Sabrina’s Impression…to Last a Lifetime

Sabrina working on a tattoo in her Chandigarh studio

Tattooing, which dates back to centuries is now a fad among the youngsters and is gaining popularity. We still remember how in the yesteryears we would often see men having etched the name of their lover on their arms, but the concept has come a long way, and is now a fashion statement.

The Sip of Life this week meets a 28 year old girl who completes one year of her expertise in tattooing in August. Sabrina’s Living Ink in Chandigarh is getting popular, as it boasts of being the first ever complete body art studio in the city.

Sabrina’s story is not a usual one, and that’s what makes her to be the Newsmaker of the Week with us. From a henna artist, this enterprising girl ventured into the art of tattooing and today her USP is that she aesthetically combines age-old Indian body art traditions and modern day tattooing together. Her studio, which adheres to stringent hygiene conditions, makes it sure to allow customers get their own designs made so that they have their originality.

While talking to The Sip of Life, Sabrina, flanked by her husband Vineet, smiles at him, and attributes her success to him.

“As a child also I always wanted to do something different and started with mehandi (henna), and even participated in several competitions, but it was more of a pastime”, she says. Sabrina was a Radio Jockey with a reputed FM station in Patiala and that’s where she met Vineet.

After getting married they shifted to Chandigarh and she got a job with a salon where she worked for specialized henna services, but the idea also came from there. “I just saw a tattoo on one of the hairdressers arm and thought why not give it a shot”, she says emphatically.

It was it August last year that she started her own studio and introduced many services like permanent tattoos, body piercing, nail art and bridal henna under one roof. “There was hardly any response when I started but now the craze has caught up especially with people in the age group of 25 to 30”, she says, and now even there are people coming for training with her.

“Most boys get it done on their biceps, forceps and neck, while girls are keep on upper back, lower back, wrist and ankle”, she says. When asked if she had any embarrassing experiences with the boys, she says never, but her being a girl has helped her fetch many female customers who feel more comfortable with her.

“I always insist my customers to give their idea and do not believe in suggesting my designs, because tattooing is an art which has to be different for everyone to look different and something that reflects your personality”, says Sabrina, adding, “ These days spiritual tattoos are more popular”.

When we ask her how tattoos lose their beauty with age, Sabrina says, “I personally feel you should never have 100 percent visibility of a tattoo as with age it does lose its original grace.”

Sabrina has attended two major tattoo conventions in Mumbai and Nepal respectively. In Mumbai it was India’s First Tattoo convention and she got exposure and guidelines from the famous artists from across the world, while she was also there at the International tattoo convention in Nepal.

You can visit Sabrina’s Living Ink @ SCO 186-187, Second Floor, Sector 8-C, Chandigarh and she can be contacted at 09872342227.