I’m sorry but no teen will ever listen to the phrase “wait till your older”

“Wait until you’re older.” These, my dear students is the sacred phrase that no teen ever having lived has listened to.

James: I must appeal to the teens *puts on his hat backwards*

Me, an 18 year old who just got a tattoo yesterday: oh yeah I should totally watch this

Me: - Expects this video to be james basically saying "Don't be stupid, stupid." - James: - actually gives really good valid points -

I'm in highschool and you'd be surprised at how many freshmans have half sleeves and neck tats🙄 and they are horrible. You can tell they were done out of someone's kitchen for 20 bucks 🙄

I’m watching this at 19 and don’t know if I belong with the teens or young adults 💀

My daughter is only 20 and has many tattoos all over her body ...she started at 16 (my permission of course) and everything she has got is beautiful and unique👍 I really hope she doesn’t regret her decisions in future Don’t think she will they are all pretty amazing 😉

I got my first tattoo at 17 & all my friends thought mine was too expensive ($300) but it showed in the quality compared to everyone elses. I got paid minimum wage but I stayed patient & saved up

I thought this video was going to be about not being mature enough to choose the design but your tips make way more sense

I'm Mexican trust me, I stopped growing since 7th grade. I'm a senior in high school RN.

As a teen I was quite surprised with how fine my parents were when I approached them with the idea lol

You should do a video of tattoo trends and what you like and don't like

Idk why I'm watching this. I'm 17 and already have tattoos 😂😂

Another tip from just a parent of a child who is about to get first tattoo at 16. At 13 when she brought it up I told her to draw it on herself for 6 months. She changed it quite a lot over those 6 months. 2nd I told her I didn't care what she wanted bc it's her body but I did tell her no bad works and no job stoppers (as you call them) she then changed it from her neck to her side. Then at 15 when she was digging in to have it done asap. I told her if she could draw the final design and hold it for 1 yr and still love everything about it. I'd take her in her 16th birthday. And I did. Sometimes we parents can't pull the wait till your older. My mom said that to me and I wound up in a kitchen of some strange guy getting my first tattoo like an idiot. So I compromised with her and we found a good artist to match the level and design she had.

I'm 18 and ever since I can remember I have always wanted a tattoo, I grew up in a household where tattoos are "bad" and "stupid". I always knew I wanted one regardless of how I was raised. When I was younger I said that when I turned 18 I would get my first tattoo, however, as I got older I've come to realize that I can wait a couple more years till I get it.

Dope advice my bro!.. I'm 18 and was thinking of getting a full sleeve tattoo, but I'll probably wait till I'm 21.

Hey man I just turned 18 and i was convinced that I'm ready to get a tattoo cause i feel like i have a pretty dope idea and it's something that i'll love for the rest of my life. However, i agree 100% with the reasons you provided on why someone like me should wait until I'm a little older and have the ability to get a dope ass tattoo.

My parents let me get a tattoo when I was 16, and I’m 28 now and I love it. It brings back good memories and always sparks amazing conversations.

That shit be addicting 😂I’m 17 and just got my first tat 2 days ago and I just booked another appointment for a full chest piece 🤣😂

I completely agree with you. My uncle got a tattoo when he was about 12 years old. He's in his late fifties now. That tat has moved from his bicep to his forearm closer to the middle of his arm. I got my first professional tattoo at 19. I got it on the perfect spot on my arm. I'm 47 today and it's still on the same spot. Great info on this channel. Take it easy.

