Tattooing as an art form, even though has got a history of thousands of years, is still in the process of gaining acceptance around the world. Mainly due to the association of the culture with Violent Criminal Groups of Japan and Biker gangs and prisoners in the US, where the main streams of Tattoo styles emerged, it won’t be wrong to say that their influence has done a lot of damage to the whole art form. With the acceptance in the mainstream pop culture and media portraying tattoo as something cool and hip, in the last few decades the scenario has shifted in favour of tattooing, though. The internet penetration has helped a lot too.. People around the world are accepting, more and more so, the existence of body art as something unique and highly personal. We are seeing a lot of enthusiasm towards the art form in fragmented, yet highly popular means now days, mainly through social media. With mobile Phones and data speeds accessible to everyone, we are witnessing a sub culture, accepting the global trends even in the remotest corners of our small state. And it can be a good thing for everyone. Ernakulam, being the Tattoo Hub of Kerala, with more than 20 established Tattoo studios-who have proved their mettle and got a faithful client following, is fast pushing the art form towards acceptance in the society. Good thing.

What needs to be changed is the public perception of the whole thing. Tattooing, or the word Tattoo is something people still relates to the roadside entrepreneurship that carries out the job with rudimentary gear and public disregard for hygiene, because technically that’s also Tattooing. It is not a simple task and better said than done. Change is happening, and fast, but it can happen with only one thing in the forefront- Knowledge and awareness. No studio will ever do a tattoo like that unsafe, who has got a little bit of knowledge about what goes on in the process.

You are basically puncturing your skin with high RPM sharp needles and injecting an alien product into your body. Everything that’s related to the process needs to be sterile, has to follow a standard, and the person undertaking has to have a decent knowledge about basic pathology, hygiene and in depth knowledge about the products he/she is using and the various procedures involved in the process of Tattooing. This is not something that can be bypassed. Every artist who is a professional goes through years of rigorous training, learning, practising on every small details that’s related to the craft and hone their skills that becomes presentable. There’s no short cuts to it, and please don’t believe someone who says he has watched enough YouTube videos to know what he’s doing. Because that’s straight away bullshit. Then comes the friends. Who tells you all sorts of nasty things about Tattooing, that you’d be scared for life to even enter that door of a parlour. Every artist has to deal with a lot of these worried first timers, and I think it would be a good idea to repeat some basic information here.

1.Tattoos doesn’t cause cancer. All the stuff we use comes from reliable international sources, which we pay a lot of attention to. We are particular about the results, and it’s our reputation in the line and we won’t just take any risks with the quality of what we do. 2.Yes it pains. You’re practically pricking your skin with needles. What did you expect? No one ever died of Tattoo pains, though. The pain differs from individual to individual-their pain tolerance levels and the areas in body where the procedure is done. 3.Permanent tattoo is not something that you just do on an impulse. It costs a lot more to get one removed and not every other studio does it. You also have to go through a lot more pain. So, think before you ink. 4.Some tattoos sounds like a bad decision from the first word, and sometimes an artist can exercise his/her right to refuse you their service if they thinks it’s a bad idea. 5.There are multiple medical conditions that can cause complications in the process of tattooing and the healing process afterwards. Your artist, and you should be fully aware about the complications and repercussions of them, and make an informed decision.. .

With more and more professionals and educated individuals in the mainstream society coming forward to get their passion of ink shown, the acceptance of the art form is on a steady rise. More and more new, talented individuals are also coming up to learn the art form. The lack of a regulatory authority in India is hurting the quality of the service in the industry and safety, and it can be battled with public awareness and information alone. I, as an artist is pleasantly surprised and positively proud of the scenario now, and is looking forward to do more, my humble bit to do something for the cause. It’s the same things I say to every first time customer, but to have it in an article is better, I think…