Tattoo Pain: What to Expect

There are many factors involved when determining pain levels. In my own experience, I have had some tattoos there was nothing more than slight discomfort, and I've also had tattoos that have caused me to actually sob in the middle of the shop.

Pain levels will depend on your personal pain threshold, how long the session lasts and the area of the body you're getting tattooed. Areas with a lot of nerve endings and bony areas with thin skin are going to hurt more than other areas. As a general rule, areas with more body fat, thicker skin and fewer nerve endings are going to hurt less. Areas with little body fat, thin skin and more nerve endings are going to hurt more. Your overall health will also be a factor. If you arrive to your tattoo appointment fully rested and nourished, you're going to handle it better. If you're hungover and running on 3 hours of sleep and nothing but coffee, you will have a harder time.

Everyone is different when it comes to the way the tattoo will feel. Based on my own experience, I can't say that I've noticed a big difference between males and females, but some say there is a biological difference in how men and women will feel.

Most painful (not in any specific order)

Armpit:

I have never actually tattooed an armpit and I can honestly say I have no desire to. The pain is severe and its a difficult spot for the artist to tattoo as well. I feel like areas that are more ticklish are going to be more painful. Between the nerve endings, thin skin and overall struggle to tattoo that area, it's a very uncomfortable spot.

Ribcage:

I'd say the ribcage is one of the most common high pain area that people get tattooed. This is another area that is more of a challenge for the artist as well because of how stretchy skin is. Not only is it more painful, but it takes a little bit longer than a flat area with tighter skin. Breathing is also a factor with this area that ads more of a challenge with the rising and falling of the area being tattooed. 

Elbows and knees:

I don't have my elbows tattooed, But I do have my knee. I can tell you the knee was one of the most painful tattoos I have had. It's a hot pain. The sides are rough, but they don't compare to the knee ditch. This is the one that made me cry.

When I get to elbows on clients, there is a significant change in their demeanor when we move from different parts of the arm to the elbow. The texture of the skin here is very weird and it's much more painful than the rest of the arm.

Sternum:

I can't say for sure, but I think the sternum is probably slightly more painful than the ribcage based on client reactions.

Hands and feet:

Both of these places are more painful than I think people expect.

Head:

I've heard that you feel a drilling sensation while getting your head tattooed. I can imagine it would cause your brain to rattle.

Moderately painful

Inner bicep:

This are is pinchy. In my opinion, it's one of those areas that feels manageable for awhile, but quickly becomes more painful as time goes on.

Ankle and shins:

Both of these areas are very bony. I'd say the ankle hurts a little more than the shin, but it's pretty similar.

Spine and lower back:

These are also areas where people seem to get tired more quickly.

Calves:

I would say that the ankles and shins are worse than the calves, but it's still an uncomfortable location. The lower leg in general seems to be a little more painful than the upper leg or the arms.

Least Painful

Upper back and shoulders:

I'd say this is probably one of the least sensitive areas. I got my first tattoo when I was 18 on my shoulder blade and it was nothing more than slight discomfort.

Outer bicep:

This is a pretty flat area with a lot of muscle, which is a good combination. This area can withstand quite a bit of pain. I would describe it as discomfort more than pain.

Thigh:

This is another area that is great for tattooing. It's large, flat and has a lot of muscle. In my experience, I'd say it's slightly more painful than the arm, but not by much.

Forearm:

This is another relatively easy place to get tattooed. It just gets a little spicier the closer you get to the elbow or wrist

Factors that affect pain levels

• Placement: Areas with fewer nerve endings, thicker skin, and more muscle will hurt less. Areas with the opposite will hurt more.

• Size and time sent: The longer you sit for your tattoo, the more painful it will start to feel as your body gets tired.

• Style and detail: Tattoos that require more shading, packing and layering will hurt more than a simple, single pass line tattoo.

• Tattoo artist: Some artists have heavier hands while others are more gentle. I am told I have a light hand, which makes up a little for all the layering I do with my work.

• Pain threshold: This completely depends on each person. Things like age, gender, genetics, medical conditions and overall health will affect this.

What does the pain feel like?

A lot of people compare it to a cat scratch. The pain can be described as burning pain, pinchy/scratchy pain, or sharp pain.

Burning pain:

This tends to happen in the more sensitive areas like the knee ditch. It feels like there is a hot element along with the sting. This also tends to start to happen as your skin gets more raw and tired.

Sharp pain:

You will notice this more if your artists is using a very small needle grouping for fine lines and details.

Scratchy/pinchy pain:

This is probably the most common pain. It's the one that feels more like a cat scratch, although it's more controlled and less surprising than a cat scratch, which I think helps.

How to deal with the pain

During the tattoo process, most people seem to handle the discomfort pretty well without any help. When I notice that my clients are starting to feel a little too raw, Bactine has been helpful in reducing some of the pain. Any lidocaine spray is only effective after the skin has been opened. Pain is just a part of the tattoo process and is not completely avoidable.

After your tattoo is done, the pain should subside quite a bit. You will be dealing with some soreness, but it's very manageable. If you are uncomfortable, some ice (over a barrier) may be helpful along with some over the counter medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. These are just suggestions and are not necessary. Following your artist's aftercare instructions is all you need to do.

Finding a tattoo artist: Doing your due diligence

There are a few obvious green flags when deciding on your artists, but other things to consider may not be as obvious if you haven't been tattooed in awhile.

Fifteen years ago, it was more common to walk into a shop and get tattooed by whoever was available. While some shops still do walk ins, it's important to do your research before working with an artist because we aren't one size fits all. Finding the right fit for you can take time, communication and searching around, but it's worth it for something that's going to be permanent.

Things to look for when choosing an artist:

Professionalism:

One of the most important things to look for is professionalism. When I say that, I just mean you want to go to a professional, licensed shop that practices proper hygiene and sterilization. Most shops do these days. Generally speaking, anyone who is tattooing out of their home is someone I would not trust.

What style are you looking for?

A lot of artists have some sort of specialization. These styles can include illustrative, neo-traditional, traditional, realism, new school etc. Deciding what style you're looking for will help narrow down your research. If you are looking for realism, an artist who specializes in traditional is probably not going to be the best fit for you and vice verse. If you're looking for something small and simple, usually most artists will be able to accommodate you. For something more complex, I recommend finding an artist specific to what you're looking for.

Consider how long you are willing to wait and your budget:

Every artist is going to work differently. Some shops have a set rate for all of their artists to charge, and other shops leave it up to each artist to decide what to charge. A lot of artists are also going to have some sort of wait, even if it's a short one. Different times of the year are also going to be busier than others, which will determine how long you will need to wait. During the spring months, we are usually busier because people are getting tax returns and have more to spend. We are slower during the fall and holiday seasons. One you find an artist with a style that you have decided on, the next step would be communicating with them about these details and deciding what works for you.

What are some things you look for when deciding which tattoo artist is the right fit for you?