These are fantastic points, especially the one about parents paying for a tattoo. Every cent you accept from someone else is a cent of influence they have over you. A tattoo is forever, and it’s a decision that you want to be able to make on your own, without outside influence and pressure. As for me, my dad actually paid for my first tattoo when I was 19, but he didn’t tell me that he was paying for it until we got to the register after I had already gotten it (we got our first tattoos at the same time). I had been completely prepared to pay for it, and I had been saving up for the tattoo for awhile so that I could get something of good quality. It was so incredibly sweet of him, and I was still able to have complete creative control over my tattoo.

im [17-19] and [insert some bs]

Literally watching this as a teen knowing I’m getting a tattoo tomorrow 😂

I’m 16 and I’m thinking about getting a tattoo in memory of my baby brother who died the day he was born as he was premature, and I’ve always wanted a tattoo in memory of him as a tattoo is permanent and so is my love for him

I wanted a tattoo since I was about 14.. got my first one at 29... the designs and styles I got are SOO different to what I had in mind at 18. Plus I started smashing the gym in my early twenties and my limbs are a lot bigger than they were back then. Definitely wait.

the actual reasons start at 3:23 if you wanted to save time

Ok so i’m 14 turning 15 in June. My grandmother committed suicide when i was 8 (she owned her own tattoo shop and was supposed to do my first tattoo) and for the last few years i’ve really been wanting to talk to my mom about getting a tattoo in memory of her. My mom has 13 tattoos and a memorial tattoo of my grandma on her back. I would love to get a rose on my underboob area with a ladybug because she used to call me junebug and when we see a ladybug we always say “hey look it’s ______”. Roses are also very meaningful. They can have several meanings but one that stuck out to me is that it can mean new beginnings. I went through something a few years ago and my life had completely changed and i lost myself. but i’m slowly figuring myself out and who i am. I think i’m going to talk to my mom tomorrow about her possibly signing for me. wish me luck🤞🏻

Im 19 and I got a tattoo of a boat with my Uncles initials on it who passed away.

Another reason to hold off on tattoos until your older and have money, you probably don’t have an accurate idea of what your tattoo “goals” are. I got a cheap Friday the 13th tattoo at 18 because I really wanted a tattoo, and it’s not that I regret the tattoo it’s good quality and it’s cute but it doesn’t really fit with the theme of my other tattoos and it takes up space that could’ve been used to create something better. It’s like middle of my forearm and now that I have more money it would’ve been awesome to have a full forearm tattoo. So if you’re younger and don’t have a lot of money you’re probably getting small tattoos and taking up space that could be used for really cool larger tattoos that you can finally afford. This won’t apply to everyone but it’s definitely something to think about and try your best to plan around if you still decide to do it

I just turned 17 and I got a tattoo over the summer when I was 16. I disagree that we can’t get good quality tattoos and make good decisions when it comes to tattoos. I love my tattoo and I don’t think I’ll ever regret getting it now. It’s a source of strength and happiness for me and I feel 10000% more like myself with it on my body.

Teenager🙋🏻‍♀️ planning on getting my first small tattoo as a reminder of my teenage years before i step into my adulting stage but after watching this i can’t decide anymore 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️ Btw love from the Philippines 🇵🇭 stay safe everyone!!

I got my first tattoo when I was 19. I got it as a birthday present from my dad. He wasn't stingy about it, thank goodness, and I still love it, but it made me think of another reason why to wait for a bit: James kind of mentioned it in part when talking about still growing, but another thing about the skin when being that age is, that it regenerates much faster than later in life, meaning the tattoo ages faster because your whole metabolism and cell regeneration is much faster. The ink in your skin is a foreign invader biologically speaking, and your body constantly works on braking it down and transporting off the "debris". That workforce is doubled or tripled when you are that age. So you are far more likely to need to touch up a tattoo if you get it when you are still a teenager or even in your early twenties.

Bro you should make more videos I’m 16 and I’ve watched just about all your videos and they’ve really helped me realize and think about what kind of tattoo I want and who my artist should be

Decided on a tattoo I wanted when I was 18/19 but due to the pandemic didn’t end up getting it til I was 21, having to wait those years definitely reassured me that it was a good choice and something I really truly wanted. Currently in the process of a patchwork sleeve sort of situation. I developed an awesome relationship with my artist and currently have 2 pieces from him and am getting 2 more next month. 😊

Honestly man I was dedicated get a butterfly tattoo on my arm (symbolizing some personal stuff) sometime in October but this video really made me aware of things I didn't previously think of like my body not being fully developed and the quality of the piece. I still want to get the butterfly tattoo but I think I'll get a smaller piece in a different part of my body like you recommended. Thank you for this video, it was super informative!

