Why?!?!?

Unfortunately, this is an ongoing battle. You'll learn it's not only your parent's that are unfair, but it is a lot of the world still too. I'm lucky, my parents were always ok with the things I wanted to do. I don't know how old you are, but parents naturally want to control you as long as they can. Heck, I'm 23 and just moved back to my parent's house temporarily until I can save the down payment for my next apartment, and oh-my-god what it's been like... but that's not the problem so I won't get into that. They probably don't have much more of a rational answer than "You can't because I said so." or "I don't want you to." or "No." A lot of people are in denial and need their children to need them for as long as they can. Wanting a piercing is expressing yourself, your individual personality and what's more, it's a choice you have made for yourself that involves your appearance and how people might view you (internally and externally). Their little baby wanting free expression and to think for herself? No! Just make sure you keep in mind the "risks" when getting a piercing. IE Possible scars, is the shop clean, healing time, etc. Other than that, it should be your right. Hell, with many teenagers these days... parents should be glad that their biggest challenge is a piercing... *sigh*

a lip piercing you will regret it later in life. Trust me I had piercings and you would not believe how hard it can be to find work. I took them out when I turned 19, and I was 18 when I got them. I had a lip, nose, tongue, eye brow done because I thought it was cool and I wanted to express myself, yeah that was short lived. As a parent they are looking out for your child.I'm now a parent, and if my child wanted to pierce his lip I wouldn't let him till he was 18. As a parent it is our responsibility to see we raise our children the best we can, with as few holes as possible in them. Once the children turn 18 we just have to hope we brought them up right, and even if they then rebel most of the time they will turn back around. I know I did. I only have one of my piercings now and it has to come out when I go to work. Please trust me you are not missing anything by not getting pierced.

Well maybe because your parents know that dying your hair pink is something that you can change if you change your mind but a piercing is a bit more complicated. Aside from the possibility - minimal I know - of infection depending on the piercing and the site, things are not as easy as just hair dye. I see you are 16. With all due respect, you might not think the same way in a few years and you will be left with either the piercing or its scar, if you don't. Maybe you won't change your mind. And maybe piercings are for you. But if you really think so, then you won't change your mind and you might be able to wait a bit more until you do them. Piercings on the lip might create some problem depending on where on the lips and if the backing touches your teeth or not - the metal scratches the enamel off the teeth.ALso because the mouth is one place that is always moist it tends to be more open to infections. Still it is, of course your choice but maybe your parents feel that you can wait to make your decisions since being young is sometimes akin to lots of changes of emotions, ideas and opinions. I allow my daughter to dye her hair, even though I did explain to her how it does damage the hair. It was her choice but it is not a permanent choice. I will allow her to do some piercing depending on where, after she waits some time to really think about it - she used to want to pierce her tongue and changed her mind after a problem happened with one of her friends. I will allow her to have a henna tattoo but not a real one. She can do that with her own money once she is not here with us. But while in here nothing that will be permanent because I know of many people that did it and now don't want it anymore, just they're stuck. Your parents are not doing that just because they're mean or want to upset you, but they might be feeling that if you really want the piercings enough you may be able to wait a bt long more.

You mentioned "for God's sake". It's not for God's sake to pierce your body and do what you want. Your father is right by saying no to you. You may not understand it now, but you will when you get older. The best thing you can do is to obey your parents. You will always benefit from obeying them. They love you so they won't allow you to do that.

Hi Misa, Welcome to myLot, I hope you enjoy you time here and make lots of new friends, and of course some money as well. This is a good site where you really can make some money if you work at it. Now to discuss your post, parents and their sons or daughters don't always see eye to eye especially when it comes to such things as body piercing. I guess they still feel responsible for you, and think that you may change you mind later. I don't know how old you are, but try putting yourself in your parents place and think how you might feel about it. If they are good parents in every other way, give some thought to the way they are thinking about this. I hope you can work it out and keep everyone happy. Blessings.

well dying your hair is only temporary. A piercing is a bit more permanent. My mom flipped when i wanted my nose pierce but I finally was able to reason with her but your mom may be diffrent. Most parents grew up believing that piercings are just scaring your body they don't understand us teens to day who use piercings and tattoos as self expression. What I suggest doing is sit down and talk to your parents about it find out why they don't want you getting pierced and explain to them how you feel. And to be sure that they will listen and not yell at you tell them that you would like to have a serious discussion and have them agree to listen fully and not yell. Thats what me and my mom do and things have gotten allot better good luck.

Sorry but I agree with your parents. Piercing is more permanent than hair color and more dangerous. I let my daughter get her ear pierced at the top of the ear like mine (cartilidge peircing) but I would never allow her to pierce her nose, lip, eyebrow, tongue, or belly button. Tattoos are not allowed either. It is sad to say that in our world today you are very much judged by your apperances and there is a stigma attatched to people with piercings and tattoos. You are still very young and living with your parents....abide by thier rules.

I guess you are under eighteen, is that correct? You should consider about getting a piercing for real. For example, your parents are paying for it, your parents are paying for your food, clothes, and stuff. Why are you angry at them? They are responsible for your actions and they probably think that since the piercing looks unprofessional you may be at a disadvantage at school (people may judge you) and definitely when trying to get a job (people may think you are unprofessional or just plain lazy). Remember first impressions are everything especially with jobs. Now, they let you dye your hair, so I would save piercing (if you really want to) when you move out or when you a little older, perhaps around twenty. Pablo

Home is the girl's prison and the woman's workhouse.there is a skeleton in every house.

