Moving to general piercing.

I think 8 is good for lobes. I would sign for a nostril or cart piercing at 16, but not an eyebrow, tongue or other facial piercing. Genital piercings are for those over 18. Preferably well over 18.

I'd definitely say the youngest for earlobe piercings would be right around the age of 10ish and only if pierced with needles and proper jewelry is used..and assuming that a shop would pierce at that young of an age. Otherwise they'd have to wait until they was 13. For cartilage piercings of the ear I think the youngest is probably 13. For nostrils, septums, lips, eyebrows, bridges and etc. probably 16. Navel 17 and they'll have to wait until they're 18 for a tongue just because it's more adultish in nature. And ABSOLUTELY no nipples or genital piercings until they're of age. But most shops with high standards wouldn't pierce a minors genitals and nipples anyway so I don't think that's too much to worry about. But I wouldn't just say yes and sign for them without having them show me that they're educated and ready for all of the work that's involved with caring for healing piercings.

As a Mom of a 14 year old girl, I can tell she has two lobes (gun, I was uneducated at the time). She got her first at about a year old and her 2nd for her 13th B-day. If she makes good grades at school she is allowed 1 helix (at my piercers shop) as a reward for her hard work. She did want her belly button done, until I had mine done and she saw how much work it is to care for it properly. Other than her ears, she can't have anything else done because she is active in sports and it's not safe. She is aware of all my piercings and maybe one day when she is older and more mature, it will be her decision to go further.

id say 16 at the earliest. any idea what the growth issues are with underage peircings? to explain a little more what i mean: they wont give breast implants to younger girls due to the fact they have a lot of growing to do, they might plump out, move around etc. What about peircings? ive never looked into it *shrug*

^^ I agree. 16 definately. My piercer wont even pierce lobes until you are 16..

i think 14 for anything on the ears, 16 for anything facial, but not like more than one or two facial piercings, and 18 for anything beyond that facially or for microdermals or anything of that sort. of course it would depend on the actual piercing he/she wanted and their maturity level at the time.

Well, I don't think I'm going to have kids, but hypothetically speaking, it will not be under 16. Lobes would be the only exception, and that would depend on that hypothetical child's maturity level.

As a UK based parent we did it this way....
Lobes I think about 10-11, tried before but the noise of the gun was too much for her so we didn't bother.
She snuck off and got her nose done at about 14-15, this wasn't an issue for me as I have my nose done twice. teenage girls with pierced nostrils are pretty passe over here.
Navel was done at 16, I went with, reward for passing her exams.
The top of her ear was 18ish... I went with her.
She is 20 now, so any descisions are upto her but she heals better in the Summer.

I got my lobes done at 10/11 and everything else at 16+ so if/when I have kids they can have the same.

Admittedly my lobes were gunned and theirs won't be, but that's the only difference I can see....unless I actually do become a piercer in which case they will have to come to me and me only. Bitches.

my daughter (14) has 1 lobe each ear..........
and an industrial for straight "A" grades....after 4 monthes of discussion........
she asked for a navel someday I said we will discuss it when you are 16 1/2

I would probably say 16 and maybe slightly younger for a cart. Not sure since I don't have kids.

I think it depends on the child and their maturity. I got my lobes done when I was 8, it was my choice and I was very responsible about looking after them, in that case I think its fine but in others they should have to wait til they are older. I then got my 2nd lobes done when I was 9, and I wanted more but after that mum refused. I really wanted a nose and navel piercing when I was 13, 14 and my mum also refused..I think most other piercings you should have to wait to 16, or even 18, especially for navel.

Also, I would advise them at 16 to not get any visible piercings because school became a semi-nightmare of hiding from certain teachers once I had mine in.

My daughters lobes were done when she was 8 and her navel at 14, she wants her lip done but has to wait until she's 16. I'm actually trying to talk her out of it just because of the job market around here for teens.

After reading this thread of postings, I had to smile. It was only a few short years ago that any body piercing was a taboo of 'homophobic maschochism.' anything other than ear piercings on a woman was....well you get the idea. Now here we are discussing apropriate ages for particular types of piercings. This expression of one's self, has come along way ove the last 10 or more years.
As more of us become profesionals, educators, school administrators and school board members, acceptance of piercings will be less of an issue. Hiring practices will change as well as student rights issues. I do believe there will always be some 'breaking point' of what is acceptable or not appropriate. What is excessive or not. At what point is body modifcation a 'safety issue' or a 'health issue.' These issues will continue to evolve for sure.
This has been an interesting thread to read & contemplate. Now, if Doug Malloy of Gauntled Inc. was still alive to observe the growth of what he and Fakir started back in the 60's. He too would be smiling to himself. Thank you. prinzalbert

I agree, prinzalbert. 15 years ago, almost nobody had a belly button ring, now tons of people do. I can't get over how fast that happened.

