Enhancing Personal Appearance: Cosmetics, Tattoos & Piercings
Angela Oswalt Morelli , MSW, edited by C. E. Zupanick, Psy.D.Wearing makeup, dying hair, and getting a tattoo or a tongue piercing are all ways that youth experiment with enhancing their personal appearances. Although some of these changes to their appearance can seem quite extreme, it is important to keep in mind that many of these changes may be considered a normal part of adolescent development because adolescence is a time when youth "try on" new identities. A normal part of identity development involves experimentation with different "looks" as youth figure out who they want to be and how they wish to express their individual identity.
While changes to personal appearance often represent an identity experiment, these changes can also signify youths' attempts to exert their independence by challenging the rules and conventions established by their parents, their schools, and their communities. Like identity experimentation, asserting independence is a normal part of adolescent development. However, adolescents still do not possess the emotional maturity, moral maturity, and cognitive maturity to function completely independently and often do not make wise decisions because they fail to consider the long-term consequences of their actions. This is where parents must step in. Once again, parents are called upon to walk a thin line between allowing their adolescents children some latitude to experiment with different appearances, while still setting appropriate boundaries and limitations.
When teens and their parents must discuss controversial topics with each other, the best outcome usually occurs when both teens and parents feel they have been heard and understood. An atmosphere that promotes meaningful conversations about these difficult topics ensures parents can provide teens the factual information that is necessary to make wise and healthy choices. Parents need to remain open-minded and be able to listen to the reasons their teens are attracted to a particular style, or desire some kind of body alteration. This receptive, non-critical approach provides parents the opportunity to help their youth to consider the potential negative consequences of their decisions that may not be evident to the youth; e.g., getting into trouble at school for violating the dress-code or alienating a prospective boss during a job interview. This type of discussion is more productive and pleasant than constant arguments and screaming matches over dyed hair, make-up, and body piercings. This is because an open dialogue, coupled with factual information, enables youth to find their own balance of healthy experimentation without compromising work, school, sports, and important relationships.
Even though these experiments with personal appearance are considered a normal part of adolescent development, parents need to be aware that sometimes changes in hygiene or personal appearance can signal a more serious problem may be developing. For example, if youth discontinue their usual hygiene and grooming routine (such as bathing, styling their hair, or applying their customary makeup), this may be an indication of a mental health problem such as depression, drug use, or a reaction to a traumatic event. As well, if parents notice significant styling changes that seem gloomy and dark, and youth are simultaneously becoming more isolated, moody, and irritable and experiencing school or home problems, this can also be a sign that a youth may be struggling with a psychological or emotional problem. If parents have any of these concerns, they should contact the school guidance counselor, the family's doctor or pediatrician, or a community behavioral health counselor or therapist.
Resources
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Articles
- Adolescent Parenting Introduction
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Healthy Teens: Food, Eating & Nutrition During Adolescence
- Teenage Caloric Requirements
- Nutritional Guidelines for Teens
- How Can Parents Help Teens to Develop Healthy Eating Habits?
- Common Nutritional Challenges for Teenagers: Adolescent Obesity
- Common Nutritional Challenges for Teenagers: Eating Disorders and Unhealthy Dieting
- Common Nutritional Challenges for Teenagers: Adolescent Diabetes
- Adolescent Diabetes Continued
- Healthy Teens: Exercise and Sports
- Healthy Teens: Sleep
- Parenting Teens: Clothing Clashes, Housing Decisions, & Financial Management
- Parenting Teens: Skincare, Cosmetics, Tattoos, & Piercings
- Caring for Teens: Healthcare for Teens and Young Adults
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Parenting Teens: Discipline, Love, Rules & Expectations
- Parenting Teens: Discipline, Love, Rules & Expectations
- Discipline and Guidance: Early to Middle Adolescence
- Discipline and Guidance: Early to Middle Adolescence: Time Management and Family Commitments
- Discipline and Guidance: Early to Middle Adolescence: Socializing, Dating and Driving
- Discipline and Guidance: Older Adolescents and Young Adults (18 Years and Older)
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A Parent’s Guide to Protecting Teens’ Health and Safety
- A Parent's Guide to Protecting Teens' Health & Safety
- Understanding the Risks of Adolescent Drug Use: Part II
- What Can Parents Do to Prevent Teenage Alcohol and Drug Use?
