Can anyone Describe The pain of aTattoo , obviously its sore but how sore ?

Question

Ive been thinking about getting a tatoo within the next 5 years, and im curious about how much it would hurt,
i know it depends how high your pain threshold is, and where abouts you have it, but disregarding that can anyone come up with some sort of equal to the pain ?

For example,
Is it sorer or just as sore as pouring vinigar in cuts etc ?
or MUCH sorer,

Thanks In Advance ..
Xx

Answer 1

I have only had the outsides of my biceps tattooed but the closest thing I can compare it to .....it's like having tiny little sparks falling down on you over and over. They go out as soon as they hit the skin...but there's always more of them falling and hitting.. It doesn't hurt so much as it is annoying. The next day (and for about 4 to 6 days later) its going to feel like a sunburn. The key is to relax, listen to music or talk to a friend to distract you. Use the best artist you can find. go to my 360 page and click on the dragon tattoo in my blog, then click it again. My dragon was 12 hours old in that picture...no scabs..no bleeding.

I am doing 8 to 9 hours under the needles next month so I've been doing my research.....here is the best article I could find on pain as charted by body location

http://www.tattooz.net/default.cfm?sitem...

I hope this helps

Answer 2

Hi,

You've obviously already done some pretty good research, because you know some of the basics - pain factors can include where you get it done, and the professionalism of your artist, so shop around first, make sure you're happy with the artist's work, ask to have a look at their procedures, and obviously if the place has an unsanitary look or if they're not changing needles every time, get the hell out.

In terms of pain references...hmm...I had mine on my arm, in a fleshy part, and the only thing I can liken it to is if you've had a bunch of stitches and then someone has to take them out again, it's like that process - something under your skin that feels like it comes to a pressure point, and is then released. Repeatedly, for as long as your tatt takes to do. I also know that in my personal experience, the outline inking seemed to be a sharper sensation than the colouring-in process, which felt more fuzzy than painful.

After its done, you'll feel sort of like someone's punched you quite hard in the area, and you might get a heated feeling, which is essentially the skin healing. Apply a healing cream or gel and this residual pain goes away over a couple of days.

In your own terms, I'd say pouring vinegar into cuts is MUCH worse than having a tattoo done.

Enjoy!

Answer 3

Depends where you have it done, and how high your pain threshold is. Ok imagine the scenario, you have a scratch which has scabbed over, you take off the scab and lightly drag something over it. It sore, feels a little warm, it kinda goes over it self again and again.

As for the vinegar in a cut scenario, no that just down right STINGS. Some people say tatts on your feet hurt, mine didnt. My shoulder was easy, but just above my tail bone was a tense affair. Im saving for a back piece, so I guess its true, its a bit of an addiction.
Make sure you check out the artist you are going to ask to see previous work, make sure the studio is spotless, ask other people with Tatts loadsa questions. If I see tatt work I like, I ask where it was done and how old it is, its a great way to make new friends. Sometiimes different artists specialise in different styles of Tatt, its not just all about Tribal, Traditional or a Rose bud. Find the best for what you want. If you really want the tatt, you will get through the pain.

Answer 4

i had my first one done on my upper back it's quite large and i had the anastatetic gel put on and didn't feel a thing until she start shading in and she said that i could feel it as the gel had warn off {well i had been sat there for an hour and a half but even then it just felt like someone with long nails scratching you i to was worried but i don't know why now so i'm going back on monday to have my next one done on my wrist and again i'm having the gel on like the tattooist said there no need to sit in discomfort.
She said that it hurts more on bone though than anywhere else ie shoulder blades but a few bits of mine go onto my shoulder blades and it was just like getting scratched. PUT IT THIS WAY I'VE HAD TWO CHILDREN WITH NO PAIN RELIEF AND IT DIDN'T HURT AS MUCH AS THAT if you have kids then you'll see what i mean if you go though with it but the worse thing that you can do is just think of the pain because it really doesn't hurt that much

Answer 5

The best way I can describe what it feels like to get a tattoo is being snapped (not overly hard) with a rubber band. You are absolutely correct when you said it depends on the location and pain tolerance. For example...to high up on your calf and it will have a burning feeling because evidently it irratates the muscles and tendons. To close to your collar bone and you will feel an ache in the bone due to the vibration of the tattoo gun. The main question you will have to ask yourself is how bad do you want the tattoo and are you willing to suffer any kind of pain for it. Good luck!

Answer 6

It depends where you have it... In bony areas it's worse I believe... I had a tattoo on my belly but because my belly is fleshy (no bone) it wasn't too bad. It just felt (funnily enough) like a needle scratching at my skin :) But afterwards there was no pain at all. However I've been told that tattoo's on ankles or wrists or backs are really painful and the pain lasts for some time afterwards.

Everyone I have ever spoke to has said it was well worth it though :) xx

Answer 7

Somebody else asked this a few days ago. I'll tell you what I told them; depending on where you have the tattoo, it's more hot than painful and it can sting a bit. It hurts more where bone (hand, ankle etc.) or nerves (inside forearm, back of upper arm etc.) are close to the skin. You may also find that you tend to sweat quite a bit, especially if sitting in that chair for upwards of 2 hours.

My advice to you is the same as my previous answer; be sure you want one and choose carefully; don't have a name tattoed on you (unless it's the name of your child) - relationships don't always last. Remember that a tattoo (or the scar from having one removed) will be with you for the rest of your life.

Answer 8

Puncture your skin with a pin, wait about 5 seconds and then do it again. Even that pain out over 5 seconds and you are about there.

The average tattoo takes about 40 minutes.

If the artist is working in the same area then it becomes a little numb but it is painful throughout.

I've seen fellas pass out. Women handle it far better than men. Women seem to positively enjoy it.

If you want a tattoo then go for it. The pain is a small small price to pay for being inked.

Hope this has helped.

Answer 9

I have the word "Virgo" tattooed at the bottom of my back. I was told it wouldnt hurt too much but put it this way.....anyone planning to have a tattoo is crazy! I was sat with my legs apart, leaning on the back of a chair. Every time the tattooist touched me, my legs would close tight on the back of the chair and start shaking. Im not joking. The pain is like a cat using one of its claws and scratching away at the same spot for ages until it finally breaks through your flesh. Well, thats the image I kept getting. I almost told the guy to stop 3 times.

Its pretty now, but it comes at a big painful price!

Answer 10

I thought it was very like a hot needle being scraped quite hard over the skin. I found it quite easy to cope with and like the other people answering, it did hurt different amounts depending on where on the body. The other thing is that the black outline hurts more than the colouring in.

One thing I found was that the pain stopped 95% each time the needle left the skin. The fact that when he stopped tattooing it stopped hurting was reassuring, it was like you could control the pain just by saying "stop a minute please", and knowing that I could stop it if I wanted to meant that I didn't actually have to stop him doing it. If you see what I mean!