Belinda Arazia

“My hand went numb,” was what I said after getting my first tattoo done. 

My dad, who has tattoos himself, wanted to find a new hobby, so he decided to try out being a   tattoo artist. He chose to do tattoos because he always enjoyed drawing, so it would be another hobby, other than photography, where he can use his creativity.

“It’s a way of expression, it’s a unique way to express or tell a story reflecting on my personal belief, experience or milestones,” he said, explaining his love of tattoos.

After my dad bought a tattoo kit off of Amazon, I was persistent in asking him to let me be his first client because I’ve always wanted a tattoo, and since I had access to get one, I took the opportunity to get it. Finally after school in January, I got my first tattoo. My dad set up his tattoo set in the kitchen and he began the process. First, he drew out what I wanted and transferred it into stencil paper. He placed the stencil where I wanted it and after a few minutes he started tattooing. I got a small rose on my right forearm. It didn’t have an important meaning behind it, I just thought it was cute. The process only lasted eight minutes, but it hurt. The pain felt like something sharp sliding through my skin. 

A few days later I got a second tattoo. I got the phrase “Hasta La Muerte” tattooed on my left forearm. I chose to get this because it’s my favorite phrase in Spanish. It translates to “until death” in English. My dad created the font and design. The process for this was about 20 minutes and the pain wasn’t too bad. When he would go over the capital letters, it would feel like a sting similar to the pain as the rose. 

Three months later, I got my third tattoo. My dad didn’t do this one, instead a friend of my coworker did it. He was a home based artist and he charged me $30 for it. My mom, my sister and I got matching tattoos. We got the phrase “Made In Heaven” and each of us chose a different spot for it. I got it done on my collarbone. I chose that spot because I wanted my tattoo to be noticeable. It took an hour to complete it and it didn’t hurt. There were a few moments where it would sting, but other than that it was painless. 

Four months later, I went back to my dad to get my fourth tattoo. I got a matching tattoo with my twin sister. We chose to get a locket with our first name initial on one side of the locket. We got it in the same spot, but opposite sides on our arms. It would’ve been a quick process but my dad had to go over it again and again with the ink because it wouldn’t stay on my skin. This one did hurt because I forgot what the pain of getting a tattoo felt like.

Four weeks later I got my fifth tattoo. This is the last tattoo I can get until I turn 21 years old, so I had to make it worth it. I chose to get the sun from the movie Tangled on my upper back. I always wanted a tattoo representing my favorite Disney movie and I was so happy to finally have the chance to get it done. I went to a tattoo shop for this one because it was really special to me and I wanted a professional to do it so it can be perfect. She charged me $40 for it, so I took the chance and went to her. The tattoo artist I went to is a friend of my dad and she’s based in LA. Since it was in a tattoo shop I had to sign a waiver and have a guardian sign it. When I first walked in, I was so nervous. But when it was my turn to get tatted, the nervousness went away. It took about 30 minutes and it was probably the most painless tattoo I’ve gotten. I showed no emotion during the process, I just laid my head down and focused on the music she was playing in her shop. I can’t wait to turn 21, so I can get more tattoos.

I’m not the only FUHS senior getting tattoos. Four others have also gotten tattoos as minors.

The law says that people must be 18 to get a tattoo, but many teens age 14-17 find a way, including having friends or family do the art for them. The Tribe Tribune asked FUHS seniors the meaning behind their tattoos. Here are some of their stories.

Anette Araiza

Senior Anette Araiza got a hummingbird tattoo to represent her personality. “I think it represents love and grace, I think I’m a graceful person,” Araiza said. 

She has five tattoos in total. She got her first one done when she was 16 years old. It was a small cross on her shoulder that represents her religion. A few weeks later she got another tattoo on her forearm that represents her favorite movie “Grease.” Her third tattoo is a matching tattoo with her mom and sister that says “Made In Heaven.” They all got it in different spots. Months later when she turned 17, she got her fourth tattoo, which is a matching tattoo with her twin sister. They both have each other’s initials inside the locket. Recently she got her fifth tattoo which is a hummingbird. 

“My dad, he got a tattoo ink set up thing and I wanted one. So I asked him for one and you know, he did it,” Araiza said.

Her dad did her first two tattoos and the locket one she has with her twin. Her family didn’t mind her getting tattooed at first, but as she got more and more, they put a stop to it. 

Araiza getting tattoos started off as something spontaneous, but overtime it became a necessity to her. 

“I felt like a Chipotle bag,” Araiza said.

