Age for your first tattoo?

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Your first tattoo: at what age did you get it?

  • Under 18

    Votes: 3 17.6%
  • 18-21

    Votes: 4 23.5%
  • 22-29

    Votes: 5 29.4%
  • 30-39

    Votes: 1 5.9%
  • 40-49

    Votes: 3 17.6%
  • 50-59

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 60 plus

    Votes: 1 5.9%

  • Total voters
    17
  • Poll closed .
Feb 21, 2014
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#1
Okay so this is addressed to the tattooed (those without tattoos obviously are not being asked... :) )

At what age did you obtain your first tattoo?
 
Feb 21, 2014
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#2
PS: Some states and jurisdictions don't allow them for under-18s and this is probably a very good idea!
 

Toska

Senior Member
Nov 16, 2013
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#3
I waited until after I was 40. I had wanted to get one for a long time before that but, I made myself wait so I could be 100% sure that I really wanted a tattoo. I did not want to get it and regret it later.

About the law limiting the age for getting a tattoo, the kids find ways around that all the time. So many people have tattoo machines at home and will tattoo anybody. I teach 9th graders. You would be amazed at how many of my students already have multiple tattoos. Most of the ones I have seen are very poor quality because the person giving them the tat is not very experienced. It is a sad situation.
 
Feb 21, 2014
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#4
I waited until after I was 40. I had wanted to get one for a long time before that but, I made myself wait so I could be 100% sure that I really wanted a tattoo. I did not want to get it and regret it later.

About the law limiting the age for getting a tattoo, the kids find ways around that all the time. So many people have tattoo machines at home and will tattoo anybody. I teach 9th graders. You would be amazed at how many of my students already have multiple tattoos. Most of the ones I have seen are very poor quality because the person giving them the tat is not very experienced. It is a sad situation.
Toska:

Some states and provinces in North America are, I think, through their health and sanitary departments, working to put unregistered tattoo parlors out of business. Yes, it's a pity when young people rush into it. It should be approached with a measure of maturity, which a lot of youngsters don't have.

You as a tattooed woman that waited and exercised a maturity and careful planning for the big moment, when you went under the needle, ought to be regarded by your students as a example of commendable restraint and moderation. I expect you have seen some of theirs; do they know about yours, maybe?

Is yours faith related in its design?

Blessings.

PS: From what you just posted on the other thread I see you have three; so I should say 'their' design. :)
 
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Toska

Senior Member
Nov 16, 2013
1,857
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#5
Yes, I wish that all of the tattoo machines had to be registered and located in a reputable establishment. Not in someone's house who does not have a clue about what they are doing. I am pretty open with my students about my tattoos, they know that I have 3 of them. I try to stress that I waited until I turned 40 to get one because I wanted to be sure that is what I wanted. I tell them that I don't ever want to regret my tattoos and I don't want them to ever regret theirs.

I got all 3 of my tattoos before I became a Christian. I was saved September 29, 2013. None of the tattoos are related to my faith. I have one on my wrist that is a dog paw print with some simple designs around it--that is for my dog that we lost after having him for almost 16 years. I have an infinity symbol on my calf with the words daughter loves mother, that one is for my mom--the infinity symbol is because I am a math teacher, and I have a flower design on my ankle that goes from the top of my foot to above the ankle bone--that one represents the beauty in the world around me.

If I get another one, it will definitely be one that is related to my faith. I have been doing research on that and am trying to decide where I would want another tattoo if I get one. I know a lot of people disagree with tattoos and probably think I am crazy for getting them. What is really funny is that other adults are surprised when they find out I have tattoos--I have been told I seem too conservative to have tattoos:p.

I pray that people will not slam me for my willingness to discuss my tattoos and the fact that I am not ashamed of them.
 
Feb 21, 2014
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#6
Yes, I wish that all of the tattoo machines had to be registered and located in a reputable establishment. Not in someone's house who does not have a clue about what they are doing. I am pretty open with my students about my tattoos, they know that I have 3 of them. I try to stress that I waited until I turned 40 to get one because I wanted to be sure that is what I wanted. I tell them that I don't ever want to regret my tattoos and I don't want them to ever regret theirs.

I got all 3 of my tattoos before I became a Christian. I was saved September 29, 2013. None of the tattoos are related to my faith. I have one on my wrist that is a dog paw print with some simple designs around it--that is for my dog that we lost after having him for almost 16 years. I have an infinity symbol on my calf with the words daughter loves mother, that one is for my mom--the infinity symbol is because I am a math teacher, and I have a flower design on my ankle that goes from the top of my foot to above the ankle bone--that one represents the beauty in the world around me.