I know that you may think that your parents are seeming unfair but you are 16 and live under their roof and in their house so you have to respect their wishes. But once you turn 18 and move out then your body is your body and you are able to express yourself the way you want. If you want to know why ask your dad why because if you mom was willing until dad said no then there are some issues there. I have five kids if my daughter wanted her nose peirced I would say yes I see no point in telling her no. I have a nose peircing, Many doctors in my area have a nose peircing I have no problems finding employment with my peircing. But each parent is different and they try and do what is best for their child out of love keep that in mind .. Have a nice one.

I'm not sure - my mum has always been leniant in terms of dying hair AND piercings, though has always preached for no tattoos. I can see the difference their because they're permanent. But with piercings - they aren't! Obviously with some piercings you are left with marks when they're taken out but mainly they heal over and won't be noticable. Do you have your ears pierced? Because there isn't much arguement against ears generally because the scars (if any) wouldn't be seen anyway, and tongue! Though the tongue is quite notcable when it's in, once taken out there'll be no sign it was ever there. I'm not sure why your parents are responding like this, are there any cultural problems with it? I hope you manage to get around it Misa. x

The thing is when you are living at home and are under 18 life does not seem fair, but like most of your responses are saying in the future when you look back you will understand their hesitancy on this. Piecrings and tattoos are becoming more and more common now days, but what you do now can have permanent affects on your future. ANd no offense but you will not be the same person in ten years from now than you are at 15. And I went through the piercing phase and what I did was I got a fake nose piercing and wore that. And guess what it was just a phase b/c I am glad I never did it. And I am sure when your mom told you what you do with your body is your choice, but with limits (in her mind) I am sure. B/c infections are not fun to deal with and can even be life threatening. SO give them a break, at least they care enough about you to give you freedom within limits....I am sure you have freinds who have parents who let their kids run wild...I know I appreciated mine as I got older. This is a hard time for you b/c you are getting older, but still are considered a child. SO hang in there. One day you will look back and maybe wish you could have your parents solve your problems--they are helping you make sound decisions by thinking about your actions.

i think you what you need is unstanding,just cuz they love their child and not want you to be hurt.dyeing your hair does not do any harm to your body,but pierced differently.they just want their child healthy. being pierced seems a prevalent fashion nowadays,but your perents may be not easy to accept this,which is so-called generation gap.talk with them patiently,thinking in their sides.

Also, you have to take into consideration the things that this portrays. Some boys will think your easy and therefore try to get into your pants. And if they do...rumors fly about how easy you are. And if they don't...rumors fly about how prude you are. Whether you exercise your right to say no these rumors will go around. When I was growing up it was like this...ears pierced at 12, make up and dating at 16, no revealing clothing and no piercings or tattoos until I was out of my parents house. The only thing I could do was what I wanted with my hair. I could dye my hair, let my hair grow to 10 feet long or even Shave my head bald if I wanted to. But I had to abide by the rest of the rules. There's more to piercing anyway...piercings leave scars for the rest of your life and if you are looking to be a professional (doctor, lawyer, etc.) then they look down on that sort of thing. There are even jobs where you can wear jeans to work everyday but you have to have your tattoos and piercings covered at all times for risk of being fired. Just because someone else does it doesn't mean it's cool. I did it too because I thought it was cool and had to take everything out when I joined the military because that is a very important roll. You even have to go as far as getting waivers to join if you have tattoos from previously. I'm not saying you're planning on joining the military but you do have to realize that there is so much out there for you. I hope this helps out a little bit.

well, i can understand your feelings and at the same time i also try to understand your parents' point of view... teenagers always want to follow the trend and make themselves look cool... i will say that your parents have your best interest at your heart for not letting you to pierce your body... lots of things can happen like infections, diseases, etc... and it also costs lots of money... my parents wouldn't let me do that as well... my parents won't even let me dye my hair until i am about to go overseas to do my master degree and i am already more than 25 years old at that time... that is the first time i really got my hair dyed and i have to fight with my parents to let them allow me to do it... there are lots of other ways to express yourselves... you don't have to follow other people who are piercing their bodies to express themselves... again, this is my opinion... good luck and have a nice day...

Well dying your hair is not permanent. A hole in your lip is. My daughter wanted her tongue pierced and I would not let her because I had read so many bad things about it and I did not want it on my head or heart if something went terribly wrong with it. She did get it done as soon as she turned 18 which i was hoping she'd change her mind by then....she didn't. I'm not going to say that your parents are being unfair because I am sure they have their reasons. It sounds like they are trying to compromise with you at least on some things that I'm sure they don't really care for. Your profile says you are 16. In 2 years you will be able to do it on your own if you want. I know it sounds like a long time but it really isn't.

I understand you being upset and the whole "it's not fair" attitude. Unfortunately some parents don't have the communication skills to talk calmly and rationally to their teens. The flip side is that teens sometimes want to take their life into their own hands too early, and parents are fearful of what will happen to them. One other reader posted about the dangers of piercings especially of the lip. I know your friends are probably getting piercings and you may feel like your self expression is hampered by your parents refusal, but really, if your friends were trying to race a freight train across a track would you feel like your parents were unfair to forbid you to do this? They are just concerned about you.

It's a general rule that parents are against body modification. Dyeing your hair is reversible, but piercings are somewhat permananent and there can be complications with them like infection and if your body rejects it, so maybe they're not too keen on the risks associated with piercing. She might always just not like the look of them. Some mothers might think (mine, for one) that piercings can make someone look trashy and unattractive, and especially with facial piercings may stop you from being able to get a job. And anyway, parents aren't put here to be fair, most of the time. :)