I might be dead won't even get a chance to get older

totally agree with you, I started getting tattooed at 19 and while I don't hate what I've gotten, I think I could have gotten wayyyy better tattoos if I had waited. I don't regret them at all but trust me if a teenager is reading this, 9/10 times your tattoo taste will change. You explained me when you said low budget. I kept getting small tattoos because I didn't have a ton of money. You do get what you pay for in most cases and now I've had to get a couple touch ups.

Solid advice homie, wasn't what I was expecting in a good way

Love this video. As a teenager debating whether to get a tattoo this actually really helped me

For my 16th birthday I got my first tattoo and not only did I pay for mine but I paid for my mom's. I was smart about the placement and I put it where it's half way visible.

I drew and then got my first tattoo done at 16, and I totally agree with everything you've said. I haven't gotten anything else since so I can save up for a quality piece from an artist other than myself when I'm old enough. Great channel man

Great video! As others have said, I love that this is actually logical and understanding to younger people, not judgemental bullshit. I personally had a tattoo design at 16 that I really liked, I drew it myself, I knew where I wanted it, I researched about tattoos and I made the decision to wait untill I was at least 18. I kept it as a screen saver for a while and looked at it every week. Now that I'm almost 20 I'm glad I decided to wait for the reasons you've outlined, and the design was a little young anyway 🙂

I wanted a giant tattoo of a birds feather on my forearm so bad when I was 18. Now that I’m 22, I’m SO GLAD I DIDNT! It’s always best to wait til you’re at least in your 20’s

Agree with this 100%. I'm glad I went the route of waiting instead of getting work done when I wanted to when I was younger.

I've wanted a tattoo since I was a kid, and am getting my first one, literally, tomorrow. It's not the first idea that I had, which was for a watercolor piece, that I've wanted since I was about 17. I'm 25 now. I still want that one, but want to start small, since I don't know what my pain tolerance is like. If you told me a few years ago, that I'd be getting the tattoo I am tomorrow, I wouldn't have believed you. I never imagined myself getting a tattoo dedicated to a band. It's not completely direct, like their logo or the band name, but it is a reference to a lyric in a song of theirs. Twenty One Pilots, specifically. Their music has really helped me cope with my depression and anxiety over the years, and it's a pretty meaningful tattoo for me, despite being small and simple.

Man i am so glad that my dad is just so excited that i even want a tattoo. Hes letting my choose everything for it and hes also paying for it. I love you dad.

it’s crazy because before i watched this video i considered everything you’ve said. im currently 17 and i already have an idea of what i want tattooed on my body. my parents are okay with me getting a tattoo but i don’t plan on getting one any time soon because i want to save up enough money to have a really good tattoo artist. i also plan on gaining weight and getting fit so i know my body is going to change. so considering all that i plan on getting a tattoo when i’m 20. but thank you for making this video it was helpful.

Great video. There are so many reasons why people shouldn't get tattooed when they're teens. I've always liked tattoos but I got my first one at 20. Now at nearly 25 I've got a lot of good ink on my body. I've been seeing lately a lot of people who got heavily inked at a pretty young age get black arms, what's up with that? It's cheaper than getting them removed and redone, I guess. Maybe you could make a video about it. :)

Got my first tattoo when I turned 16 had it for about 9 months now and I love it. Its just an anchor for my dad he passed from cancer back in 2015 and it was a shitty situation but long story short he was cremated and I didn't get anything to remember him so my mom let me get one and I'm happy with it. But I cant wait to get more

I remember when I thought of getting a tattoo when I was 18. I’m 26 now & the idea is back, I’m questioning myself like “so it’s official?” I’m searching up pictures, finding meaningful images to me that I won’t regret later in life. I’ve seen your “black & grey vs color tattoos” video & as a black girl in her late 20’s I’m definitely up for black & grey. I’m here for the research, & you’ve been great help so far. Thank you

