Before cover-up: the new tattoo has been stencilled on; you can see the old one at the bottom of the stencil

After cover-up: the old tattoo has been completely covered by the new one

What would you do if you got a bad tattoo?

What would you do if you got a bad tattoo in a place so prominent that there’s no way you can cover it up?

And what would you do if the tattoo was more than just ‘bad’? You remember those loving scribbles you made for your parents when you were 3 years old? Well, what if your tattoo design looked just like those?

Well, this is not just a hypothetical situation.

The other day a client came into our boutique with a tattoo that looked like chicken scrawl, right below his neck. Every morning he’d look in the mirror and see that colossal wreck and go from anger (at the tattoo artist who wronged him) to embarrassment (that this is the first thing that other people would see) to sadness (that what could have been a beautiful expression of self ended up being a total mess).

But, luckily there was a solution. With a little planning, we could come up with a new design to be tattooed over the old one, concealing it completely. It was extremely fulfilling to know that we could help redeem the art of tattooing in his eyes, and save him a world of emotional trauma.

Introducing: the cover-up tattoo

Cover-up tattoos are not a new concept, but their full potential hasn’t been realized yet in Chennai. In essence they are tattoos that are inked over marks and blemishes on skin as a means of covering them up.

But they become powerful tools because in covering up those marks and blemishes, they give people back their self-esteem … something which can literally transform lives.

Tattoos can be used to cover a number of things

Tattoos are most commonly used to cover up…

• Birth marks and stretch marks: Unappealing birth marks can easily be masked with a tattoo. The same applies to stretch marks from pregnancy or rapid weight gain/loss.
• Old tattoos: These include badly done tattoos, names of exes, prison tattoos, gang tattoos, etc. A well-placed new tattoo can hide an old tattoo quite effectively.
• Keloids: These are dense, thick nodules, typically found at areas of previously injured skin (burns, lacerations), or they may arise spontaneously on normal skin. Over weeks to months, these nodules can become painful, tender, itchy, and grow to become very large (up to about 30 cm). People use radiation therapy or plastic surgery to remove keloids, but a tattoo may be a simpler (and cheaper) solution.
• Scars due to operations, liposuction etc.: Various medical and elective procedures can leave scars, which are prime candidates for cover-up tattoos.

Things to keep in mind when getting a cover-up

Cover-up tattoos are no different from regular tattoos, except that because they have to cover a mark, they need to be designed and executed with a certain amount of skill. So ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is my artist skilled enough to come up with a good design? Cover-up tattoos are almost always custom-designed to fit over the marks/blemishes they are meant to hide. This means you’ll have to search for someone with the talent create original designs (see 5 Signs That Your Tattoo Artist Can Really Be Trusted and The Talisman Test to Rank Your Tattoo Artist) and set aside enough money to pay him/her (see Why Going For a Cheaper Tattoo Can Be the Biggest Mistake of Your Life).
2. How big do I want to make my cover-up? Obviously the cover-up will have to be bigger than the mark you are trying to cover. So the larger the cover-up (in relation to the mark), the more options you have with design. The location of your mark will play a role in deciding size as bigger body parts allow for bigger tattoos.
3. What tattoo design will do the job? This is where you will find yourself tied down, because your tattoo design will depend on the size and shape of the mark you’re hoping to cover. For example, tribal tattoos may seem like a simple solution, but they work by emphasizing the open spaces within the design. So it’ll take a lot of skill to make sure your marks and blemishes don’t show through in these spaces. Also, you’ll find it hard to place symmetrical designs (such as butterflies) so that they cover the right places.  Similarly, lettering to cover the lettering of an old tattoo will almost never work.
4. What colours should I use? Unless the mark you’re trying to cover is very light, you’ll have to use a solid colour (no shading) … the darker the better. And if you’re covering an old tattoo, you’ll have to remember that colors put over each other will mix. For example, red from your old tattoo and green from your new one will usually give you brown (or a similar neutral tone).

Do you need a cover-up tattoo?

If you think you’d benefit from a cover-up tattoo, book an appointment by calling us at…

+91-44-45066076

+91-98413-18546

+91-98840-66676

Or email us at nisha@talismantattoos.in.

Dr. Priya Selvaraj: Chief guest for the Talisman media launch

Thursday 28 October 2010 marked Talisman’s official press launch, and we’re happy to say that it was a great success!

