Colour me bad!

A picture can truly speak a thousand words — especially more when it is on your body, as a tattoo. Today, tattoos have evolved from being just a fashion statement to a form of self-expression, which means that the little butterflies and lotuses have given way to more complex and meaningful designs. Here’s a look at the top trends — tattoo-wise:
The new-age funky ‘om’s and crosses ala religious tattoos are now a rage among youngsters.“We have a lot of people who come to us with requests for religious tattoos. Rather than sticking to the usual designs, we try and give them something that is innovatively created. Some people believe that the ‘om’ is very strong. It gives a lot of energy to the body. It vibrates positivity. We tell people not to go in for spiritual tattoos if they don’t believe in it,” say Amar and Nisha, who run a tattoo boutique in the city.
The trend today, as tattoo artists point out is to get a tattoo as a symbol of remembrance of someone that they love. When it comes to girls, tattoos of guardian angels are quite popular. Nisha explains, “A couple came to us once and wanted to get their baby’s name tattooed. At the same time, we also get girls and boys who come to us when someone close to them have passed away. Irrespective of whether it is a birth or death, people consider tattoos to serve as a reminder of their loved ones.”
As a film crazy nation, a lot of youngsters today, look up to film stars for inspiration — be it for a six-pack or a tattoo. In the forefront of setting the trend of getting the boyfriend or girlfriend’s name tattooed on themselves, are actors Saif Ali Khan and much closer to home, Nayantara. “When I decided to get engaged, I wanted to tattoo my fiancé’s name, but he just wouldn’t hear of it,” chuckles, Namrata, an advertising professional. “For me, I think it was more of an emotional thing, but Santosh, my fiancé was dead against it for some reason. I settled for something that was a little more discreet after that,” she adds.
Tattoo artists are of the opinion that they get a lot of requests for boyfriend/girlfriend’s name to be tattooed, but they try and dissuade them as much as possible. “Since removing a tattoo is a more complex process than etching it, we encourage our customers to think carefully before getting names of boyfriends or girlfriends inscribed on them,” says Amar.
Research before getting a tattoo done seems to be vital. “We encourage people to think twice before they get a tattoo done. To a large extent, people who come to us, come with their own designs,” says Nisha. Akriti, a college student agrees. “I didn’t want just another random tattoo. I wanted something that would reflect my personality. So I sat down with a friend and got a design specifically done and then went to get it tattooed,” she says.
Another trend that seems to be picking up is with expats who pass through the city. Always on the lookout for something new and innovative to do, they get a tattoo done, as they want to remember the place that they have been to. Says Sheryl D’Cunha, a tourist from Europe, “I was very fascinated by the Thirukkural couplets, which I learned when I came to Tamil Nadu. I decided to get a couplet tattooed to remind me of this trip here.” Other popular designs among tourists who visit the city are illustrations of saints from Tamil culture, getting their names in the Tamil script and sometimes even the entire map of Tamil Nadu tattooed on their arm!
Hot trends
- Spiritual tattoos featuring designs of ‘om’ and oriental symbolism are a hit with youngsters.
- Maps and historical monuments/representations from places on one’s itinerary are also great options.
- A picture of a loved one can also be used for a tattoo.
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