Talisman

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.

The anti-tattoo brigade’s main argument…

In 2001, Pamela Anderson made a huge mistake: while getting a tattoo, she shared a needle with her then-husband Tommy Lee.

Well, it was actually the 2^nd mistake she’d made (we all know about the stolen video tapes, so let’s not harp on about that ) but it cost her dearly because she allegedly got Hepatitis C from it.

And more relevant for us tattoo-lovers, the anti-tattoo brigade used the incident as a means of publicizing the danger of infection from tattoos.

Now, whether or not Tommy Lee really gave Pamela Hep C is irrelevant. What’s important is to acknowledge that you can get infections from tattoos.

But equally important is to realize that with a few simple precautions you can sidestep all the drama and get a safe, attractive tattoo.

Why is there a risk of infection when tattooing?

Human skin consists of an outer epidermis and an inner dermis. A tattoo machine’s needles rapidly puncture the epidermis, injecting insoluble ink into the upper layers of the dermis.

So a tattoo is actually ink below the outer surface of the skin. And since the needle goes only just below the surface, it doesn’t hurt anywhere as much as an injection does.

However, as tiny as the punctures are, they are punctures nonetheless; and so you have to treat your tattoo as an open wound and guard against the risk of infection.

What kind of infections can unhygienic tattoos result in?

The main infections you can get from unhygienic tattoos are:

1. Skin infections: These result from the tiny puncture wounds getting infected.
2. Blood borne diseases (such as Hepatitis and Tetanus): Miniscule quantities of blood emerge from each prick made by the tattoo machine and if this blood is allowed to spread to others, it can carry disease.

So what makes tattooing safe?

Hygiene, hygiene, hygiene.

If your artist takes proper precautions, the risk of infection and disease is almost completely eliminated.

What are these precautions?

1. Keeping a clean workspace: Good tattoo artists will make sure all the surfaces they use for tattooing are cleaned with disinfectant.
2. Disposing of needles and leftover material: They will use disposable needles, taking them out of their casing right in front of you. They will also dispose of materials such as ink, ink cups, gloves, razors, etc. after a single use. Leftover ink should not be mixed with fresh stock.
3. Washing hands and wearing gloves: They will wash their hands thoroughly with a powerful soap and wear gloves while tattooing. They will pay special attention to the gloves, changing them after every exposure to non-sterilized material (e.g. they will change gloves if they answer the phone while tattooing you).
4. Using autoclaves to sterilize equipment: They will use an autoclave (a steam/pressure/heat unit used in hospitals) to sterilize all non-disposable equipment
5. Providing an aftercare sheet: They will tell you how to care for your tattoo and give you an aftercare sheet with important points to remember. To see some of these points, take a look at our aftercare sheet here.

So the next time you go in for a tattoo, make sure your artist takes all these precautions. Don’t be fooled by a fancy exterior; remember that expensive does not necessarily mean clean.

Insist on strict tattoo hygiene and you’ll stay safe as well as improve the public perception of tattoos.

As for all the drama … let’s leave it to Ms. Anderson, shall we?

A friend of ours recently interviewed Aishwariyaa Bhaskaran (of ‘Abhiyum Naanum’ fame) after she got her 6th tattoo from us. Here are some excerpts from their conversation…

What drew you to tattoos?

“Well, I’m a product of the 60s and 70s – a generation of hippies and bikers and punk rockers. All the bands we knew of were tattooed. So it was that western influence.

But I also feel that tattoos are an expression of art on oneself. Something you’d like to keep. For example I have a tattoo in memory of my grandmother who died of breast cancer; so every time I see it, I remember her, as well as my support for the breast cancer movement. In fact, I used to play the base guitar and the keyboard through school and college and want to get tattoos of those.”

Do you think that tattoos have become more mainstream now?

“Well, an IT friend of mine got a Gemini tattoo and he’s a normal guy who works in a proper office and wears a tie to work every day. And his wife, who is in HR, actually encouraged him. ”

How did you come across Amar and Nisha?

“When I was looking for somewhere to get my first tattoo, a lot of people gave me options; but thank God I didn’t listen to them. I didn’t like the places – their cleanliness or anything about them. There is a lot of technicality to tattooing so it’s not like any guy with gun and ink in his hand can do it. I’m a film artist and my tattoos show on screen.  I don’t want someone experimenting and using me as a guinea pig!

Luckily for me, at that point my daughter told me about Amar and Nisha (who were working at Irezumi at the time); so that’s how I met them.”

What was your tattoo experience like?

“Well there was something about Amar that was so calming and reassuring. He was very professional and took me through all of the steps involved in tattooing. He even ran an experimental needle so I’d know how it would feel.

Basically, I knew that I could trust that his work would be clean and that he would NOT make me look ugly. Even if you come in with weird ideas, he’ll be straightforward with his opinion. He’ll tell you which colours will look good on you and which won’t. He knows what will work for your skin and body type.”