We chose to keep the event as informal as possible, so rather than delivering a prepared speech, we gave journalists a chance to have one-on-one sessions with us in a sort of a free-flowing interview

Our chief guest for the occasion was Dr. Priya Selvaraj, Assistant Director at GG Hospital (Nungambakkam High Road), accomplished medical professional, and tattoo lover (we’ve had the pleasure of tattooing her 4 times).

Dr. Priya Selvaraj (left) and me (Nisha)

Tattoos tell stories

The launch was centred on the concept that there is a story behind every tattoo. The images we choose to have tattooed on us represent something. They have a meaning; often very personal. In that sense, tattoos can tell you a lot about someone.

See this for yourself with the tattoo below. Going by its accepted symbolic meaning in a number of cultures, what can you deduce about the person sporting the tattoo?

The eagle’s ability to soar into the skies has lead cultures over the ages to associate it with the gods; be it as their messenger, their steed, or a carrier of their wisdom, honour, and bravery.

Learn how to tattoo at Talisman

The launch was also a chance for us to remind the public that we do take tattoo classes. With the demand for tattoos on the rise, learning how to tattoo can be both emotionally rewarding as well as financially viable. A freelance tattoo artist with the right training is always sought after by salons, beauty parlours, etc., and a talented artist can recoup the money spent on training within a year of starting work.

Talisman tattoo trivia

With so many people asking us questions about ourselves and the boutique, the launch was also an opportunity for us to introspect; and the process revealed interesting facts. For example…

• Chennai is opening its doors to tattoos. Gone are the days when tattoos were for a select group of people, and were kept hidden from the public. People of all walks of life and varied backgrounds are choosing to get inked in Chennai, and are less reluctant to show off their tats in public. And as our Facebook fan page shows, a discerning tattoo community is growing … slowly but surely.
• Our largest client base is among homemakers: You’d think that college students or young males with bulging biceps would be the most frequent client … but that’s not the case. The erstwhile ‘housewife’ is perhaps the most trendy demographic in Chennai, and makes up more than 60% of our clientele.
• Custom tattoos have become the rage: There was a time when our flash portfolio (i.e. portfolio of ready-made tattoos) was highly popular; clients would almost always choose ‘butterflies’ and ‘stars’ from our display folders. Now that’s changing. We’re finding that more and more clients are putting some serious thought into their tattoos, often spending months (and sometimes even years) coming up with the ‘perfect’ custom design. This is heartening for us, as it is a sign that tattoos are no longer just a fashion statement, and that they are being seen as the works of art that they really are.
• Tattoos can fade: People are slowly beginning to realize that getting tattooed is just the first step. Taking care of your tattoo is just as important. A neglected tattoo will fade fast. So, as tattoo artists, there’s nothing more satisfying than when clients take their aftercare instructions to heart. As with any artist, we take pride in our work; and to see it stay fresh and beautiful gives us a warm fuzzy feeling .
• Tattoos can be covered up: We’ve had people come to us with tattoos that have been messed up by untrained artists, and most of the time we’ve been able to do a ‘cover up’ tattoo. And clients are beginning to take heart that gross errors can sometimes be corrected. However, this isn’t always the case, so please do make sure you choose a skilled tattoo artist.

We recently came across this sad story online:

“My son had a tattoo parlour artist do his tattoo, but when it was done healing one of the eyes was not completed and (was) lighter in colour than the rest of the tattoo. My son went back to the parlour, but the artist was no longer there and another artist went over his tattoo, blackening it and leaving it looking demonic (it is a religious tattoo).”

Now, while we’ve already covered the importance of choosing a good tattoo studio, it’s easy to forget that at the end of the day it isn’t the studio that tattoos you … it’s an individual artist. And even the best studios sometimes use guest artists who aren’t particularly great.

For example, even Kat Von D (of LA Ink fame) once made the mistake of allowing a friend to bring in a random artist she met at a bar. For a whole day, this man was doling out awful looking tattoos … but as far as clients were concerned, their tattoos came from the LA Ink studio.

So, finding a good tattoo studio is important; but you’ve also got to be sure about the artist.

That’s why we’ve created the Talisman Test to Rank Your Tattoo Artist.

Try it out on an artist you know, and see how well they fare.

The Talisman Test: Evaluating your artist

There are 3 separate points at which you grade tattoo artists:

I. When looking at their portfolio

Even before you’ve met your artist, you can begin to evaluate his/her work. On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best) grade your tattoo artist on each of the following points.

