Intricately distinct

Just when we were convinced that we have exhausted all tattoo ideas, a new trend steps in — mandalas, geometric designs and minimalist tattoos are the way to go for tattoo enthusiasts. This is a trend that’s garnering momentum over the recent past.

Leaving behind the butterfly, birds, and flower tattoos, which seem to be bordering the fine line of a cliché, tattoo enthusiasts are marching a new way. Experts and youngsters open up about the new trends that are becoming popular.

Neha has a tattoo of Medusa on her back.

Senthil Govindraj, owner of Skin Deep tattoo studio, says, “There is a very evident change in the preference of people who wish to get inked these days. The number of people who are getting mandalas, geometric designs, sketchy style artwork and minimalist tattoos are on the rise. Some quirky minimalist tattoos that I have worked on include a dog with a hockey stick, a coconut tree, a crow reading a book and a cactus plant. Most people who prefer getting mandala tattoos and geometric designs favour a much larger tattoo when compared to the minimalistic tattoos.”

A combination of mandala and geometric design

Is it true that once you get a tattoo you are eager to get more of them? Well, youngsters today seem to completely agree. Most people who get inked the first time tend to get several other tattoos within a span of few months or even weeks.

Neha Kanjilal, an arts student, says, “I got my first tattoo when I was 18 years old. Now I am 24 and I have around 31 tattoos on my body. The tattoo of Medusa, a Greek goddess, is the largest I possess. I have been obsessed with the character for a long time and decided to get it done after several years. The other tattoos include mandala designs and tribal art. The tattoos I got when I was younger were mostly simple ones when compared to those that interest me now.”

A mandala tatoo design

There is one thing that has remained a constant through the changing times; months and years of pondering over the thought of getting a tattoo before acting on it. Most people confess to have been in a dilemma for several years before they finally came to a conclusion.

Neha Kanjilal

Eldridge Dsouza, a business management graduate, has got the tattoo of a robot’s leg etched on his leg. Responding to what inspired him and how the process has been, he says, “I have always loved robots and tattoos, I wanted to combine the two and get a unique tattoo for a long time. I consulted my friends and considered various options before I actually got the tattoo many years after the thought struck my mind. The fact that it is a change that will be a permanent part of your body really demands this kind of thinking. I love my tattoo, and would have it no other way.”

Dos and don’ts
Karthik Bengre, a tattoo artist, says:

Once you get the tattoo: It is important to allow 10-15 days of healing. For the first two days, ensure that the tattoo is dry and maintained with hygiene. From the third day, you can apply any antibiotic ointment/lotion to speed up the healing process. Do not wash the tattoo with soap, use drinking water instead to clean the area. It is normal for the scalp to peel off, let it happen naturally.

Karthik Bengre

Cause of infections: It is important to ensure the tools used by tattoo artists are properly sterilised. Contaminated equipment are one of the main sources of infections.
If the tattoo is not cleaned properly and left open, it can get infected due to contact with dust and germs.

Before you get the tattoo:  Ensure the tattoo parlour is registered and the tattoo artist is licensed. Do ask about the ink’s expiration date. Expired ink should never be used.