Can you give me an example?

“Well, I had asked him to use maroon on my tattoo but he suggested red instead. And if he hadn’t, then I’d have got maroon and would have been cursing in the end. You should be able to trust your tattoo artist and Amar is top notch.”

Did you choose from their portfolio of flash tattoos or did you get a custom-designed tattoo?

“All my tattoos are custom-designed. And the great thing is that Amar gives you options. For example, if I tell him that I want a tattoo design with a base guitar, keyboard, veena, and some musical notes, he’ll come up with 10 options for me to choose from. It’s important that a tattoo artist is an artist first. He should be able to take an idea, conceptualize it, design it by hand, and execute the design. And Amar is great at that!

Also, you’ll find that his work is very distinctive. There was a foreigner who had an anklet tattoo that I thought looked so beautiful and when I asked her who did it, she said it was Amar.”

Did you feel much pain while being tattooed?

“I actually fell asleep while they were tattooing me. After delivering a child, tattooing is nothing! It’s actually very nice. And it’s a very addictive pain.”

You said you had a hard time finding a tattoo artist initially. Have you come across any other good ones since your first tattoo?

“There’s one guy in Bombay who’s very good. But in Chennai there is no-one better than Amar. In fact, it’s an open challenge … for anybody to come and tattoo as well as Amar, leaving your skin to heal so beautifully. I think his work is along the lines of the guys at LA Ink and Miami Ink. I have friends from Goa who come to Chennai just to get tattoos from Amar … and the 2 of them have 9 tattoos so far!

Now that he’s branched out separately, I’m all out to support him; because it’s not about the place … you can have a fancy place but the guy doing your tattoo has to be good. And Amar is definitely good! ”

If you’ve ever been hit by the tattoo bug, then you’re sure to know the symptoms:

You see a design you love or someone with cool ink and suddenly you’ve just got to get a tattoo! It’s a craving you can’t seem to satisfy and even the most level-headed people fall prey to.

And this is a good thing. The best tattoos are those you have an instant connection with.

But before you actually go ahead and get that design tattooed, there are some questions worth asking yourself:

1. Will the design stay relevant over the years?

Designs that look cool at one stage of your life may not be so cool 10 years down the line. And this becomes an issue for tattoos that can’t be covered by clothing.

The image of a naked mermaid may look avant-garde when you’re a young adult, but what about years later when you’re at your kid’s parent-teacher meeting?

Take your time to think about it. Give it a week or two. If you’re still keen on the same design, then go for it!

Similarly, decide how specific you want to be in expressing yourself.  For example, you may feel that getting your partner’s name tattooed on your arm is romantic as hell … but get on the wrong side of a breakup and you’re doomed to go searching for someone with the same name!!!

Instead, perhaps you can find a design symbolizing a characteristic of your partner’s that you love, for example: compassion. That way, many years from now, even if you’re not with the same person, your love for that quality is still relevant.

Or if nothing else will do, consider sticking with just an initial … not the full name.

2. Does the design have a special significance?

If it’s just the ‘coolness’ of a design that you love, then the simplest thing to do is print it on a poster or t-shirt or maybe even use it to get a temporary tattoo.

But you’ve decided to brand your body for life. So, it’s worth choosing a design powerful enough to be worth making permanent.

And in our experience, the most rewarding tattoos are those that have a personal meaning.

For example, when actress Aishwarya came to us for a tattoo in memory of her grandmother, we custom designed a black rose wrapped in a ribbon – a symbol of her grandmother’s struggle with breast cancer. But the ribbon was thorny because she eventually died from the cancer.

In much the same way, there are many things you can do to personalize your tattoo.  So rather than choosing from a selection of flash tattoo designs (ready-made ones), consider paying a little extra to get a design custom-made for you.

3. Will the design stay sharp and clear?

Your tattoo ages with you; and while there are a number of things you can do to care for it, chances are that over time it will start to blur.

That’s why the best tattoos often have large, bold design; these blur less than smaller, intricate ones.

However, keep in mind that whatever the design, you can always get it touched up to look as good as new.

4. Is the design easily recognizable?

There’s nothing more irritating than people asking you what your design is supposed to be. And while it is in a tattoo-lover’s credo that a tattoo is first for yourself and only then for others, constant questions about your tattoo design will eventually begin to wear you down.

So choose a design that is easily recognizable and save yourself a lot of heartache.

5. Is my tattoo artist comfortable with this genre of tattoos?

Every artist has a genre that they specialize in, e.g. old-school tattoos, tribal tattoos, fantasy art, etc. So while this isn’t a deal-breaker (because skilled artists can adapt to whatever design you give them) try and find an artist with some experience in your particular brand of tattoos.

Keep these 5 questions in mind and you are well on your way to choosing a killer tattoo design.

If you have your own experience with choosing tattoo designs, please do post comments and share the wealth.

The dream is to rid the world of bad tattoos, one tattoo at a time