1. How consistent is the artist’s work? When looking through samples of their work, keep an eye out to see if there is some consistency in standard. You don’t want an artist who can give you awesome tattoos on one day but really pathetic ones on another day. Tattoo artists don’t have the luxury of making mistakes so your artist’s portfolio should show quality throughout. Make sure the tattoos are aligned and proportioned well and that they have bold and steady lines.
2. How much attention to detail does the artist show? Badly detailed tattoos can be the result of a lack of skill, or pure sloppiness. But either way, you lose. Your tattoo will be seen as a work of art, and detail is a crucial component.
3. Is there a range in the artist’s portfolio? Although most artists have a particular style they specialize in, it’s best if they are at least capable of variety. This is all the more important when it comes to custom-designed tattoos, where the artist may need to create a ‘look’ that they aren’t used to creating. For example, if your artist specializes in gothic tattoos, and you want a pixie or a butterfly, you’ll need to make sure he/she has the versatility to move between those genres.
4. Has the artist done large and/or complex tattoos? It’s always good to know for certain that the artist can handle your tattoo, especially if it’s a particularly complicated one. That’s not to say that a new artist won’t be able to work on a complex tattoo, but it’s good to have some way of estimating his/her potential.

II. When interacting with the artist

There’s a lot you can learn while talking to the artist … both from what he/she tells you and from what you observe. On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best) grade your tattoo artist on each of the following points.

1. Find out how many tattoos he/she has done. Many artists can boast of experience, but the actual number of tattoos they’ve worked on is what counts in the end. The only way an artist can improve is to practise, so while this ‘number’ alone isn’t the greatest indicator, it does play a role. An experienced artist should have completed at least 1000 tattoos.
2. How straightforward is the artist? Will he/she say ‘yes’ to anything?  It’s very important that your artist is honest about things like the detail you can expect to see in your tattoo, the colours that will work for your skin-type, etc. When it comes to permanently marking your skin, it’s worth risking a slightly bruised ego. Better that than being stuck with a horrendous tattoo.
3. Does the artist have a good sense of hygiene? Studios may have strict policies, but it’s important to know that the artist follows them
4. How disciplined is the artist? For example, is there a set process for fixing appointments? Do they explain things to you clearly and methodically? These are all small signs of a strict, professional work ethic, something you definitely want to see.
5. Do you feel a connection with the artist? I.e. when you’re explaining the overall ‘look’ you want for your tattoo, does he/she seem to be following you? Does he/she put you at ease? It’s important to remember that with any art form, the artist is not just a passive observer, but an active participant. If you’re comfortable with the artist, you increase the chances of your tattoo coming out great, and the whole experience becomes that much more pleasant. For more on this, read our post ‘5 signs that your tattoo artist can be trusted.’

III. Once the tattooing has started

Don't be afraid to stop your tattoo artist halfway through your tattoo

Even after the tattooing has started, you can still assess your artist. Because at any point, if you’re not happy with the way things are going, you can always ask him/her to stop. It’s better late than never.

Remember that you can always cover up bad work with another tattoo, and the less damage that’s been done, the easier it is to mask.

So, on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best) grade the experience as it unfolds.

For example, does the artist take time to place the tracing on your skin correctly? Does he/she seem confident and comfortable with the tattoo machine? Do you end up spending hours to get a tiny tattoo done? These are all indicators of your artist’s skill-level.

Even if you haven’t been tattooed before and don’t know what to expect, intuition can play a huge role in helping you sense how things are going.

The Talisman Test: Ranking your artist

Add up the individual scores to find your artist’s total (out of a maximum 50). You can interpret the results using the following scale.

0 – 10: Stay away from the artist at all costs!!!
10 – 20: Are you a gambler? Your tattoo may turn out OK.
20 -30: There’s a good chance you’ll get a decent tattoo.
30-40: You’re in luck … the artist’s got the quality you need.
40-50: Call Discovery Travel and Living at once! Your artist is good enough to star in his/her own reality show!!!

Four years ago Amar and I went abroad to train as tattoo artists … the beginning of a long journey.

And many of you have seen us through that journey. You were there when we worked at Irezumi, and you supported us when we started Talisman.

So it is with great joy that we share with you our next step forward…

As of Wednesday 8^th September 2010, Chennai’s premier tattoo boutique – Talisman – is moving to Teynampet!

And to celebrate, we are introducing a special offer:

Call us any time between 8^th September and 8^th October to set up a tattoo appointment, and we’ll give you a discount of 20% on your tattoo!!!

