Well I am doing it...1.26 is the big day....getting a tattoo....it's going to be on my lower back on the left side. I designed it myself...I am REALLY scared of the pain and don't handle pain all too well. The tattoo is a side portrait of my daughter and it is going to look like she's looking out from behind my skin. They said that it's going to take 1.5-2 hours. I am dragging my friend along with me for moral support but does anyone have any advice? I'm REALLY nervous about it and I'm afraid that I won't be able to handle the pain. Can anyone describe the feeling with something besides a "cat scratch" because I've never had one of those....also, is the pain tolerable or is it really bad....any advice from those that are inked would help. Very nervous....
2006-12-21 18:22:38 · 23 answers · asked by kristina807 5 in Beauty & Style ➔ Skin & Body ➔ Tattoos
I honestly am not sure which person I would rate as "best answer" - your answers have all been VERY reassuring...thanks so much...hopefully I'll be able to handle it...I hope that you all have a great holiday and a fun New Year...
2006-12-22 19:48:31 · update #1
everybody has different pain thresholds so i cant help you there. I can tell you not to cheap out go shop around, get refferences, cheapest isnt always the best way to go
2006-12-21 18:33:06 · answer #1 · answered by glacier 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever burned yourself on the stove or had a bad sunburn that you've rubbed against something? That's the best description I can give you of how a tattoo feels. One thing I won't recommend is taking any vicodin, alcohol, or other substance. These things make you bleed more and you want to be in a sober state to make sure you don't do anything you'll regret, like flinch or move. Try to remain as still as possible; any sudden movement may affect the outcome of your tattoo. I'd let your artist know how you're feeling before you get in the chair- ask him if he has any topical numbing spray. I have tattoos on the top of my feet (yes, on that bone) that took 3 hours and two sessions to do- but they are now complete and beautiful, and weren't as bad as everyone said they would be! This may help you, and don't hesitate to ask for more spray if it starts to fade off. The pain is tolerable, but if you don't think you can handle it for 2 hours, ask if he can maybe do it in 2 sessions- one for the outline and the other for shading, coloring, etc. The pain isn't horrible, but it does hurt- if you can handle child labor, you can probably handle getting a tattoo :). Just make sure you let your artist know that you're nervous, he may know of some tips that can help, lke mine did.Good luck!
2006-12-21 18:30:41 · answer #2 · answered by xxhalloqueenxx 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do not regret my tattoo at all. I got the Chinese symbol for faith, and because it means so much to me, I haven't regretted it for a second. Placement also has something to do with whether or not you'll regret a tattoo, so keep that in mind. But I have several other tattoos planned out, all of them dealing with religion and faith, because that is something that is important in my life and that I hopefully will never regret. That's how I pick MY tattoos. I've often wondered how others can get tattoos that don't mean much to them but that they think will be 'cool' at the time, and the truth is that they oftentimes end up regretting them. Be careful to properly plan and give thought to any tattoo. Good luck!
2016-05-23 13:57:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okay if it's going over bone it's going to hurt more then going over meat so if you're doing it on your back and not on your hip or spine the pain won't be as bad as any of that, now as for the pain, it hurts no doubt, not going to lie to you, but it's not the most excrutiating pain, it feels liek someone is taking a pen and scribbling into your skin really hard multiple times, you can do it though, I'm terrified of needles and pain and I did it, I even have full tattoos on my ribs (one of the most painful places to get tattoos apparently...) Remember to eat before you go! if you don't it will make the pain worse (trust me I've done it before) And good job on picking something taht means something to you rather then some of the random meaningless stuff people get. The more meaning it has the less likely you are to regret it later! Good luck!
2006-12-21 18:27:00 · answer #4 · answered by Abtsolutely 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
first of all, congratulations on your decision. i am very glad it's not something that has no meaning. and as for the pain... well, since you're getting it in a generally fleshy area, the pain will be rather minimal. it's not at all unlike getting stung by a bee... repeatedly. but after a while, the vibrations from the tattoo gun make the surface of the skin kind of numb. my first two were right between my shoulder blades, and only hurt a little. the following two, i almost slept through. and the last one went so quickly, i didn't have time for the pain to reach my brain. just remember... eat before you go, and breathe while the artist is inking. that helps a lot.
2006-12-21 18:26:58 · answer #5 · answered by wrldzgr8stdad 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I was really nervous before my first tattoo also. One of the girls who worked at the shop where I had mine done described the pain as "someone drawing on your really sunburned skin with a sharp pencil." That's about right! It hurt but it wasn't like I wanted to die or anything. In fact, I have 3 tattoos now...all on or around my ankle area, which is pretty bony. That supposedly hurts worse than on an area that is mostly flesh. You'll be fine, I'm sure. :) I hate shots and have a pretty low pain tolerance -- in fact, I cried once because a massage I had was really painful! -- but tattoos aren't all THAT bad.
2006-12-21 18:34:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I got my first tattoo at 25. I was so freaked out thinking it was going to hurt! I got a tribal gemini sign in the lower part of my back. Well it did hurt a little, just an annoying type of pain though. For some reason i sweat a lot while it was being done. I am guessing nerves. Just have someone there to talk to and you forget what is going on. Good luck.
2006-12-24 03:06:03 · answer #7 · answered by Darling girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No worries. Really. it is not that bad regardless of what people tell you. at first it feels really weird, like bee stings. It is like a vibration feeling. But after a while your skin begins to numb. If at first before the tattoo you are cold, thats good because your body will start to get warm once the tattoo application begins. The lower back is really one of the best places to get one, meaning the least painful. seriously, do not worry about it. Just make sure you really, really want it because tattoos last forever!!
2006-12-21 20:22:48 · answer #8 · answered by Jenny K 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well it hurt a whole lot less than having a baby! its not that bad . I chewed gum the whole time it kinda helped. It didn't feel like a cat scratch to me ,it was a pressure and burning sensation . I mean if you can tolerate pain of giving birth ..then you can tolerate the pain of a tattoo its not as bad as you think,and it depends on where you get it.
2006-12-22 04:05:17 · answer #9 · answered by Ms Scarlet 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it does hurt and then it doesn't my very first tattoo was done on my foot were all your veins are and i was told it would hurt the most there. it felt weird for the first 5 Min's and then the pain just goes sorta numb. don't be scared because it don't hurt like every one makes out it does. be care full thought of getting addicted some people do , like i did. tattoo's are nice to have but don't get too many as they can look ugly.
2006-12-21 18:32:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
it feels like a knife cutting through your skin lightly that comes along with the sound of a machine...but dont worry because it is just a needle that keeps pecking your skin lightly on the surface several times real quickly thats why it feels like a knife slicing through it. but its not THAT BAD so dont worry, you'll live. i suggest take some pain killers before you go do it. it'll help a lot. i've done my tattoo for about 1.45 mins. at first it hurts (the outline hurts most) then later on you just became numb you barely feel a thing anymore.
2006-12-21 19:49:09 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