If I get another one, it will definitely be one that is related to my faith. I have been doing research on that and am trying to decide where I would want another tattoo if I get one. I know a lot of people disagree with tattoos and probably think I am crazy for getting them. What is really funny is that other adults are surprised when they find out I have tattoos--I have been told I seem too conservative to have tattoos:p.

I pray that people will not slam me for my willingness to discuss my tattoos and the fact that I am not ashamed of them.
Tosca: Well, I think it's really great that you are now at the stage of drinking in the Scriptures prayerfully and rejoicing in the Lord's intervention in grace through faith in the Lord Jesus several months ago. I think the zeal of a believer in the early months and years of one's Christian life may go a long way in helping to forge healthy and prayerful Bible reading and fellowship habits in such time ahead as the Lord may grant us. In comparison with this joyful and momentous change in your life, the subject of tattoos pales in comparison, I reckon.

Actually a lot of Christians do appreciated faith based tattoo designs, you will find; whether symbols (Christian fish sign <><, etc.) or a Bible phrase or reference, or whatever.

(I did obliquely and politely suggest in the opening post that people who want to come and bash those with tattoos need not do so.)

I can well understand why you would now like to combine the ecstasy of the inking needle with the joy of a God honoring testimony design of some sort.

Blessings.
 
Feb 21, 2014
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#7
I put a lot of thought into my tattoos and they each have very special meaning to me. I did not get them to keep them covered up all the time. I have 3 and none of them contain anything offensive....except for the people who are just offended by a person with a tattoo. I could cover them all if I wanted to but, I don't. I am not ashamed of them and I am one of those people who have no regrets about my tats.
(With your permission answering here, in order to keep similarly themed comments together.)

Toska:

I think it's something rather wholesome if you as a tattooed woman have no regrets about your good quality ink designs.

Maybe part of the issue, as I might suggest, could be that when you eventually decide where to place the faith based design, then you might find that some school administrator or other might suddenly start to cite 'separation of church and state' if an overtly faith based tattoo is visible! There seems to be no question that you'll somehow be supposedly ashamed of any faith based tattoo design that you might receive, but it might be tactful to have it in a placement that can be covered without a lot of difficulty, if necessary.

The fact that you have become a tattooee with a good measure of experience of life behind you, is an increasing trend, I think, with many women of somewhat more mature years getting them for the first tome in recent years (59%-70% of parlor clients in North America are now women, according to statistics.)

Blessings.
 
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Toska

Senior Member
Nov 16, 2013
1,857
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#9
(With your permission answering here, in order to keep similarly themed comments together.)

Toska:

I think it's something rather wholesome if you as a tattooed woman have no regrets about your good quality ink designs.

Maybe part of the issue, as I might suggest, could be that when you eventually decide where to place the faith based design, then you might find that some school administrator or other might suddenly start to cite 'separation of church and state' if an overtly faith based tattoo is visible! There seems to be no question that you'll somehow be supposedly ashamed of any faith based tattoo design that you might receive, but it might be tactful to have it in a placement that can be covered without a lot of difficulty, if necessary.

The fact that you have become a tattooee with a good measure of experience of life behind you, is an increasing trend, I think, with many women of somewhat more mature years getting them for the first tome in recent years (59%-70% of parlor clients in North America are now women, according to statistics.)

Blessings.
I do understand your concerns about that. The thing with the separation of church and state is that I cannot teach any of the content in the bible to my students. I cannot lead them in prayer. I cannot suggest that they go to church. There are a lot of things I cannot do in regards to my interaction with my students about my faith. I have a lot of students that know I am a Christian and they ask me questions. Luckily, we have a pastor that volunteers at our school as a big brother and I send them to him with their questions.

I wear a necklace with a cross on it at all times, nobody ever says anything negative about it. I also have other jewelry that shows my faith and I have never had anyone say that I cannot wear it. I will be sure to check the laws regarding the separation of church and state but, I am fairly confident that I cannot be discriminated against for having a religious tattoo. I know many other teachers who have them and there has never been anything said to them.

Thanks for the stats. I honestly did not know that there was that much of an increase in the number of "mature" women getting tattoos. I had wanted to get one for many years but I waited until I was older to make sure it was not just a phase I was going through. I did know that a lot of younger women were getting more tattoos. I also thank you for bringing up the possibility of trouble at my job for getting another tattoo. I will be checking the laws just to be safe or have it put in a place that can be concealed if needed.

