How painful is a tattoo?

Question

I knowit's gonna hurt loads. Also I've heard it hurts more in different places so out of the wrist the top of my foot and my back which is more painful and how painful?Can you compare it to anything?

Answer 1

There are many factors that influence the amount of pain involved in getting tattooed. The size and placement of the tattoo are considerations, but also the person doing the tattoo. The larger the piece of artwork you want, the longer you will spend getting tatttooed, of course leading to more pain. The placement of the artwork on your body is also a key factor. Places like the outside of your upper arm & calf are much less painful than places like the inside of your upper arm & top of feet. One factor that is often overlooked by a person looking to get a tattoo is the artist doing the work. Some tatttooists are very heavy handed, but only go over each line once or twice - and some are very light handed but go over every line a million times. If I ever find one with a light hand that only goes over each line a couple times - I'll let ya know. The placement of the tattoo on your body will also play a determining factor in how much pain you will be in during the healing process. The tattoos on my arms & neck were much more easily healed than the tattoos on my feet & in my bikini area. The tattoos that are subject to clothing & shoes rubbing on them are much harder to keep clean and more likely to scab. I cannot accurately describe the way it feels to get a tattoo - I have experienced a different sensation with just about every one (all pain sensations however). The best thing I can say is that it starts out like an annoying pain (bee sting or sandpaper), but will progress with time & irritation to a more substantial pain. The skin will swell & bleed so the longer it takes - the more it will feel like you are rubbing sandpaper on a real bad sunburn. I have too many tattoos to count and they were all well worth the pain I went through to get them - they do not hurt everyday for the rest of your life. Suck it up and get inked - have fun & good luck!!

Answer 2

I have a tattoo on my inner wrist and it was quite painful but tolerable. I would not recommend a tattoo on your foot because they often fade because of frequent friction and I've seen friend's who just look awful after awhile. Make sure you really want the tattoo; it's cliched but it will be on your body for the rest of your life unless you want to go through costly and painful laser treatments. I can tell you that from personal experience because I got this tattoo underage.

I can compare the pain to snapping a rubberband against your skin while pulling at it full tension. Everyone has a different pain tolerance so it is hard to say. Perhaps pick your back because it would be easier to hide if you have a job interview or need it covered up for some reason.

Make sure you pick a safe artist that uses new needles and sterilizes their equipment. It is also important to ask to see an example of their work first.

Answer 3

In my experience, it feels the similar to laser hair removal on the shin. Maybe try that first as it doent leave any permanent marks if you decide halfway through it is too painful.
They stretch your skin slightly so its taught and then you feel a burning/scratchy sensation along with heavy vibrations. It sounds like a bee really close. The noise sounds worse than it is. But my ones did hurt alot and I have a high pain threshold. Alot worse than piercings. The blessing is after 5 mins your body ignores the pain.
I've had a rose bracelet round my wrist and a large dragon on my lower tummy and the knobbly boney bits hurt most. If it is a sensitive area it will hurt more. Try and chose a bigger muscle rather than a bone if you dont like pain.
The thing is, tattoos should be painful as they are a serious, permanent decision that will always be there and you need to think alot about it, as styles inevitably change. And I was told to NEVER have a name! It dooms the relationship! And dont pick the scabs!

Happy inking! xx

Someone also told me not to heavily drink alcohol the night before. Take ibuprofen every 4 hours 48hrs before aswell to ease the pain. (not asprin as it thins blood.)

Answer 4

I have a tribal band around my ankle and also a butt topper (tattoo in the small of the back, above the butt).
The one on my ankle hurt less then the one on my back, but neither was comfortable. It hurts, but the pain wasn't intolerable. I didn't cry or anything with either, but I winced a couple times when I got the one on my back.
It does hurt somewhat and worse depending on where, for sure, but if it were THAT bad not many people would have tattoos, so maybe try to think of that. Make sure you know exactly what you want and pay the extra money to have someone talented do it. It's going to be on your body permanently and if you're going to go through the pain of the experience, make sure it's worth it and you're getting exactly what you want.

Answer 5

In my experience, the only part of the tatoo that hurts is when they do the outline. By the time they get to coloring it in, it no longer is painful, unless it is over a scarred area. Then it is really painful the whole time. It does hurt a little more over the bone in places that do not have much meat there, but not too bad. I have one on my toe and it wasn't that bad. How much it hurts also depends on how experienced the tatoo artist is. If you go to someone who has been around for a long time, it usually does not hurt as much as someone who is just starting out. If you want an idea of how much it will hurt take a needle and repeatedly poke your skin in the area the you want the tatoo. It won't be quite the same, but it will give you an idea of the pain. the pain that you will have is not that bad and once it is all done you hardly notice it.

Answer 6

The pain is different for everyone. It is true, different places on your body will have different feelings. Pain is temporary, ink is permanent. When some one asks me what being tattooed feels like, I tell them its like walking in a forest, and being scratched by a dry stick; over and over. Being tattooed is not as painful and your mind allows it to become. Ask almost anyone who's been tattooed, once you get one, you're gonna want to get another!

Answer 7

Tattoos only hurt for a little bit then your skin goes numb, it also depends on where you are getting the tatt, some areas of your body are more sensitive and it will hurt more there, some areas have less muscle between the skin and bone so those will hurt more. but the pain is only temporary and the tattoo is forever, so before you run out and get one please think about the tatt you want and make sure you like it cause it's gonna be with you for awhile

Answer 8

OK.. I have 27 tats and counting... yes, tats hurt for some people in some places. I have a high pain tolerance, so the only one out of the 27 that hurt was on the back of my calf near my knee. However, it does tend to hurt more on the bone.. places like the shin can be rough if you are sensitive to pain. The best places for the first tat is the upper arm/shoulder area, back of shoulder, or the side of you calf. Both my wrists have tats on the inside as well as the outside.. the outside was a breeze, the inside of one pinched a little when the needle rolled my vein by accident. Most tats can be compared to bee stings while getting it and a sunburn afterwards.

Answer 9

Well my experience has been that the most discomfort comes when being tattooed over bone. It feels like being scratched very hard, and once it's done, it begins to feel like a sunburn.

It can probably best be compared to taking a needle and dragging it over your skin, and in the same area over and over.

Answer 10

I've been told by mt tattoo artist that the places that are most sensitive are the places when standing with arms at your side that won't hit direct sunlight. (under arms, between legs etc) and places that are CLOSEST to the bone - wrist, ankle, etc.

The one of mne that hurt the worst is the armband...the underside. Ther rest of mine were okay - but again my ankle tatto was a bit sensitive - but it's right over the ankle bone.

Have fun - it only hurts while it's happening.....