i started at 14, 16 isnt really needed because its so close, i went on amazon and bought all the ones i used to start with, always use surgical steel because when you stretch its auctally causing lots of microscopic tears and go slow, i work at a tattoo shop and do tattoos and piercings and when you go to fast and blow them out there is really no way to fix them, your best bet is to go to a local tattoo shop and ask if they offer that service. we do it for free with jewelry purchase if you live in close! :)