God Bless.
 
Feb 21, 2014
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#10
I do understand your concerns about that. The thing with the separation of church and state is that I cannot teach any of the content in the bible to my students. I cannot lead them in prayer. I cannot suggest that they go to church. There are a lot of things I cannot do in regards to my interaction with my students about my faith. I have a lot of students that know I am a Christian and they ask me questions. Luckily, we have a pastor that volunteers at our school as a big brother and I send them to him with their questions.

I wear a necklace with a cross on it at all times, nobody ever says anything negative about it. I also have other jewelry that shows my faith and I have never had anyone say that I cannot wear it. I will be sure to check the laws regarding the separation of church and state but, I am fairly confident that I cannot be discriminated against for having a religious tattoo. I know many other teachers who have them and there has never been anything said to them.

Thanks for the stats. I honestly did not know that there was that much of an increase in the number of "mature" women getting tattoos. I had wanted to get one for many years but I waited until I was older to make sure it was not just a phase I was going through. I did know that a lot of younger women were getting more tattoos. I also thank you for bringing up the possibility of trouble at my job for getting another tattoo. I will be checking the laws just to be safe or have it put in a place that can be concealed if needed.

God Bless.
Toska:

Well, fine! if you know many other teachers with religious tattoos, then presumably you'll be okay; but worthwhile checking, anyway.

I think as much as anything else it's the achievement by women of complete tattoo equality, for something that used to be mainly a man thing, that relates to the steady increase in women being willing to go under the inking needle for the first time. And while you seem to have benefited from waiting plenty of time in which to plan for your ink carefully, yet I guess now in the eyes of those who are getting their first tattoo you yourself would now be regarded as almost a veteran, what with the fact that you have no regrets and are not ashamed of any of your designs, and you don't seem to want to call it quits with getting more.

The wearing of shirts with sleeves does of course offer the possibility of the arm placement. Have you given more thought to the faith based aspect of your next one?

Blessings.
 
Feb 21, 2014
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#11
PS: Toska: On the other thread meggars is another woman now with multiple tattoos who says she waited years before finally having it done for the first time; her experience seems rather like yours, really:

I have a few....but I specifically didn't get them when I was younger because I know that at some point between being a youth and an adult with some years under her belt my tastes might change. As it happens, they haven't really.....but at least having given myself some time and waiting til I was nearly 30 I am more sure of my decision. ..
She didn't say whether hers were faith based in design or not; but there is certainly a wisdom in careful planning and in not rushing to the parlor.

Blessings.
 
D

didymos

Guest
#12
Getting a tattoo at any age is silly, and probably not even biblical

(... but hey, that's just my opinion)
 
Feb 21, 2014
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#14
meggars: There was no need to rush into it, was there? and now having a few, and having planned them well over a number of years, you are likely to have ones that you don't regret.
 

Toska

Senior Member
Nov 16, 2013
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#15
Toska:

Well, fine! if you know many other teachers with religious tattoos, then presumably you'll be okay; but worthwhile checking, anyway.

I think as much as anything else it's the achievement by women of complete tattoo equality, for something that used to be mainly a man thing, that relates to the steady increase in women being willing to go under the inking needle for the first time. And while you seem to have benefited from waiting plenty of time in which to plan for your ink carefully, yet I guess now in the eyes of those who are getting their first tattoo you yourself would now be regarded as almost a veteran, what with the fact that you have no regrets and are not ashamed of any of your designs, and you don't seem to want to call it quits with getting more.

The wearing of shirts with sleeves does of course offer the possibility of the arm placement. Have you given more thought to the faith based aspect of your next one?

Blessings.
I will definitely be checking the legal aspects of having a religious tattoo before I get one. I have been thinking a lot about what I want and where I want it but, I am in no hurry. For me, this will be a very special tattoo (and my last) and I want to make sure it is exactly what I want. I personally don't care for tats on my arm, the back of my neck, or the small of my back. I also don't care for full sleeves--all the way down my arm. I don't know why, that is just me.

I guess you are right in saying that I am somewhat of a veteran. I do have a lot of people asking me for advice about tattoos. Honestly, they don't hurt. I think people work themselves up so much about it hurting that they feel the pain they are expecting. I was warned about getting the one on my ankle--getting ink on the ankle bone is supposed to be pretty painful. I almost fell asleep while getting that one. It honestly did not hurt, even the shop owner could not believe that I did not feel pain. But, I also have a very high pain tolerance.