I appreciate this video. I'm 19 and have 4 tattoos already that I absolutely love. I started getting them at 18. I was super responsible with artist researching, placement, and budget. However, I see a lot of people my age being irresponsible with it. Even my mom, who has 10+ tattoos, questioned why I spent $600 for a tattoo on my calf. I save up for all mine and will travel several hours to get them from quality artists. People don't seem to understand that this will be a part of you forever unless you get it lasered off. I feel like some people are definitely ready sooner than others to get tattooed. This video was perfect because all the points were valid and it really does make you think twice about whether or not you are ready to commit.

I see a lot of teens getting tattoos now which is cool, sometimes. I got my first tattoo when I was 15 it was atomically correct heart with my transplant date. Every adult I talked to was fine with it and my parents wanted me to get it then so they'd still have control over me and make sure I get it done at a good place. I still payed for it but I'm glad I got it then. I'm 17 now and honestly most of my friends come to me for advice and I tell them to wait always casue it's usually something dumb.

All the tattoo ideas I had in my teens were just so different to the tattoos o have on my body now. As you grow up, I think you taste changes so much. If I got tattooed as a teen I would have so much ink I would've regretted. I'm glad I waiting until I was well in my twenties to start getting tattooed, I did lots of research and had more funds to get exactly what I wanted. I have about 15 quality trad tattoos that I just love.

I’m 18 & have a few tattoos already, & I agree with all your perspectives on your videos. I dont regret my tattoos, I love them. But you do have a point to wait on the tattoos

I’m getting a tattoo for my early 17th birthday in about a week. I’ve been through some shit so this tattoo holds an amazing meaning to me. Something I can look at on a daily to remind myself to let go of my past and embrace my future. Very excited

Can you make a video showing us the skill levels of tattoo artists because sometimes tattoo artists seem to be more skilled than others or the color of the tattoos are bolder than others but it may be just different styles right? Also if there’s variation on color wise in black and gray tattoos because I’ve seen more grayish realistic tattoos and others more blackish.

I feel it depends on body type, my mother and I haven't change in size since age 15, so I knew I didn't have to worry about getting a tattoo because I pretty much stopped growing & I make sure to maintain my weight. Also it is common to struggle with money as a teen, thankfully my mother taught me to save, so I had 2000 saved up after 2 years working part time & got a tattoo of a cat for $300 & tattoo i drew out for my gma for $85. I got them both placed in areas I can easily hide with a short sleeve shirt and capris. Yes it is risky but girls stop growing at ages 18-22 & men stop growing at age 20-25, so I feel it'd be more risky for men at ages 18.

I really appreciate all of this advice. My mom said I have to wait until I’m 21 and/or moved out before I can get a tattoo. That gives me years to finalize the designs, save up the money for it, decide on placement, research the hell out of artists, and a whole bunch of other stuff.

I’m eighteen, and I’ve had the same idea for a tattoo for well over a year. It means a lot to me, my family loves it, the artist has done lots of tattoos for people I know, and I love the artist’s other work. I’m going to pay myself, though my parents decided they wanted to pay for a portion of it, which I’m grateful for. I’m getting the tattoo in twenty days.

Whew you saved me. I was getting ready to get a tattoo in the exact place you were talking about and if it moves it’s going to be a mess

Idk why I’m even watching this, I’m gonna be getting a tattoo when I’m 18 in February.

