Hair colorings...hmmmm...let me count how many colors of the rainbow we've had in our house! By both difficult child and easy child. easy child mostly wanted to try different strange styles and always went blonde from her natural medium brown. difficult child wanted colors. She's done purple, fuscia, reddish highlights, and caramel is what she's finally settled on, thankfully. I never fought hair coloring - to me it is such a non-issue in today's world. So what? If they don't like it they can always color it back and if they do, they can suffer through the stares they receive. Not my problem, especially compared to the other, more important things they could get into.
Piercings? Well, again, 15 was the magic number in my house for nose or belly piercings. I don't mind a teeny tiny stud in the nose, but have always refused to sign for anything else or allow anything else, such as other body parts or the eyebrow piercings. In CT you have to be 16 for piercing and 18 for tattoos. Thankfully, they both grew out of the desire for an eyebrow piercing (ew!!!) or a hoop through the nose, as if they were fighting bulls. Nope, they each have thier belly buttons pierced and their noses, but only with the tiny stud diamond. I actually think it's pretty. The belly button thing grosses me out, but I don't have to see it because niether daughter shows their midriff (which makes me wonder why they even have it pierced). My difficult child recently had her nipples pierced and that, to me, is just horrible. I am so worried about the breast feeding thing, scar tissue, infection, etc. Besides, who benefits from that? Just don't get that one. But she is 19 so I can't do beans about it.
Tattoos? Well, I got my first one when I was 40. I had always wanted one and after searching and searching, I finally found a design I liked and took it to a reputable place around here and had it done. I've had work done on the same one 3 times and love it. Since then, I have gotten two more. All three can be covered, except in the summer 2 'may' show. And the third one I have to have touched up but it's right on my ankle bone and it will hurt like heck, so I keep putting it off. My H says that I am the bad influence in this regard. That my dds would never have gotten tattoos if I hadn't. I do not think, in this day and age, that my daughter's would not have gotten tattoos. I know they would have. I have always stressed the importance of getting a tattoo (if they must) in a place that can be covered. Unfortunately, there are still some people who have preconceived notions about people with tattoos that are simply not true. I like the tattoos that my daughter's have. I would like them to stop now, especially difficult child, as she has 4 and wants another one. I want them to take a long break so they can be sure whatever else they put on their body means something to them and isn't just some silly thing. For instance, my difficult child wants to get a flamingo with flames coming off it's tail feathers...?? Hahaha. My easy child has been designing a 'family' tattoo. She wants something that she can incorporate several ideas into one tattoo that will represent her families. I like the idea and she's told me that she will have it put in a place that can be covered as well - she initially wanted a sleeve (EIyee!!), thank God no more.
I think you're wise to choose your battles carefully. These things, in my opinion, are not worth flipping out over.
He would like some wild colors but school policy thankfully prevents that kind of experimentation. He's also tried the koolaid streaks. The idea of tats and piercings intrigue him but he is hypersensitive to pain thank goodness 