For more info, call:

+91-98840-66676
+91-98413-18546
+91-44-45066076

Here’s how to find us:

Talisman’s new address:

11-A, Sriman Srinivasan Cross Street,
(Behind Ente Keralam)
Venus Colony,
Teynampet,
Chennai – 600018

“One day a young gangster came to our door and tried to hand his severed little finger to my father – a traditional method of Yakuza atonement. My mother tried to shield my eyes, but I could still see the blood dripping from his hand. My dad was furious and split the guy’s head open with an object in the hall. He said, ‘Why did you cut your finger off? You need it for work.’”

These jarring lines are a narrative by Japanese author Shoko Tendo, whose book Yakuza Moon – Memoirs of a Gangster’s Daughter explores the seedy world of Japan’s infamous crime syndicate: The Yakuza.

In the book, she speaks of life as the daughter of a Yakuza boss. The violence and abuse she faced as a child scarred her deeply – both physically and emotionally; yet, by getting herself tattooed Yakuza-style, she found a way to move past the hurt, and start life afresh.

So, how could a tattoo bring about such healing?

To answer this we need to first understand the Yakuza and what it means to grow up in their world.

Yakuza and the world of organized crime

As you probably know from scores of movies on the subject, the Yakuza represent organized crime in Japan.

One source traces their origin back to the 17^th century, when local men began earning the distinction of being town bullies. Having skill with the sword (they were often masterless Samuri, i.e. Ronin), they would harass and terrorize the local population without any fear of reciprocation.

In any case, the modern-day Yakuza came to prominence after the 2^nd World War, when they established networks within Japanese black markets and infiltrated positions of power (they commonly associated with politicians and celebrities).

Yakuza often come from very poor families, but once part of the organization they have access to almost limitless wealth. Dressed in the finest Armani and chauffeured in the most luxurious Benz’, a Yakuza boss truly lives life in style. And with dozens of henchmen under his control and a network of other Yakuza families to draw strength from, he is close to unstoppable.

Imagine the power…

Yakuza tattoos and identity

So what exactly does it mean to get a Yakuza-style tattoo?

Well, the Yakuza cover their entire body (apart from the face and hands) with tattoos, usually drawing heavily from classic Japanese iconography like the dragon and the tiger. They wear their ink as a status symbol and as a means of distinguishing themselves andtheir (violent) lifestyle from the rest of society.

The public see the Yakuza as bullies; they see themselves as saviours; and the tattoos symbolize it all.

In fact, full body tattooing is so much a part of Yakuza identity that in an effort to keep these gangsters out, many Japanese bath houses and spas simply ban people with full body tattoos from entering.

Accepting the past so as to embrace the future

Coming back to Shoko Tendo’s experience…

While Shoko confesses that she doesn’t quite understand why her tattoos liberated her, perhaps we can come up with a reason.

For most of her life Shoko struggled with the fact that she was the daughter of a gangster. As much as she loved her father, she obviously suffered because of him. And as long as she refused to accept that part of her past … as long as she denied its existence … her mind remained locked in a battle of conflicting emotions.

But in getting herself tattooed she was embracing her Yakuza past and acknowledging that it would always be a part of her.

With this acknowledgement came acceptance. And with acceptance came the freedom to move on.

Who would have thought that a little ink was capable of so much?

What keeps celebrities going back to their favourite tattoo artist? For example…

State-of-the-art equipment alone is not enough

An artist may have advanced tattoo machines, expensive inks, and maybe even the best tattoo shop/ tattoo studio, but there’ll always be someone with more.

So for a celebrity with money to spend, no single artist should hold their attention for too long, right?

Skill and experience alone aren’t enough either

Agreed … Beckham’s artist Louis Malloy may be hailed as the best in England and Depp’s Jonathan Shaw was a trendsetter in his particular style of neo-tribal tattoos…

But most stars tend to choose tattoos from different genres: Angelina Jolie for example has gothic, Thai, and Japanese tattoos. And as artists often specialize in particular styles of tattooing, the celebs should logically change artists for each tattoo if they want the best … not stay with the same one.

It all comes down to the bond between client and artist

At the end of the day, the best artists are those that develop a bond with their clients … celebrities or otherwise. And while standards of skill and hygiene need to be met, at the heart of the bond lies trust.

