your guide for an awesome tattoo

tattoo artist Anoop jay

ANOOP J

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Getting tattooed is awesome. Planning one should be fun too.. Let me share few points that might get overlooked. Points that you shouldn't miss when exploring your next tattoo ideas.

So, you just found a beautiful tattoo concept that you really like and is wondering how it will look on you, how much it might cost and how long will it take to complete etc. Next, You’re probably about to message a few tattoo studios to check their availability and get a quote from them to finalize… DON’T DM anyone just yet. Please Continue reading…

As an artist, I’ve felt almost everyone has a fascination for tattoos, whether they already have tattoos or not. Even if you don’t prefer getting a tattoo for yourself, you’d mostly be able to appreciate a beautiful tattoo. You might have a rough idea what you want, or most times you just know you need a tattoo and might not be sure about the rest. This one is for you.

 

Now, there are a few factors that decide the results of your tattoo session:

Your Tattoo Design – Your Tattoo journey begins with an awesome design. There are aspects of your tattoo design such as the theme, art style, composition, usage of colors in the composition, etc, that make your tattoo Uniquely yours.

The Placement – Where your tattoo is placed decides how much attention it gets, what impression your ink makes. Your tattoos tell a lot of stories without speaking a word when you walk in somewhere.

Some points to consider the placement is the Hair growth in that area, visibility, musculature, pain sensitivity etc.

The Size of your tattoo – The size of your tattoo decides how readable your tattoo gonna be. Remember you can’t zoom on your tattoo IRL. Sorry guys.. Bigger is simply better here, unless it’s a minimal tattoo. The idea is that your tattoo should be readable from a Conversational distance (1-2 meters, the normal distance of separation while you have an average conversation with someone)

For example, if it’s a tiny minimal tattoo of a star, it should be clearly ` that it’s a tiny minimal tattoo of a star, from that distance.

Your skin tone in the region – Your skin doesn’t have back light unlike the displays you’re viewing all those reels and pics of these amazing tattoos on. The contrast available for your tattoo is between the ranges of values starting from your skin tone (Lightest value) to the blackest black that the tattoo pigments can achieve on your skin (Darkest value).

Any experienced, good Tattoo Practitioner considers these factors and a bunch of other key details before giving you recommendations on designs or giving you a quote. Keep in mind stuff like your skin tone, aesthetics of placement, pre-existing tattoos nearby, skin condition, skin damage (for cover-ups) etc. are not at all clearly understandable from photographs.

Also, most of the time people change ideas, improvise and do a lot of editing/fine-tuning based on trial and error before finalizing a tattoo concept. And that’s exactly why most artists who does concept development prefers meeting clients in person for discussion (Your’s truly me too, comes in this category)

Cost of a Tattoo – This varies by artist and studio, but is mostly chargeable based on the size of your tattoo, how much effort and time your tattoo artist is investing for your piece.

Artist – End of the day your artists skills determine the gap between what you’re promised and what you carry on your skin for the rest of your life. If you want a tattoo that stands out and make an impression, this is where you personally have to spend some effort on. Do your own research and pick an artist you have seen healed works of, and trust.

When you have researched an artist’s previous works, liked them and want to get tattooed from them, schedule a discussion session in person first. Be upfront about your expectations and show them stuff you liked. Let them come up with recommendations based on their understanding, before making the final decision.
If you’ve read so far, I will give you the most important tip. 

*Discuss your budget with your artist especially if you’re on a tight budget and ask them what they can do for your project. With any artist who loves their work, most chances are this will get you much better deals than looking for bargains.

Skin Tones & Tattoo Designing

Ink that Slays, No Games

Skin Tones & Tattoo Designing: Ink That Slays, No Games
Hey, ink junkies—Welcome to Restless Monkey Clan Tattoo Studio in Ernakulam, where we don’t mess around. South Indian skin—dusky, dark, or that Kerala glow—ain’t your average canvas, and we’re not here to peddle fairy tales. This is Tattoo Designing: raw, real, and ready to make your skin pop. We’re talking color theory with swagger, a process that’s stupid-simple, and ink that’s all you. If you’re down for the grind, stick around—let’s cut the crap and get to it.
Your Skin Runs the Show
Melanin’s the boss, not some neon fantasy. Darker tones laugh at weak colors, and we’ve got the smarts to back it up. At Restless Monkey Clan, we don’t slap generic stencils and call it a day—we test, tweak, and tailor every tattoo design to your vibe. No rookie mistakes here—this is South Indian ink with soul, built for the real ones.

Colors vs Dark Skin Truth Bombs

Your skin’s a filter—deal with it. Here’s the no-BS scoop from the color theory trenches:
• Neon Green or Pink? Dead on arrival—turns to sludge faster than you can blink. Leave it for the glow sticks.
• Red & Orange? Fire starters—ignite dusky skin like a street fest at dusk.
• Black & White? The heavy hitters—lines that cut deep, pops that don’t quit.
• Blues? Go hard or go home—navy’s your only shot, or it’s gray-town.
We don’t guess—we test it live. Your ink’s gotta slay, not fade.

abrath car logo tattoo

Our Game Plan: Simple, Custom, Done

Tattooing’s not a circus—we keep it tight
• Chat: Spill your guts—minimalist lotus or a tribal beast, what’s your deal?
• Sketch: We draw it, tweak it for your skin—red that burns, white that glows.
• Ink: Boom, it’s on—clean, sharp, you.
• Heal: Humidity hacks included—your ink’s tougher than Kerala heat.
One dude walked in wanting waves—deep navy and white caps on dark skin. No pastel flops, just pure item-level swagger. That’s us.
Skin-Tone Smarts We Swear By
• Dusky Squad: Red’s your blaze, orange your spark—sunset energy, locked.
• Deep Brown Crew: White slices through like a blade—minimal or wild, it’s gold.
• Custom Edge: Scar in the mix? We ink it into the story. Your custom tattoo, your rules.
We’re not here to churn out cookie-cutter junk—this is ink with guts.

For the Die-Hards


This ain’t a cash-grab hustle. A killer piece takes hours—sketching, shading, Vibing with your skin. If you’re the type who respects the craft (and maybe nerds out over the hustle), you’re our tribe. Restless Monkey Clan’s the tattoo studio Ernakulam crew that keeps it real—effort’s the fuel, ink’s the fire.
Ink Tips That Don’t Suck
• Test It: Hit us with “Will this pop?”—we’ll prove it on the spot.
• Bold or Bust: Skip the wimpy shades—go big or go home.
• Care Game: SPF later, air now—your ink’s built to last.
Ready to rock ink that’s you—no fluff, all fight? Swing by Restless Monkey Clan in Ernakulam or DM @restless_monkeyclan Your skin’s got attitude—let’s make it slay for the world to see.

Tattoo aftercare

The most important portion of your tattoo is already over, but the healing part is equally important. Your tattoo is like a superficial injury, and you must treat it with the same care

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