This really made me think about why I should wait and gave a lot of logic reasons why instead of just telling me no and for that reader it makes me want to wait so in can not only get a tattoo I love but will look good as I get older.

seriously i really did enjoy this video its like you are one of the few people out there who actually tires to understand where everyone is coming from when they are deciding to get a tattoo rather then just flat out judge people for it which i feel like some tattoo artists are slightly guilty off where their opinion can come accross as i know better then you when it comes to tattoos.(weather it be from experince or them making the same mistakes or them just not not liking certain things) i personally wish i had someone to seriously talk too 1 one 1 about this and tell them my situation my thought process and for them to just quite frankly listen to what i have to say and then tell me honestly why or why they personally think i should get a tattoo. i am tired of people telling me because i am 32 i should do whatever i want and what feels right. truth is i am not sure if i know what feels right right now. i know i sound really complicated right now. personally i think i have been overthinking tattoos for the last several days now more so then people who are covered with them lol.

too late i just got one :) lol also i just saw a comment talking about the payment of course i worked for it myself i commit to a tattoo im paying for it.

I'm 15 and have been wanting a tattoo for a while now. I'm so glad I came across this video, while I do plan on getting a tattoo within the next year they aren't going to be large or intricate. I plan on getting a single word on my wrist and a semicolon a well. I was planning on after getting these getting a slightly bigger one on my calf and back. I thought this video was going to be bs and go on about how you'll regret it when you're older (like people have been telling me).

I'm getting a matching tattoo, that I designed, with my mom for my 16th birthday and I'm really excited. I've wanted a tattoo since I was 4 because I've grown up in the tattoo community so I've thought about what I want for a long time. And if I regret it or if it doesn't look good when I'm older I'm still going to like it because it connects me to my mom and it's a part of who I am.

You might be the realest dude on KZfaq, much respect brother🙌🏽💯

I think it’s hilarious when people get tattoos to show them off. Like after getting a tattoo every picture they post on Facebook or Instagram has their tattoo in it, even when it’s in a spot that’s not super visible

Got my tattoo at 14 dont regret it now

I'm 16 and my brother recently passed away so I was going to get a tattoo dedicated to him. Watching this video really helped me rethink my decision.

I'm only 18, but I have been done growing since I was around 13 or 14 so I'm not concerned about it shifting or warping too much. Also, the one that I'm getting has a really personal meaning for me that will never seem stupid to me since what it is related to has helped me through a lot of shit. I won't need to worry about it being low quality either because I'm going to the same person my parents have been going to for years. Overall I'm just really excited to have something that means so much to me for the rest of my life. I think your video was really eye opening on the things you need to consider before getting tattoos as a teen/young adult

Man oh man - when I was 17 I convinced my dad to take me to the tattoo shop to get a Portland Trail Blazers logo tattoo. Luckily the artist said even WITH parental consent, a 17 year old cannot get tatted. Best thing that ever happened to me. Love my Trail Blazers, but would never want that tattoo on me lol. I’m 24 now, and just booked my first tattoo appointment today, a portrait of my grandmother. Super excited and glad I waited.

Also I recently found your channel and I love it!

You changed my mind! You’re completely right! I’m very thankful that I looked up for a video 😅

Completely agree with all the reasoning in this vid! I knew plenty of people in high school who got really shoddy work that was cheap and it shows. I'm 18, have a career in the army and have the ability to pay for really good work from professional artists that I follow and love the style of. Currently have a full sleeve and half sleeve that I'm in love with and I'm glad I waited until I was financially ready. Some say I paid too much, I've spent about 1500 pounds on my work so far (like 2 thousand dollars I think) I agree that in the future placement and fading could happen, but then again I always have the option of a touch up. Thanks for the info and love your channel!

Im 17 and i have both my sleeves and my full neck done and no one ever told me it was a bad idea and i still dont think its a bad idea but i relly get where youre coming from so if youre not grown think hard about what youre gonna do

Love the way you flesh out your information in the videos fully. If possible, could you do a video on scar coverups?

I’m getting my first tattoo tmr, thanks for the video, it really helped me out I found a great studio and a great artist and it is a small simple but nice tattoo. I really like your videos man 👌🏽

This man didn’t skip a single beat telling us what not to do props to him

Do it if you want. You can always remove it. Got my first tat at 16. Now in the process of removing it..im removing 3 tats. Just a new stage in my life but i dont regret the ink at all. my tattos have meaning and now they have a new meaning being that i am removing them. Two great stories involved, the reason why i got them and the reason why im removing them.

