Look at tat !

There was a time when tattoos were the signature mark of bikers and outlaws Today theyrsquove become the stamp of all things cool with universal acceptance mdash from students and the whitecollared and even grandmothers Tattoos are also now becoming memory markers dedications in memory of loved ones or chosen to showcase an achievement Last year Kevin Pietersen poster boy of English cricket inked another tattoo to his already long list to mark his teamrsquos win over India Religion on my sleeve The popularity of religious tattoos never die say tattoo artists Anoushka Shankar daughter of late Pandit Ravi Shankar was spotted with a tattoo dedicated to her father The tattoo on her left hand just above her wrist is a line scribbled in Bengali script from a note he had written to her before his demiseand reads ldquoJa Hobar Ta Hoberdquo which means lsquoWhat will bewill bersquo Ink that thought As many leading tattoo artists in the city of Mumbai maintain people are now realising the importance of putting thought and emotion into their tattoo while choosing a design than merely following a fad or making a rash decision ldquoPeople realise that a tattoo cannot be discarded and thrown away like a summer dress that you have lost your fancy for Nowadays they research their designs and opt for art with meaning or with a definition of their personality and characterrdquo said Sameer Patange owner of Kraayonz tattoo studio in Bandra ldquoWhen I turned 21 I got a tattoo of a flying butterfly where the body of the butterfly was the shape of a woman It signified me becoming an adult with freedom and responsibility mdash all a part of turning 21rdquo recalls Nicole Martin a grade two teacher from Andheri ldquoPeople want tattoos that they can cherish and are meaningful They want a tattoo that when they look back on in their old age it will serve as an imprint of a special memory and not a rash decision taken when they were youngrdquo adds Micky Malani from Body Canvas ldquoI have a tattoo of the peace symbol a heart and a treble clef Peace love and music are important in my life I fell in love with the design when I first saw it as it reminds me of whatrsquos good in my life and that itrsquos worth pursuing all three till I dierdquo said Reshma Varghese a student from St Xavierrsquos College Mumbai Bollywood and cricket appeal While some seem to be putting in more thought into their tattoos there are many others who choose to opt for designs they see online or have become a part of popular culture Bollywood drives India and so many choose their tattoo designs after spotting it on popular film stars ldquoSanjay Duttrsquos tattoo of Trishul and Ajay Devganrsquos tattoo of Shiva have become very popular After actress Priyanka Chopra got lsquoDaddyrsquos lil girlrsquo tattooed on her wrist many girls wanted the same or variations of itrdquo informs Arun Alva of Alrsquos Tattoo Studio Bandra ldquoCricketers and other sportsmen with tattoos also influence people a lotrdquo adds Rajiv Gupta a tattoo artist from Churchgate Mumbai Portraits names of loved ones and religious tattoos are some of the current favourites among Mumbaikars Ink it where I like it While tattoo designs are moving away from the conventional flower butterfly skull or skeleton to more creative and personalised artworks a change is also seen in the placement of these tattoos People are getting tattoos not just on their wrists legs or arms but also on their ears under arms inner parts of the bottom lip as well as private parts With bolder ideas Patange feels that the city needs more women tattoo artists as not all women are comfortable getting tattoos done on their private parts from menu00a0 hellipitrsquos like potato chips The pain endured while getting a tattoo and the posttattoo care that needs to be taken post getting tattooed does not stop these tattoo lovers from getting a second or third tattoo done Many tattoo artists compare getting a tattoo done to a bag of potato chips where one bite is not satisfying enough Heerkani Bhosle owner of Tattoowali in Andheri says that when people begin discussing one idea new ideas develop and they come back to get a second or third tattoo TATTOO CARE If you plan to get a tattoo done here are a few tips by cosmetic dermatologis Dr Rekha Sheth Dos gt Use an antibacterial ointment twice a day for 10 days gt Use a shower gel or face wash to clean dry thoroughly with a clean tissue and then use the antibacterial ointment Don39ts gt Do not use soap gt u00a0Do not go swimming for at least 15 days gt Avoid sun exposure Donrsquot get a tattoo if gt If you have boils verruca warts or mollusca or herpes simplex virus type 1 because the infection not only spreads but can also go deeper into the tissue gt Skin diseases like psoriasis lichen planus eczema can spread or aggravate if you get a tattoo done Tattoo Studios in Mumbai KRAAYONZ Shop no 6 16th Road off Linking Road next to Mini Punjab Restaurant Bandra W CALL Sameer Patange 9820342044 9930842044 BODY CANVAS Shop no 3 29th Road off Waterfield Road near Micky Mehta Gym Bandra W CALL Vikas Malani 9819184454 Micky Malani 9820384542 ALrsquoS TATTOO STUDIO 5 Natraj Shopping Centre 68 Hill Road opposite St Peterrsquos Church Bandra W CALL Arun Alva 9833124831 Olly Alva 9820583915 Studio 26443326 26423890 TATTOOISM Shop no 7 Chateau Marine B Road near Hotel Intercontinental Marine Drive Churchgate CALL Rajiv Gupta 9820196119 9820016119u00a0