'Tramp stamps' now mainstream

Reuters

INKED UP: Celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D arrives at the 2008 American Music Awards in Los Angeles.

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They were once referred to as "tramp stamps" but tattoos on women are more popular than ever, thanks to the cult of celebrity.

Tattoo parlours are reporting more young women are asking for designs inspired by their favourite stars.

A new tattoo parlour will open in Bondi Beach, Sydney, next month to cater for the growing market, offering complimentary champagne after a session and macchiato to help take the sting out of the procedure.

One of the industry's most famous businesses, the Illustrated Man Tattoo Studio of Fine Art, on Elizabeth Street in Sydney, confirmed that more young women were asking for "bigger and bolder" designs.

"The 18-to-25 generation is seriously getting tattooed because of the people that they are influenced by, because of the movies or video clips," Brett Cohen, a tattooist for two decades, said.

"They look up to those people.

"The younger generation are getting into that old-school tattooing, that bold colour and strong lines, rather than the fairies.

"I have not done a dolphin for a long time."

Matthew Passaro, 26, the marketeer behind the soon-to-open Bondi Ink, said inspiration came after listening to complaints from friends that they did not know where to get tattooed.

"There are lots of different people getting tattoos now - it is not just bikies - and there is really no one catering to them," Mr Passaro said.

"I think we are going to get a lot of the eastern suburbs crowd."

Customers will be able to get tattooed sitting in the parlour's window fronting Campbell Parade.

Mr Passaro said he was not worried about being targeted by bikie gangs that reportedly monopolise the industry, despite reports of competitors being firebombed.

"It is not a problem at all because we are going to be quite heavily in the media and we are right in the middle of Bondi Beach," he said.

"They would have to take a couple of civilians with them and that would be pretty bad press. And I've got fire insurance."

Dermatologist Michelle Hunt warned those contemplating a tattoo that a decision to remove them down the track would be painful and expensive.

Her clinic, Inner Sydney Dermatology, in Rhodes, Sydney, has had a 30 per cent increase in those asking for tattoo removal in the past 10 years.

Many clients were women who got tattoos 10 to 20 years ago but rethought their decision upon entering the workforce or getting married, she said.

"It is probably about eight to 10 years later where they will often have that removed," Dr Hunt said.

A minimum of six treatments spaced two months apart are required, starting at about A$300 each.

"It is not cheap by the time you add six treatments," Dr Hunt said. "A lot of patients tell me it is as painful as getting the tattoo."

- © Fairfax NZ News