Lobes, 12. Anything else, 16-21. Why? I'm a fuddy duddy, and it's my daughter.

I'm also a softy, so if she has a good reason for a piercing, I'll probably cave in.

i say 16 because quite frankly if you want it that badly then waiting for it wont be a problem and then by that age you should be old enough to take a little responsibility for it. i wouldnt go any younger due to kids wanting something one minute and not the next.that and the idea that body shapes will change etc as the kid grows. what is a good placement then might not kick so much ass later on. but then i dont know if that would actually happen lol

PDB Science Guy wrote:

Lobes, 12. Anything else, 16-21. Why? I'm a fuddy duddy, and it's my daughter.

I'm also a softy, so if she has a good reason for a piercing, I'll probably cave in.

Lol, were you asking your folks' permission for stuff when you were 21?

LOL!

Ears 16, Anything else 18.

I might let him/her get ears earlier...it would depend on his level of responsibility.

Phalaeo wrote:

PDB Science Guy wrote:

Lobes, 12. Anything else, 16-21. Why? I'm a fuddy duddy, and it's my daughter.

I'm also a softy, so if she has a good reason for a piercing, I'll probably cave in.

Lol, were you asking your folks' permission for stuff when you were 21?

LOL!

Don't apply logic towards my irrational parenting habits! As long as I am 32 years older than my daughter, she can ask permission.

PDB Science Guy, your daughter must still be young (LOL), you just wait!!

My piercer won't do earlier than 16 anyway except lobes. So I guess 16 at the youngest. Although I think for ear/nose/eyebrow it could probably be a bit younger if they are responsible. Genital and nipple obviously over 18.
The way I see it though, it is better for them to do it with consent at a reputable piercer, than go behind your back to a dodgy piercer like I did with my first navel piercing

I'm not going to put an age on it. I had mine majority of mine done when I was 14-15. I'd feel like a hypocrite if I didn't even consider it when my kid(s) comes to me. I think it depends on the maturity of the child in question.

I agree with what girlbassplayer means in terms of maturity, I approached my own Mum with the request of getting a piercing when I was 10 (I had wanted a lip piercing when I was 10 and now have 4, yay for me) - of course then I didn't really know about it and she told me it would be a thing to be considered later, so I got upset, googled BME and did all the research I needed. I got my first piercing about two days after my 14th birthday (last year) and now I have just had my birthday in July this year, freshly turned 15, I have over nine modifications including 12mm lobes. In other words, I had showed my Mum over a period of time how important being modified was for me and over that time we discussed, ruled out certain piercings we both agreed and disagreeds with, etc.

What I'm trying to say is, if my kid had the maturity I saw suitable, and I guess was at least 13 or 14, I'd be very open to it. I'd feel like a hypocrite too, really. I know how important it is and I wouldn't deny my kid that sort of thing.

Very again the gunned lobes at an early age, though. I would never do that without my child telling me if they did/didn't want it. And even then, I wouldn't allow a gun. Too unhygienic for me!

I think this is a toughie, because kids mature at very different ages. In a perfect world, evey parent would be open minded enough to consider a child's legitimate request to be pierced (i.e.anywhere but nipples or genitals) but it just isn't so. I know when my child is older, she will probably want to be pierced at some point. I don't want to inhibit her need to express herself (although her school might). I think anywhere from age 10-13 is good for ears,and depending on the maturity level, 14+ for eyebrow, nose, lip, and 16+ for tongue. I would NEVER let my daughter get a PDB or nipples under 18, when she is 18 she can decide for herself.

Depends. I do know that if she wants anything than a standard ear piercing, I'm making her take a test. Like on aftercare or something interesting. Jewelry standards, we'll jsut call it a "general piercing knowledge/common sense" quiz.

All of the reputable piercers I've asked won't pierce Lobes until 14 and won't even make exceptions for children of Family members ~which I think is very profesional
Although my daughter 13 has watched videos of lobes being pierced and has been taught the benefits of going to a professional piercer ~she has no inclination to get pierced at present

My daughter can have her ears pierced when she's 5 if she wants it, understands that she has to take care of them and not swim, touch, etc.

Other piercings? 16.