As far as people being critical about tattoos, I have never had anyone in my life say a negative thing about any of my tattoos. Even my church family has no problem with them. The only place I have seen people be critical is here. The tattoos I have now were done before I was a Christian. Yes, I want to get one more and I probably will. If this displeases God, I will have to stand before Him and be judged for this. But, I won't be judged by anyone else.

I apologize for ranting in your thread, I did not intend to do that. I get frustrated when I see the negative comments about things. I know this is the internet and people tend to be braver about what they say, I just don't like to feel judged.

Thank you, faroukfarouk, for your interest and advice. It is very much appreciated.

God Bless.


 
Feb 21, 2014
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#16
I will definitely be checking the legal aspects of having a religious tattoo before I get one. I have been thinking a lot about what I want and where I want it but, I am in no hurry. For me, this will be a very special tattoo (and my last) and I want to make sure it is exactly what I want. I personally don't care for tats on my arm, the back of my neck, or the small of my back. I also don't care for full sleeves--all the way down my arm. I don't know why, that is just me.

I guess you are right in saying that I am somewhat of a veteran. I do have a lot of people asking me for advice about tattoos. Honestly, they don't hurt. I think people work themselves up so much about it hurting that they feel the pain they are expecting. I was warned about getting the one on my ankle--getting ink on the ankle bone is supposed to be pretty painful. I almost fell asleep while getting that one. It honestly did not hurt, even the shop owner could not believe that I did not feel pain. But, I also have a very high pain tolerance.

As far as people being critical about tattoos, I have never had anyone in my life say a negative thing about any of my tattoos. Even my church family has no problem with them. The only place I have seen people be critical is here. The tattoos I have now were done before I was a Christian. Yes, I want to get one more and I probably will. If this displeases God, I will have to stand before Him and be judged for this. But, I won't be judged by anyone else.

I apologize for ranting in your thread, I did not intend to do that. I get frustrated when I see the negative comments about things. I know this is the internet and people tend to be braver about what they say, I just don't like to feel judged.

Thank you, faroukfarouk, for your interest and advice. It is very much appreciated.

God Bless.


Some placements are not particularly suitable for faith related tattoos but others are perfectly decent and suitable, if the wearer wishes. If you are somewhat well planned for the design that you want, have you considered shoulder? Plenty of people wear sleeveless tops and shirts, and it's a placement that is not at all unusual for a tattoo and can also be covered very easily.

Blessings.
 

Toska

Senior Member
Nov 16, 2013
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#17
Yes, the shoulder is one of the places I am considering. I think I have it narrowed down to my shoulder, my other wrist, or my other ankle. I do love the one I have on my ankle right now. Here is a picture of it. People really notice the one on my ankle. My only problem with it being on my shoulder is that I can't see it. I know that sounds silly but, I would like to be able to see it without needing a mirror.

my ankle tat.JPG
 
Feb 21, 2014
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#18
Yes, the shoulder is one of the places I am considering. I think I have it narrowed down to my shoulder, my other wrist, or my other ankle. I do love the one I have on my ankle right now. Here is a picture of it. People really notice the one on my ankle. My only problem with it being on my shoulder is that I can't see it. I know that sounds silly but, I would like to be able to see it without needing a mirror.

View attachment 73041
Nice photo; and it must have been quite an experience to remember, with the needle going round and round and up and down.

Sounds like your plans for your next one are gradually advancing, slowly but surely, without hurry but with determination.

Blessings.
 

Toska

Senior Member
Nov 16, 2013
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#19
It really wasn't a big deal, I almost fell asleep. We had some good music playing and I was very relaxed laying on the table.

Yes, I am slowly coming to a decision about my next one. I don't know how long it will take but, it will happen when I know exactly what I want and where I want it.
 
Feb 21, 2014
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#20
It really wasn't a big deal, I almost fell asleep. We had some good music playing and I was very relaxed laying on the table.

Yes, I am slowly coming to a decision about my next one. I don't know how long it will take but, it will happen when I know exactly what I want and where I want it.
These days (as opposed to years ago, maybe) doing it — sometimes repeatedly — has become a natural and wholesome event which naturally and serenely comes round for all the women now as well as men, that wish to do it, when they feel 'ready'.

Blessings.