Getting a tattoo is often compared to a cat repeatedly scratching you. Though it's not the most intense pain ever, it might make you wanna hiss – especially if your artist uses multiple needles, like when shading. This also tends to happen away from bony or ultra-sensitive areas. Sharp or stinging pain.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to how much pain you'll feel when getting tattooed. But if you're wondering what type of pain to expect, Caranfa says the experience is comparable to the feeling of a cat scratch or a sunburn.
“The most common answer is that it feels like a cat scratch on a really bad sunburn,” Olivia says. And for Trinity: “Getting a tattoo feels like when you pet a cat's belly, and the cat grabs your hands and kicks, scratching you with its claws,” she says. “It's not aggressive. But it does hurt, at least a little.”
You can expect it to be uncomfortable, of course, but just how uncomfortable depends on the hand and skill of your artist, the location of the tattoo, and your pain tolerance. You can expect to feel more than a pinprick when you get a tattoo, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to handle it.
Contrary to what you might expect, many people report that the shading hurts significantly less than the outlining of the tattoo. If you've already made it through your line work, pat yourself on the back. You've likely conquered the most painful part already.
A Tattoo needle penetrates 5 layers of the epidermis
That may sound like a lot of skin, but in reality it is only 1/16th of an inch, about 1-2mm. That's pretty tiny. It goes through five layers of the epidermis, through the dermal layer, and into the topmost layer of the dermis.
Don't panic. While this might be your first tattoo and you're understandably nervous, it's important to remember your tattoo artist has done this countless times. "Trust in your tattooer because they're doing this every day," Lori says.
Tattoo artists may use numbing cream to reduce the discomfort that their clients may experience during the tattooing process. The use of numbing cream may also help the artist work on a larger area of the skin in one session, as the client may be more comfortable with less pain.
Drink a lot of water during the week; avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before getting tattooed. Please do not shave the area; we will do it for you at your appointment. Avoid aspirin or blood thinning medication at least 24 hours before your tattoo; ibuprofen, acetaminophen, & other NSAID pain relievers are OK.
With that said, don't take painkillers before getting a tattoo either. Painkillers like Advil and Ibuprofen also thin the blood, which will lead to similar issues that alcohol has. Acetaminophen may potentially be fine to take, but should be discussed with the artist beforehand.
Anywhere on your body that has a little more muscle would be the best spot for the first tattoo. Generally speaking, an area will feel less uncomfortable the more body fat there is in that location. Therefore, some good spots to target are your calf, bum, bicep, and thigh.
The most painful spots to get tattooed are those with the least fat, most nerve endings, and thinnest skin. Bony areas such as ribs or hips or chest usually hurt a lot. Tattoos on ribs are very popular especially among women, for example quotes, song lyrics or jewellery along the lower ribs.
“You can take things like over-the-counter painkillers, but the sharp pain you have at the surface of the skin will still likely be felt during the procedure.” You can take acetaminophen (like Tylenol) or ibuprofen (like Advil) can help with any soreness that occurs in the hours after you get your tattoo, but there's ...
This may be because the process of applying color to the skin involves multiple passes with the tattoo needle, which can be more painful than applying black ink. Additionally, the vibrance and intensity of color tattoos may make them more noticeable and more painful for some people.
* THE USE OF PAINKILLERS DURING A TATTOO:
But ibuprofen and paracetamol can help, don't use aspirin as the blood doesn't clot so you get a lot more bleeding during the tattoo.
The answer is yes! A painless tattoo is no longer a figment of the imagination, thanks to HUSH. HUSH offers a range of products to help you experience a painless tattoo. Our topical anesthetics line makes your skin numb, helping you achieve a painless tattoo.
The preparation before the tattoo is the most important part you can do. The night before, make sure you take time to meditate and think about your tattoo session. Try to get a good nights sleep and stay hydrated. Partying will not help in any way.
Myth or Truth: Getting a tattoo hurts more than giving birth to a child. Myth: In reality, getting tattooed does hurt -- but it does not produce the same type of pain as childbirth. The pain of getting a tattoo feels more like scratching a bad sunburn.
You do not want the scabs picked off. The scabbing stage can last a few days. The tattooed area is unlikely to still feel sore after about two weeks.
Our skin becomes thinner as we age and its elasticity also reduces. The more exposure you've had to the sun over the years, the thinner your skin may become, and this can affect how painful it is to get a tattoo. Aim for your stronger or fattier areas of your body to help ease any discomfort.