The question of whether it hurts to get a tattoo plagues not only those who are just about to decorate their body with a tattoo, but also those who have already gone through one procedure and are determined to get another part of the body.
Yes, if this is not your first time on our website, then you know that the section describes in detail where it is most painful to get a tattoo. However, the body part is not the only criterion for how strong the sensations you will receive during the procedure. When answering the question of whether it hurts to get a tattoo, you need to pay attention to the following factors.
I Experience and qualifications of the master
This is perhaps the main and most obvious factor that can affect the pain of the process. The artist must not only be able to transfer the sketch well to the body, but also be able to use pain-relieving ointments and pause if necessary. Suitable for different types of patterns, and all this affects the sensations.
II Place for tattoo
As we have said before, a lot depends on the part of the body on which the tattoo is tattooed. If the sensations on the chest or arms are quite moderate, then during the procedure on the eyelids, feet, armpits, or even it may seem that you are in hell. The degree of sensation in a particular area of the body depends on two main aspects:
- the number of nerve endings located in a given area;
- the amount of meat or fat between the skin and the bone (the closer the skin is to the bone, the more painful it is to get a tattoo)
Of course, any pain can be endured, and a little later we will give some tips on how best to do this. But, if you are too sensitive, think twice before scoring ultra-sensitive areas of the skin.
III Pain threshold
It is no secret that all people have their own degree of sensitivity to pain. It is believed that men endure any discomfort more steadfastly, which is logical. Therefore, representatives of the fair sex are mainly interested in the question of whether it hurts to get a tattoo. In any case, pain tolerance develops over time and can be trained, so if the first tattoo was difficult for you, then the third one will not bring much discomfort.
Pain map tattoo
IV Duration of the procedure
The more complex the tattoo, the more time it will take to implement it. To draw all the small details or paint over a solid surface, the master will have to work on the same area for some time. This involuntarily leads to the fact that this zone irritated by the needle, which certainly increases pain. That is why large works are distributed over several visits to the tattoo artist. You can always take a break and finish the work while the skin heals.
These are the main factors that influence how painful it is to get a tattoo. If you're still afraid and unsure whether to subject your body to such stress, here are some tips on how to ease the sensation.
Internal mood
Don't burden yourself with pain. A tattoo is far from the most severe thing that we have to endure every day. Muscle pain after sports training, sensations during hair removal, childbirth, in the end - in comparison, the sensations during tattooing are more like tickling.
Music, cinema, TV series, books
Usually one session takes several hours, and when we are not busy with anything, we involuntarily begin to concentrate on our sensations. Therefore, the most logical thing in this situation is to simply distract yourself. Believe me, the master will only be happy if you occupy yourself with books or music. I don't think there are artists who like to chat while working. Therefore, do not hesitate to use any methods that will entertain you, but will not distract the tattoo artist.
Pain relief methods
Some salons offer clients general anesthesia during the session. This procedure is associated with some risk, so it is best to avoid it if possible, and there is no great need for it. Today, every professional tattoo artist uses special tattoo ointments, gels and sprays based on benzocaline and lidocaine during work, which not only reduce pain, but also reduce skin irritation.
Stay on your toes
Before visiting a tattoo parlor, you need to sleep, have lunch, and take a shower. You should not come to the master tired, sweaty and hungry. Under no circumstances should you drink alcohol or drugs before a session (and never, ever). All this is not only unpleasant for the artist, but also directly affects the sensations during the procedure and, most importantly, the healing process after it.
Do you know other ways to deal with pain? Share in the comments. Finally, I will say that the best way to combat discomfort is endorphin - the hormone of happiness secreted by our body. The joy that a well-made tattoo brings us is enough to endure any torment!
Question: " Does it hurt to get a tattoo?“- ask themselves not only those who decided to get a tattoo for the first time, but also those who are going to put the second and subsequent designs on their body.
