Where to get a portrait tattoo that glows at night

Get a loved one's portrait tattooed on your shoulder, scare people with gory images dripping blood or get one that glows in the dark, at this unique parlour on FC road

Get a loved one's portrait tattooed on your shoulder, scare people withu00a0gory images dripping bloodu00a0or get one that glows in the dark, at this unique parlour onu00a0FC road

Tattooing tribal art on your body is passe; instead the latest trend to grip the city is of getting a portrait of loved ones permanently etched on the body. The latest tattoo parlour on the block is Kraayonz, which is the brainchild of tattoo artist Sameer Patange who is popular in Mumbai and Goa and whose client list includes Hrithik and Suzanne Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Urmila Matondkar, Barbara Mori and Kim Sharma.

The studio in Pune is operated by a tattoo artist called Deep and offers a variety of piercing options. Located on one of the busiest spots of the city, it has been drawing a mixed crowd of youngsters, foreigners as well as elderly people.

USP: They specialise in making tattoo portraits and offer Ultra-Violet (UV) and bio-mechanical tattooing. Deep states that the latest craze is for tattooing portraits of parents, life partners and celebrities. Daring souls can also opt for special UV tattoos that glow under lights and are perfect for catching attention at parties and night clubs. Originally, UV tattoos were associated with radioactive material which were not skin-friendly, but Kraayonz uses products like Skin Candy from the US, which are medically approved. They also do bio-mechanical tattoos where the images resemble parts of machinery. For example, a design can depict the layers of skin peeling off, under which are revealed the wires, like muscles and blood vessels. Deep explains that this form of tattooing looks very realistic and requires a lot of detailing, making it painful.

Tattoo artist Deep busy at work.
pics/ Jignesh Mistry and Debarati Palit

Speaking on the seachange in the art of tattooing over the years, Deep states that today, there are a lot of lawyers and even doctors who opt for it, though people have still not fully taken to the idea.

At: Basement of Super Shoppe, 917/21, opposite Roopali Restaurant, Shivaji Nagar, FC Road.
Call: 9920986212.
Price Range: Rs 1,500 onwards

Do's and don'ts of tattooing
>>Remove the tattoo dressing after 3 hours.
>>While having a bath, wash the tattoo gently with mild soap and warm water. Make sure the soap is completely removed.
>>Pat the tattooed area gently dry with a paper towel.
>>Apply a small amount of prescribed medicine once a day for 1.5 weeks. Remember, too much cream can damage the tattoo.
>>Do not soak the tattoo for a long time in water.
>>Don't pick on the scabs which form over the tattoo as it may lead to discolouration of the tattoo.
>>Avoid exposing the tattoo in the sun for at least one and a half weeks as tanning could tone down the colour.
>>Always use a sun screen lotion.
>>Keep using moisturizer at least twice a day.
>>Avoid swimming and working out for at least 1.5 weeks.