The only reason I want a tattoo is to cover my self harm scars

my mom payed for my tattoo when i turned 18 and i went to her artist. he’s done all her artwork and beautiful line work and i’m really happy with how it came out

This is such good advise! I wanted tattoos as a teenager, and never thought the arguments against it was very good. I did decide on my own to wait, and only got my first tattoo on my 25 year birthday, but I definately could have used a more nuanced dialog on the topic. Cause i could have gone through with it. But now I am glad that I didnt.

I appreciate that your honesty and open-mindedness. The tattoo I wanted to get for my 18th is for my single mother, who did a lot to raise me, and it'd be something to always know she has my back, just to honor her and her sacrifice. I do want a sleeve and more extensive tattoos, but I'll wait till I'm 21. I've been 5'4 for years now but I trust you.

I’m turning 16 in October and on my birthday I’m getting my first tattoo. In the beginning of December I was diagnosed with type one diabetes. I’m supposed to wear something that tells EMT’s I’m diabetic. But I will constantly forget to put on bracelets and both of my parents agree the best option is for me to get something permanent. I feel like if you are getting a medical tattoo or a tattoo for a family member that should be ok for teenagers. I also added my own story to help my viewpoint. Another thing I should add. My parents are paying for my tattoo but it is a birthday present and they decided a tattoo is the best option but I do plan on paying them back in the future

Thanks for the advice you got me to think a little more about what I want and if I want it now

I'm 19 and I've been sitting on an idea for a tattoo for about a year that has a lot of meaning to me but I'm probably going to wait a bit longer to get it. I was almost expecting a "don't be a dumbass you dumbass" kind of rundown in the video but you were super respectful and not condescending at all with really good points, so thank you for this!

Im 16 and i have one tattoo (with my parents permission). I know people say im too young but im never gonna regret this tat. It has a really deep meaning to me and i would do it all over again. Where i live you can get a tattoo with your parents permission when you are 16. I agree with your reasons tho.. i also think tattoo artists should say no to clients who are obviously gonna regret it later if theyre really young

I think it’s fine if say your dad died and u want to get his name or something he liked as a tattoo and also depends where they want to get it

17 and just got my tattoo 3 days ago, I love it

def agree, waited til I was 23 to get my first, thought about it for a while, saved up to "unlimited budget" and gave artist a lot of creative freedom, was super happy with the result

Car analogy was fire 🔥 😂

I’m 16 with a tattoo of my granddads signature on my left peck which I got at 15 a few days after my grandad passed. I personally think there are certain circumstances that it is ok 😊

These are valid points. I appreciate this video.

I’m getting my tattoo next Sunday (for medically rooted reasons) but you have made some good points. I’ll probably wait to get the other tattoos I want bc there’s no rush for those

Im 17 and have a appointment in 2 days for my first tattoo. I will pay for my own tattoo but can borrow as much money as i want/need from my parents because they want me to have the best quality tattoo as possible. The design is something dear to my heart since i was 7. ( ofcourse im getting it redrawn by my artist) I chose the artist myself and comes all the way from Mexico (he used to live here and i had to wait 2 years for him to come back for a visit) to do it for me and only does the exact style of the tattoo im getting. He ain't cheap but i know his work is great and im willing to pay more than dubble the price than any other respected artist around here. Everything is well thought out and still my grandparents hate the idea of me getting a tattoo. I guess they'll have to live with it and they'll hopefully learn to appreciate it.

I tried to tattoo myself as a kid. Good thing it fell out though. Dont be dumb like me kids!

by far one of the best videos on this topic

I'm 19 and in 13 days I will have my arm sleeve done. I Agree with this video. Hope my sleeve will change around hopefully. But I paid for all of my tattoos and made sure of the artist, the quality and the style that I wanted. I really appricate the tips in this video. I think I will wait to do my hand tattoo up to I get older. Thanks For Everything!