It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally. Someone will say that getting tattoos is so painful that some people faint, and someone will answer him that getting a tattoo does not hurt at all. It depends on the degree pain threshold person, as well as the part of the body on which the tattoo is to be done. The professionalism of the artist whom a person turns to to get a tattoo also plays an important role. The level of pain is also affected by the method of pain relief, the duration of the procedure and the internal mood.
In order to more accurately answer the question: “Does it hurt to get a tattoo?” - we suggest you go through the list of parts of the body on which tattoos are most often done, and find out where the procedure will seem painful and where it will be the opposite. Moreover, you should know that after application, it is necessary to care for the tattoo correctly.
On the hand on the wrist
Getting a tattoo on your wrist can be quite painful., since in this place the skin is especially thin and lies close to the bones. The closer the skin is to the bones, the more pain is felt by the nerve endings. Again, the pain of getting a wrist tattoo depends on your pain threshold. But if you believe most reviews, the wrist is a rather painful area for tattoos.
Does it hurt to do it on the neck?
Most people who get a neck tattoo report that it is one of the most painful places on their entire body. The skin on the neck is very thin and delicate, and if you are very afraid of pain, but want to get a tattoo on your neck, then it is better to ask the artist to provide you with anesthesia.
On the back
As for back tattoos, this is just the opposite. one of the most painless places. It is especially painless to get a tattoo between the shoulder blades, as the artists themselves say. But tattoos on your shoulder blades or lower back won’t make you scream in pain either. Is it true, These tattoos are quite difficult to take care of., But that is another story.
On the finger
Finger tattoos are becoming increasingly popular, despite the fact that getting such tattoos is quite unpleasant. Same principle here: The skin is too close to the bones, so getting a finger tattoo is painful. In addition, try to carefully select the pattern for the tattoo, since if you choose poorly for such a tattoo, you can pay with your health due to representatives of gangster subcultures.
On the shoulder or forearm
It is easiest to get a tattoo on the shoulder or forearm, as it almost painless. The shoulder and forearm are the areas in which getting a tattoo of any complexity will not hurt, since the skin in these places is far from the bones.
On the foot
If you are going to get a tattoo on your leg, then you should remember the rule that the closer the skin is to the bones, the more painful it will be. So, get a tattoo on It won’t hurt at all on your thighs or calves, while on the shin and in the area of the bone the pain will be noticeably severe.
On the ribs
Ribs are the most sensitive part of the body, getting tattoos on which is unbearably painful. If you decide to do this, then you should be patient and take painkillers, otherwise you will not survive this session.
Temporary tattoo
If you really want a tattoo, but are afraid of pain, then a great solution is temporary tattoo. But there are a lot of disadvantages here:
- Firstly, although a temporary tattoo is done faster and more painlessly, its size cannot exceed 5 cm in radius.
- The duration of a temporary tattoo is 3-6 months, but after this time it does not disappear without a trace, but blurs into an ugly spot, which will then need to be removed with a laser or filled in with a real tattoo.
An excellent option for a temporary tattoo that doesn’t hurt at all is a henna tattoo. It looks like a greenish powder that must be diluted to apply the desired pattern to the body.
A henna tattoo lasts for about a month and disappears without a trace, what is its advantage over a temporary tattoo.
If you are planning to get a tattoo but are worried that it will hurt, then you should choose a suitable place for the drawing, where the skin will not be located close to the bones. In this case, getting a tattoo will not hurt at all.
One of the most frequently asked questions regarding tattoos is “Does a tattoo hurt?” or “How much does it hurt?”
Any tattooed person will confirm that he has indeed been asked this question hundreds of times. But we hope that if you are interested in this headline, then it is really important for you to get an objective and honest answer to it.
So, “I want to get a tattoo, but I’m afraid of the pain.”
There are a lot of legends and stories around this formulation, some claim that it is a hellish pain, others say that they almost fell asleep while getting a tattoo. Some people faint because their blood sugar levels drop or they allow fear to overwhelm them. But don't think that you are one of them.In general, this is a unique personal experience that is influenced by many factors.