Do you have this bond with your artist? You know you do when…

• You listen to your artist’s suggestions without wondering if he/she is just to trying to get more money from you
• Your artist is comfortable and straightforward enough with you to say ‘no’ where it needs to be said (e.g. when the dimensions you choose for your design won’t work, or if your choices for colour combinations aren’t the best)
• You can describe the emotions you want your tattoo to evoke and know that your artist understands exactly what you mean.
• Your artist shows an interest in how your tattoo heals and follows up later to ask you about it
• You and your artist can actually talk as friends and not just as business acquaintances

To experience all that goes into getting a tattoo, it’s worth your while to find an artist with whom to develop a bond. If you haven’t already found one, this is the best time to start looking.

Build a bond with your Talisman artists

Over the years, Amar and I have learnt to recognize the value of building a bond with our clients. This post is one way of sharing this commitment of ours; but we have another: get a 2^nd tattoo from Talisman and we’ll give you a 10% discount on it.

Hear what our client’s have to say about us and contact us to set up an appointment.

You’re sitting down for your first tattoo and you hear the hum of the tattoo machine as it starts.

You’re still taking in the sights so you don’t really pay it much attention. But as the artist brings it closer to your skin, its pitch seems to get higher and higher and you suddenly remember that a cluster of needles are going to be repeatedly puncturing your skin for at least half an hour!

Now you’re breaking out into a cold sweat and you get that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. You put on a nervous smile and start making small talk, thinking that you can distract yourself.

But all the while the only thing running through your mind is, ‘It’s gonna hurt, it’s gonna hurt, it’s gonna hurt’.

And this is normal. Absolutely normal.

Whether you are a gruff war veteran or a wide-eyed teenager, there’ll always be the anxiety that comes from anticipation. (Actually, the only people who don’t worry are women who’ve given birth … because they know that nothing can be as bad as that! ).

But then the tattooing begins …

And after a minute or two the pain subsides, your skin starts becoming numb, and you find yourself relaxing.

What’s the secret? Why do tattoos hurt less than we think they will?

The secret lies within your beautiful body which loves you very very much.

You see, it loves you so much that it produces these wonderful things called endorphins: its very own version of morphine.

Yes, these are the little buddies (proteins to be precise) that give you that elated feeling after a tiring jog, gratifying sex, meaningful meditation, or fruitful acupuncture. They are the closest you can come to getting high legally.

And since one of their roles is to control pain, endorphins are why after a few minutes of tattooing you begin to unwind and embrace the process.

And equally important: they are what make tattooing so addictive. If you’ve ever heard someone say how they actually ‘like’ the pain involved in getting tattooed … it’s the endorphins speaking.

OK, but how much does it hurt, really?

Getting tattooed has been likened to experiences ranging from a light scratching sensation to a bee sting. Some people say it hurts all the way through, while others actually fall asleep during the process. It will all depend on you, so there’s no way to really find out except to go ahead and get one.

But here are some factors to consider:

1. Your tolerance to pain: You know how you usually react to pain. That’s most probably how you’ll react to getting tattooed. So if a mild bruise makes your day come to a standstill, then getting a tattoo will be a challenge (one you can meet nonetheless).
2. Your anticipation of the pain: Many people work themselves up way more than usual, causing their blood sugar levels to drop, which can leave them feeling dizzy/clammy/uncomfortable. This isn’t really a problem though. A small break and some electrolyte-filled juice will sort things out.
3. The location of your tattoo: The less flesh on the area you get tattooed, the more it is said to hurt. So theoretically, getting tattoos on your hands, feet, ankles, ribs, lower back, and groin will hurt more than getting tattoos on your shoulders, upper arms, outer thighs, etc. 
4. The skill of your artist: An untrained artist can go too deep with the tattoo needle, causing unnecessary pain and serious skin damage. This is one of reasons why you should only go to reputed artists. 

There are ways to control the pain, but…

There are creams and medicines on the market that can numb the pain you feel while getting tattooed. But tattoo artists don’t usually recommend them (we certainly don’t).

This is because most of these drugs thin the blood, affect blood flow, or change the skin’s shape and/or texture.

And all this affects the quality of the tattoo you get.

The point is: it’s not about the pain

The takeaway point here is that you need to focus on the tattoo, not the pain.

If you’re getting a tattoo that has meaning for you, the pain doesn’t matter. You are marking yourself for life and that can be a beautiful, exhilarating, almost spiritual process.

Focus on that. Anticipate that.

Find a skilled artist and choose a design that you resonate with; the endorphins will take care of the rest.