoos are permanent so think about your decision carefully. For example, will you still like your tattoo in years to come? Also if your tattoo is visible, consider what an employer might think in the future
- Laser treatment can remove tattoos, but it is an expensive process and may leave permanent scarring
Body piercing
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You must be 18 to have a body piercing or parental consent if you are under 18
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Piercing is another form of body art, where a part of the body is pierced with a hollow needle and a piece of jewellery is pushed through the hole
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Ear piecing is done with a specially-designed gun. Other common body piercings include navel, nose, eyebrow, nipple, genitals and tongue
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Ensure the piercer is registered with a professional organization, such as The Association of Professional Piercers
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After piercing, make sure you keep the area clean to reduce the risk of infection. The piercer will tell you the best methods of after care
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Piercings can take up to six months to heal
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Other methods of body art include: fake tattoos, henna tattoos, stencils, painted tattoos, false body jewellery and bindis
5 Comments – Post a comment
SirClucky
Commented 2 months ago - 14th March 2012 - 16:29pm
Some good advice here, but if I'm not mistaken you can have a tattoo/piercing at 16 with your parent/guardian's consent?
Also, a good tip is to eat before having a tattoo, even if it is just a few biscuits. During a tattoo the body releases ahdrenaline, and if it is not absorbed or broken down (for which sugar is required) then it can leave you feeling nauseous and dizzy.
Please think about the employer note - you cannot enter a professional career generally if you have tattoos on display, and besides, tattoo concealer is very expensive!
Safe creativity guys and dolls! x
Sam (Sub-Editor)
Commented 2 months ago - 14th March 2012 - 17:21pm
According to the Tattooing Of Minors Act 1969...
"It shall be an offence to tattoo a person under the age of eighteen except when the tattoo is performed for medical reasons by a duly qualified medical practioner or by a person working under his direction, but it shall be a defence for a person charged to show that at the time the tattoo was performed he had reasonable cause to believe that the person tattooed was of or over the age of eighteen and did in fact so believe."
Ihavethecyrusvirusx
Commented 2 months ago - 14th March 2012 - 17:44pm
There was a tatooist down the road from where I live who tattooed 11 year old kids. He was doing it for years and only like 2 years ago he got shut down. Shame, if he wasn't an idiot and tattooed them, he'd still have a good business because apparently, he was quite talented. Just thought I'd say...
Sam (Sub-Editor)
Commented 2 months ago - 14th March 2012 - 17:53pm
Really? Who at 11 knows what tattoo they want for the rest of their lives?
Ihavethecyrusvirusx
Commented 2 months ago - 14th March 2012 - 19:51pm
A lot of 11 year olds where I live think they are like 18 or something. They try to grow up way too fast. I've seen kids who were in my primary school that have just started the comp smoking. They really need to slow down with it all because they're ruining their childhoods.