If you are basically afraid of blood and injections, then of course it will not be easy for you. But if you choose a place on the body where you cannot physically see the process itself, you will be able to slightly reduce this fear. The needle moves up and down, pushing the ink just below the surface of the skin. The damage done to your skin is minor and many people do not bleed at all. The tattoo artist will also constantly wipe the skin so that even if there is blood, you won't see it. Excessive bleeding is only possible if you have consumed alcohol or blood thinners such as aspirin before the procedure.
“So does getting a tattoo really hurt?”
The short answer is “YES, but to different degrees for everyone.”It should be noted that the tattoo needle does not go deep under the skin and makes about 10-15 injections per second. Speed plays a big role here because if it moved slower it would pierce the skin. Our skin consists of three layers: epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Since the epidermis is constantly being renewed, the tattoo needle must penetrate the dermis layer to make the tattoo permanent.
Other factors that influence the degree of pain are location on the body, pain threshold, skill of the tattoo artist and length of the process.
“Where is the most painful place to get a tattoo?”
The least painful places to get a tattoo are the inside of the wrist and the top of the shoulder.The ankles, thighs and inner calves are also insensitive, as they have a good muscle layer.
The pain is worse in soft parts of the body such as the neck and inner forearm.
Tattooing directly on a bone (elbow, knee) is excruciating as you feel the vibration of the entire bone and sometimes the adjacent bones.
Tattoos in the abdomen, on the top of the foot, armpits, and under the ribs are the most unpleasant. Many girls get their first tattoo on the top of their foot... oh, if only they knew in advance.
Look at the diagram:
You can make your tattoo session more enjoyable by following these tips:
- Eat an hour before the session;
- Drink water before and during the session to avoid dehydration;
- Think in advance about what to wear - the clothes should be comfortable and give access to the part of the body on which the tattoo will be located;
- Get enough sleep the night before, no parties until the morning;
- Just in case, stock up on painkillers, such as Ketanov or Nurofen (just read the instructions) and make sure they don’t contain aspirin;
- Or buy a local anesthetic ointment;
- Take lollipops with you to maintain your energy level and be distracted if something happens;
- Take a shower before going to the master, but do not overdo it with perfume;
- Do not drink alcohol the day before the session - alcohol thins the blood, prevents blood clotting and seals the wound from infection;
- Do not drink more than one cup of coffee on the day of the session;
- Do not get a tattoo unless you are absolutely sure about the design;
- Don't agree to get a tattoo if you see dirty equipment with used needles;
- Don't get a tattoo if you have a cold;
- for girls: do not get a tattoo during menstruation;
- do not bring a whole support group with you, one person is enough - space is limited, and the presence of strangers can distract both the master and prevent you from coping with the situation;
- Do not be afraid of pain and discomfort, they will end very quickly;
- If the pain becomes unbearable, stop the session - you can finish another time;
- Trust your tattoo artist.
Good luck, and if you have questions, ask, we will definitely answer them.
Does it hurt to get a tattoo?
By imagining the sensations, you will more easily endure the process. The emotional state of the wearer affects not only healing, but also the quality of the drawing.
The pain caused by tattooing is comparable to a burning sensation when coming into contact with hot steam or boiling water.
Many people ask whether it hurts to get a tattoo in certain areas. Where and how painful it is to get a tattoo is reflected in the diagram that can be found in any salon.
The highest degree of pain is marked with red zones. The green marker marks the places where it is easiest to apply the design. Yellow reflects border zones.
Small drawings cause a slight burning sensation. When the master moves the needle, you feel a slight tingling sensation. If multi-layer paint is being driven in, the pain is expressed by an intense burning sensation.
A sensation of acute pain occurs when the pattern covers the cartilage and joints. The same applies to the nipple halo area and facial skin.
Pain map most painful places
The tattoo pain map shows the places where the nerve endings are concentrated. The degree of sensitivity depends on the amount of fat and muscle density.
