DJs talk ink

5FM DJs Catherine Grenfell and Fresh shared their take on tattoos with City Buzz.

Catherine Grenfell: 

“I was 19 when I had my first tattoo. A guy I knew was getting into tattooing and I thought ‘What the hell — let me get a tattoo’,” said Grenfell.

“He designed it… It was a graphic novel-inspired tattoo with a pattern that went down my ribs. I liked it and went for it.”

Speaking about the inspiration behind her ink, Grenfell said that if she sees a design she likes, she’ll give it to her tattoo artist to customise.

“Sometimes I’ll come up with something that has a specific meaning. Even if it is based on my liking of a design, there has to be a definite meaning or symbolism to it,” she said.

The DJ added that she couldn’t really choose which of her tattoos is her favourite.

“I love all my tattoos about my children, and I love my tattoo of the fish I got [when my Dad] passed away. I also love my most recent [one], which is a mandala-type henna tattoo,” she said.

While none of Grenfell’s tattoos have gone horribly wrong, one did change shape with her pregnancy.

“My first one went down my ribs [and] onto my stomach, so when I was pregnant, it stretched. The skin is now very thin in that area and the tattoo is slightly out of shape,” she said.

“But at the end of the day, it still tells a story about a time in my life, so there is meaning to the change in the look of the tattoo.”

Grenfell also had a few words of advice for people thinking about getting inked for the first time.

“Think carefully about what you want to get tattooed. Make sure it has meaning, [and] make sure the tattoo artist has your best interests at heart, not their own. If they try change your mind about the colours and design, listen to what they say, but always remember that you have to wear that tattoo on your body for the rest of your life,” she said.

Grenfell suggested that people think carefully about the placement of the tattoo, and that they feel comfortable and happy with the artist and parlour.

“A bad experience with someone you don’t like will ruin your tattoo experience [and] influence how you feel about that particular tattoo. Let your tattoos tell a story about your life.”

Catch Catherine Grenfell from Monday to Friday on 5FM’s Fresh Drive, 3pm until 5pm, and on (Live) 5 on Saturdays from 5pm until 7pm.

Twitter: @cathgrenfell

DJ Fresh: 

Tell us about your first tattoo:

It was a panther on my arm — shoulder and bicep —and I was 24 years old when I got it.

I had been postponing it since I was 18. My Dad said that I had to wait until I finished school.

I’ve always been fascinated by body art, and I was always that kid with the press-on tattoos…

I was driving to work one day and went past Ken’s Custom Tattoos on Rocky Street, Yeoville. I drove around the block, parked, went inside and asked if they had a spot. They did, and I got my first tattoo.

How do you choose your tattoo designs?

I have my tattoos custom-made. I rarely look in a book — I get my artist to design them. The majority of my tattoos do have meanings for me.

Have you had any tattoo disasters?

Almost! I took part in a tattoo-athon for charity, and wanted to get my children’s names and their zodiac signs.

We had to submit the designs before the event, and I typed my daughter’s name wrong.

As we were doing the tattoo, I realised a letter was missing. Luckily the artist hadn’t reached that point of the design, so we could squeeze it in.

How many more tattoos will you get?

My goal has always been a full-body suit. One leg is almost full, and I still need to fill my back and torso.

Do you have any tips for people considering getting inked?

People asked me what designs they should get, and I always say, “I don’t know you, so I can’t tell you that”.

Never ask someone else what tattoo to get. It’s your journey, and it’s for life — unless you want to spend even more money on surgery to have it removed.

DJ Fresh hosts 5FM’s Fresh Drive from Monday to Friday, 3pm until 5pm.

Twitter: @DJFreshSA

Do you have a tattoo? What are your thoughts on people who have tattoos?

Share your views on the City Buzz JHB Facebook page by clicking here or tweet us @CityBuzzJHB.

Add City Buzz on BBM for the latest events, lifestyle and entertainment news. PIN: 29CA2D88