Her process for getting tattoos as a minor wasn’t too difficult. She only signed a waiver for when she got her hummingbird tattoo. Other than that she didn’t have to sign anything.

 “I was kind of intimidated, cause, it’s kind of scary,” Araiza said. 

But as she was getting her tattoo done, she wasn’t so scared anymore. Her experience with getting tattoos wasn’t so painful.

“I would say it’s really fun, I mean usually it’s kind of painful, but honestly I just push through it because I know it’ll be worth it in the end,”Araiza said. 

Her first tattoo hurt, but as she got more they hurt less. The most painful tattoo she got done was the “Grease” inspired tattoo since it was near her wrist.

Jeremy Guillen

Senior Jeremy Guillen got his first tattoo on his left forearm, which is an image of Archangel Michael fighting the devil with a sword, on June 25. 

Guillen now feels protected by this special tattoo, claiming that the tattoo protects him from any evil. But in order to get this protection, it took over seven hours and it hurt.

“My dad and the tattoo artist actually wanted me to do two sessions because they thought I was going to pass out,” Guillen said.

Guillens’ whole family has tattoos. Guillen’s dad was a tattoo artist back in the day, but he stopped around his thirties. He and Guillens’ mom got their first tattoo when they were pretty young, and his brother got his at 18 years old. So, he decided to carry on the tradition, making his parents content when he got his first tattoo.

 “They were kind of not proud, but they’re laughing because I finally got one,” Guillen said.

Unsurprisingly, getting a stable profession as a person with tattoos is hard because most people find it inappropriate and controversial, even if for Guillen it’s normal to be surrounded by tattoos.

“My brother was applying for Disneyland, but they said he had to cover up his tattoos. He has to wear a long sleeve, ‘cause he has one on his shoulder and his arm,” Guillen said. 

Most minors have to sign a waiver when getting a tattoo. However, Guillen didn’t have to because his brother took him when he went to get his tattoo. His tattoo artist is a home based artist in Pico Rivera. His family has gotten their tattoos from him as well. His artist made a way for Guillen to expand his tattoo upwards so he can add more to his tattoo and its meaning in the future. 

Esmeralda Munoz

Senior Esmeralda Munoz got her first tattoo at 14 years old. Her first tattoo was a rose with a spider and a moon on her left inner wrist, which she got because she really liked the design.

Munoz has a total of four tattoos. Her second tattoo was a heart on her ankle that says “faith” on one side of the heart. This tattoo is a matching one with her mom. It was the quickest tattoo she’s gotten done. Then at 15 years old, she got her third tattoo on her forearm which are arrows that represent mental health. They also have the dates of her parents’ birthdays. Months later at 16 years old, she got her fourth and favorite tattoo on her rib. It’s a dragon tattoo matching her brother’s tattoo on his arm. This tattoo took the longest to get done. 

Munoz’s tattoo artist is a family friend, so she got all her tattoos for free. But even though she’s a family friend, Munoz still had to sign a waiver. 

Her parents approved of all her tattoos, they don’t have a problem with her getting tattoos at a young age. 

“My mom has a mindset like, if I’m doing it then I’m gonna allow my daughter too, as long as she’s telling me, not behind my back,” Munoz said.

Munoz loves the tattoo world. She claims that the tattoo community is very kind and she loves seeing tattoos on people and asking about them.

“It’s like art on people and it’s a beautiful thing,” Munoz said.

Keith Hernandez

Senior Keith Hernandez got his first tattoo as a sophomore at 16 years old. His first tattoo was a cross on his finger for a symbol of what he believes in. He got it done for free. Then, over the summer of his senior year, he got a back tattoo of a guardian angel.

Hernandez’s first tattoo was only a little sting, but his back tattoo did hurt. It was a process that took three hours with breaks included.

Tattoo Artist Droo Stirdivant

Tattoo artist Droo Stirdivant has tattooed some minors when he was young but now, being at the shop, he doesn’t anymore. He believes that minors should only get tattoos where they can legally access them.

Stirdivant is a tattoo artist in Anaheim called Good Time Charlie’s Tattooland. He has been working at the tattoo shop for 11 years and he’s been doing tattoos since he was 22 years old. 

He started tattooing when he was a teenager and has continued for the meanings and creativity. Tattooing has kept him busy ever since. 

“I’ve felt bad, I’ve said no to a couple youngsters that I’ve known,” Stirdivant said.

Stirdivant claims it’s better to get tattoos done at a tattoo shop, but minors have to sign a waiver with a guardian signature.