Hold me seven
The most painful places in both sexes:
- face;
- throat area along the larynx line;
- nipple halo;
- groin area;
- fold places;
- exits of bones and joints close to the surface of the skin.
The skin itself is resistant to the influx of unpleasant sensations. Discomfort depends on the point at which the skin meets the mesra (the connective tissue that attaches the skin to the muscle).
Tattoo artist and safety precautions
How does the process differ between men and women?
In girls under 25 years of age, the skin has a thin structure. She is extremely sensitive to pain. Pain threshold increases with age .
Zones of immunity increase . Places where fatty tissue is deposited cover the entire back, large areas of the thighs, and lower legs. Women experience virtually no pain when getting a tattoo on their chest.
Particularly painful areas of receptivity are the nipple halo, groin area, armpits, wrists, knees and elbows, and the line along the radius bone. Women's tattoos on the shoulder blade do not cause discomfort.
The male population has more areas of pain. Nature concentrated the fat layer in the area of the shoulder blades, the back of the arm, and the front of the thigh.
Surgeries on the forearm are painless. Relatively easy to tolerate when applied to the shin, men's tattoos in this area are popular precisely for this reason.
Work on the collarbone is extremely painful for women, unlike men's; it is easier to apply.
I'm not afraid of injections...
Do's and don'ts before a tattoo session
For the work, the masters use anesthetic ointments. That is why you should not drink alcohol or smoke before the session. This disrupts the normal response of nerve endings to pain medication.
ATTENTION! The tattoo does not hit the skin with severe inflammation, purulent and flaky areas. Work is not performed in areas with a large number of moles. If there are papillomas, the master should not perform the work.
You need to come to the session cheerful and well-rested. Women should avoid getting tattoos during menstruation.
During this period, sensitivity increases. You cannot go for a tattoo if you are sick or have taken antibiotics.
Preparing for a session involves choosing loose clothing. In the area where the pattern is applied, it should not touch the skin at all.
How to numb the process?
The most painful places for tattooing are the arms, forearms and shins. In other areas, a numbing agent is applied.
It is applied 15-25 minutes before the start of the process. Due to this, during the session a person does not experience anything other than a slight burning sensation.
Do not cause allergies:
- Nano Meter 2 Minutes
- Goochie
- TRIPLE-X
- Mei-Cha X-IT
- GEL Mei-Cha
- BioQuick.
These drugs have a hemostatic increased analgesic effect. These are mainly ointment gels.
They are rubbed into the skin, after which they soothe sensitive nerve fibers.
Where does it hurt to get a tattoo?
Each person has an individual sensitivity to where it hurts to get a tattoo. For women, the most painless place is on the chest. It is relatively sensitive for both sexes to perform work on the neck.
Honey, tell me a story...
It is painful to open the skin around the foot. The operation on the knees, tailbone, and palm is extremely sensitive.
The most sensitive places are the groin area, in men the ribs and chest.
Areas of increased sensitivity include the wrist; the inner surface is penetrated by many endings. So does the inner thigh.
The same sensitivity in the armpit area, in the area on the fingers, the inner surface of the shoulder near the elbow.
A separate topic for head tattoo artists. Not only nerve endings are located here, but also the centers of various organs.
I'm exhausted...
Where is the least painful place to get a tattoo?
In both sexes it is not painful to open the skin:
- on the forearm;
- on the calf;
- on the shoulder;
- on the side of the thigh;
- beat on the hand;
- outer thigh (men);
- back (in women.
Nerve endings come close only on the folds and in places where there is less accumulation of fat.
Side tattoo
The painless areas include the large muscle of the pectoral plate. This is a place where it doesn’t hurt to get a tattoo of any size.
Many of the women who hit the paintings along the back of the spine also did not experience discomfort. In both sexes, operations affecting the outer thigh are painless.
The process of applying a tattoo to those who made the lower back went through patiently; on the back, making a design in this area is less pleasant.