- Steps Parents Can Take to Protect Their Children from Alcohol and Other Drug Use
- Steps for Parents: Part II
- Driving Privileges and Safe Driving Practices for Young Drivers
- Parental Guidelines for Teen Driving Privileges: The Family Driving Contract
- Protecting Teens from Abusive Relationships and Dating Violence
- Protecting Teens from Teenage Fights, Gang Violence, Exposure to Sexual Predators and Graphic Internet Violence
- Protecting Teens from Teenage Bullying
- Protecting Adolescent Safety: Independent Living
- Personal Security While in Public Places
- Adolescent Parenting Summary & Conclusion
- Adolescent Parenting: References & Resources
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Questions and Answers
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Book & Media Reviews
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Links
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Videos
- Feeling down? Let's talk - Prevention of suicide among adolescents
- Teen Drug Use: 2014 Monitoring The Future Survey Results
- NPW 2017: Suicide and Substance Use in Young People
- Are We Feeding Early Puberty
- Why Teens Are Attracted to Vaping
- Is My High School Student Ready for College? (And Is My College Student Ready to Go Back?)
- Advice to Parents | Drugs & College 101
- Teen Depression Screening
- Let’s talk about depression – focus on adolescents and young adults
- The Flu Shot- Who Really Gets It
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45 more
- Child Development: Stepping Stones - Lesson 21: Adolescence: Biosocial Development
- Child Development: Stepping Stones - Lesson 22: Adolescence: Cognitive Development
- Child Development: Stepping Stones - Lesson 24: Adolescence: Summary
- Are Your Kids Addicted to Social Media?
- Is My Child Too Young to Get the HPV Vaccine?
- Do Boys Need the HPV Vaccine?
- The Perils of Adolescence
- Tackling Concussions
- Adolescent Risk-Takers: The Power of Peers
- Energy Drink Sparking More ER Visits
- Children and Social Media: What Every Parent Should Know
- Drugs: Shatter The Myths
- The Impact of Changing Social Behaviors on Teen Drug Use
- Teen Substance Use
- Youth Suicide Risk
- Take Healthy Habits to College
- What Boys Want to Know About Puberty
- Am I Normal (Girls and Puberty)
- Money Tips for Millennials
- E-Cigarette Use in Middle and High School Students
- Teens Using E-cigarettes More Likely to Start Smoking Tobacco
- Tips For Teens With Diabetes: Be Active
- Help Teens Lower Their Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
- Adolescence: Preparing for Lifelong Health and Wellness
- Back to School: A Good Night's Sleep
- How to Talk to Teens: A Developmental Approach
- Bedtime Wake Up Call
- Game Change! Focus on Families - Engaging Young Adults and Their Families
- Endocrine System
- Behavioral Health on College Campuses
- Notebook: Sexual Harassment
- Flu Shots: Young Adults Need Immunity
- Most Teens Need a Rest
- Screen Time vs. Bedtime
- What is Puberty? Decoding Puberty in Girls
- All About Boys Puberty
- Inside Puberty: What Are the Stages of Puberty?
- Puberty Explained - What Is Happening To Your Body?
- Another Reason for Teens to Eat Their Vegetables
- Dangers of E-Cigarettes
- HPV Vaccine: A Pediatrician’s Recommendation
- Healthy Weight
- Getting through to your teenager with ADHD
- Back-to-School: A Time to Think about Health & Academics
- Impact of Cyberbullying: Addressing the Needs of Children and Youth
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