To choose the right place for a tattoo, contact a tattoo artist. He will indicate from the pain map where it is best to do the work.
They found each other...
If you don’t have any special preferences, the advice of an experienced tattoo artist will save you from unnecessary negative emotions. As a result, your choice will be dictated by common sense and imbued with a sense of beauty.
Customs of self-identification have long been rooted in world cultures. By applying symbols to the body, people not only expressed individuality, but also determined their belonging to a particular tribe, belief system or caste. Little has changed in the modern interpretation. Except that the procedure itself has become more accessible and has become widespread. People who have decided to take this step for the first time most often have one question: how painful is this process, and how to reduce the pain?
Do you always feel pain?
The formation of pain sensitivity limits is influenced by many internal and external factors. This includes personal pain threshold, health status at the time of tattooing, place of application, as well as the scope of work and the duration of a single session. If you come to the tattoo parlor sleep-deprived, hungry or tired, you risk experiencing much more pain than under normal circumstances.
Therefore, before you dare to modify your body, study the approximate pain map, analyze your condition and soberly assess your own capabilities. The truth is one: regardless of gender, age and degree of “crowding”, getting tattoos always hurts everyone. The only question is the degree of intensity and how to reduce the pain.
This is a kind of “guide” to the pain points of the human body. It is based on the anatomical features of the female and male organisms. Three factors play a special role in the pain map:
- proximity of bone tissue;
- skin thickness;
- number of nerve endings and blood vessels.
These indicators are more or less stable and the same for everyone. The subjective factor is the content of subcutaneous fat, as well as muscle volume and elasticity. In women, the height of the pain threshold at individual points depends on the menstrual cycle: the closer it is to its completion, the more painful the procedure will be perceived. Therefore, it is better to plan a visit to the specialist so that it falls within the first two weeks.
The following areas are considered the most painful:
- knee and elbow joints;
- ribs;
- breasts and area under the breasts;
- anterior surface of the neck;
- head (forehead, temples, crown);
- wrists and ankles;
- brushes;
- coccyx;
- along the spine;
- inner thighs;
- intimate areas.
If you don’t have experience yet and you are just going to get a drawing on your body, when choosing a “canvas”, be guided by the given classification. To better understand your own pain potential, start with less sensitive areas. By overestimating the body's capabilities, you will only create problems for both yourself and the master.
Does it hurt to get a tattoo: reviews
Due to life experience, everyone develops their own association regarding the effect of a needle on the skin. For some, the procedure is similar to acupuncture, for others it resembles electroacupuncture. Some people compare a tattoo in terms of the nature of pain to epilation, while others compare it to scratching with a dull blade.
However, most agree that the duration of the session affects the sensations. At first, out of habit, the pain is felt acutely. Then you get used to it. But if you have to sit for a long time, it begins to seem that a little more - and you will drop dead. This is often the result of psychosomatic reactions. It is known that color tattoos are more painful to get than black and white ones. Clients often complain that finishing touches are painful. For example, from creating highlights with white paint.
Preparation before tattoo
To ensure that getting a tattoo brings minimal discomfort, follow these simple recommendations. Their implementation partly determines whether it will hurt to get a tattoo.
- Get a good night's sleep. Poor or insufficient sleep is the culprit of low blood pressure and fainting.
- Drink more water. The day before the scheduled procedure, normalize your water balance based on your body parameters. Paint adheres better to moisturized skin.
- Avoid blood thinning products. Such products threaten unnecessary blood loss during the session. Therefore, drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited. It is also advised to abstain from aspirin.
- Prepare your skin. If you have dry skin, it is recommended to start using moisturizers a week in advance. It is unacceptable to come to a session if you have sunburn.
- Eat heartily. To minimize the risk of passing out, it is necessary to provide a nutritious lunch. When experiencing a feeling of hunger, a person is susceptible to a drop in blood pressure and dizziness. If your session is going to be long, bring a snack with you.
Hand tattoos
For representatives of both sexes, the most popular “canvas” remains the hands. Is it painful to get a tattoo in this place? There is no clear answer. The anatomy of the hands is complex, and each section has its own sensitivity.
- Wrists. Most often, girls become the owners of drawings on this part of the body. Small images of initial complexity are used as sketches. As a rule, these are symbols and pictograms. Despite the fact that the skin here is thin, the coverage area is small, so you simply won’t have time to howl in pain. Does it hurt to get a tattoo on your wrist? Tolerable.
- Brushes. In addition to the fact that the skin is thin, it is located close to the bones. It also contains many nerve endings. Girls prefer to print small patterns on the phalanges, but boys prefer massive designs on the entire back of the hand. Does it hurt to get a tattoo on your hand? With large drawings it hurts.
- Forearms. The muscles in this part of the body are more developed, and the skin is thicker. You can't reach the bones from the inside. But on the side edges the sensation is slightly unpleasant. The pain of the procedure often depends on the scale of the work: if you are stuffing a half-sleeve, then be prepared for the pain to make itself felt at one point. Is it painful to get a tattoo on the forearm? Tolerable.
Leg tattoos
The second most popular place for decoration was the feet. This option is convenient for those who, on occasion, want to hide their tattoos from prying eyes. On the question of whether it hurts to get a tattoo on the leg, as in the case of the arms, there is no consensus.
- Hips. Anatomically, it turns out that girls are often more tolerant of pain when working with a needle in this part of the body. The reason for this is estrogen and a higher content of subcutaneous fat. But for both women and men, tattoos on the inner thigh remain invariably painful. Does it hurt to get a tattoo on your thighs? Tolerable/painful (inner surface)
- Shins. Depending on which surface the pattern is printed on - back or side, the pain syndrome varies greatly. Since the back part is protected by the calf muscles, the procedure feels more than tolerable. The situation is different with the front part, because the skin is much thinner and closer to the bones. Does it hurt to get a tattoo on your shin? Tolerable.
- Knees. Tattoos are relatively rare in this place. The reason is simple: the concentration of nerve nodes coupled with ultra-thin skin. Does it hurt to get a tattoo on your knees? And how!
Upper body tattoos
Getting a design on the upper body is a bold decision. Characteristic of extroverted natures who will not miss the opportunity to show off a unique sketch.
- Clavicles. Girls love tattoos in this place; they look neat and feminine. These are often simple but elegant images. Despite the small coverage area, the process of applying paint here can seem very painful, because the bones appear from under the skin. The only good thing is that this does not last long. Is it painful to get a tattoo on the collarbone? Hurt.
- Neck. As in the case of brushes, the approach to applying a tattoo on the neck differs between boys and girls: for the former it is often a continuation of a tattoo on the chest with a large density of filling, while the latter are content with small, neat designs. On the anterior and posterior surfaces, sensitivity also differs in favor of the latter. Does it hurt to get a tattoo on your neck? Tolerable/painful.
- Head. An option for the most courageous. To get a tattoo in such a place, you need to be prepared both mentally and physically. The skin here is thin everywhere, and the concentration of nerve endings is off the charts. Does it hurt to get a tattoo on your head? It hurts terribly.
How to reduce pain
First of all, you need to prepare your body. Then you should put your thoughts in order, because during panic all feelings, including pain, become aggravated. You can invite a friend with you to make the situation seem less stressful. A good master is usually friendly himself, which helps to relax. If you feel the pain becoming unbearable, take a break. As a rule, large-scale drawings are divided into several stages at weekly intervals. If you are completely intolerant of pain, use local anesthetics. Good tattoo studios have medications in their arsenal.
Ointments and sprays work equally well:
- Dr. Numb;
- tattoo soothe;
- Face and Body Professionals.
During the procedure, try not to concentrate on the rhythmic hum of the machine or watch the drops of blood appear. Chat, listen to music, scroll through the feed. The main thing is not to focus on your own body.