first tattoo? where does it hurt the least? what's the pain like?

Question

i'm getting my very first tattoo (late starter..lol) and only getting a small one (a name or initals) but not sure where to get it. guess i'm a bit scared so where would it hurt the least?

Answer 1

I disagree with Sparkie (above) I think the more near the bone the more it hurts! I have a foot tattoo and that was painful, but my tat on the front of my wrist hardly hurt at all - in fact I nearly fell asleep.
Saying that I have just started using the Braun Epilator and the pain using that is simular to the pain of a tattoo!
They can't hurt that much or we would only all have 1 each!

Answer 2

I got my first tattoo on my shouder blade and I thought it was going to be way more painful then it actually was. I think the shoulder is the best spot, even my tattoo artist said a lot of people get their first tattoo there. The feeling kind of felt like a vibrating scratch, it's so hard to explain but I find it more uncomfortable than painful. But trust me it's really not that bad.

Answer 3

Yes tattoos hurt but remember if they hurt too much we would only have one each. I've been getting tattoo's for the last 25 years and I'm still going strong. (although running out of room).

The outline hurts the most and is similar to a light burning sensation. After the first few lines the pain will subside If you are only having a name or initials the tattoo will be completed in a few minutes. How you cope with the pain depends on the placement of the tattoo and your pain threshold.

legs, arms are fairly safe areas, I have several large tattoos here without too much discomfort. The back and chest, for me at least, are more sensitive and hurt more. Having said that I also have fairly large tattoos in both of these areas to.

You need to spend more time on the design than worrying about the pain. The tattoo will be for life so make sure it's what you want.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy your tattoo.

PS. I always put E45 cream on my tattoo's which helps them to heal without drying out and also stops them itching.

Answer 4

I have two tattoos. The first one I got was when I was drunk and a very lovely lady did it on my calf. That didn't bother me at all, though I suspect that it was because I was drunk, which they do not recommend you to be when you get a tattoo.
The other tattoo is a half sleeve that is still in the works. It is on my left shoulder, and I am sober while it is being done. It doesn't hurt too much, feels more like a sunburn. The thing is that tattoos placed where you have more meat on your body hurts less. The foot I have heard hurts like crazy, as does area's where nerve bundles are located.
As far as getting a name or initials on your body, remember, these are forever, or very expensive to remove, so make sure that you either put the name of yourself, or children, never a loved one, because of today's society it has been found that love no longer lasts forever, but tattoos do. Even if they are removed they still leave a scar.

Answer 5

I had my frist one done at the base of my back and its quite a large one the trick is to relax as much as you can as if you tense it will hurt more
Just let the tattooist know that you are a bit nervous and they will make you feel at ease

It feels like when you have that lil scratch when you have a blood test or a cat scratch

I was told the outline was the worst bit but if you have lots of colourwork i found that hurts a lil more as when they shade an area with several different colours they reopen the same lil wound each time thay go over it

I would say go for it if you go with it in your head that it will hurt loads when they start it will be a nice surprise when its not as bad as you think!

Goodluck

I think the top of your arm will hurt the least but does depend on your individual pain threshold

Answer 6

I think it depends on the thickness of the skin. The top of the head and ribcage hurt more 'cos there's less tissue there to absorb the impact of the needles.
Depending on your size and sex, the places that hurt the least are the top of your arms, chest and back of your legs.

The pain, if you can call it pain is similar to scratched sunburn, slightly uncomfortable, but nothing you can't deal with. It also helps if you're not nervous and you really want a tattoo. You'll be more relaxed and less tense.

My partner's first tattoo was on her boobs and although she's a little squeamish, she didn't flinch or complain at all.

Answer 7

I have two(technically ive been tattooed 3 times). I have 5 small symbols size of 10 pence pieces from base of my back up just outlines and i did have a celtic symbol on my upper leg, buthad it covered to look like a phoenix.

I think the outline over all hurts more than the colouring in, i think this is probably due to the artist trying to get the line correct. But its like they are pressing slightly harder, like imagine if you draw a line how the pressure differs from when you colour in. I think it feels alot less painful than if you stub your toe! or squeeze a spot on your back (i know its disgusting but im sure everyones done it once!?). It kinda feels like scrapping, an really it only hurts so much b/c they go over the line a few times in some cases. It does hurt people shouldnt lie to you, an if you ask the tattooist they'll say its a stupid question or laugh (ive asked myself). But its definately a copeable pain. After a while it goes numb. so its fine. But you'll get use to it. An b/c the tattooist breaks to do different lines of get more ink etc, he stops an starts quite often so you get relief that way. He will also spray some sort of liquid over it as he goes to wipe away blood or extra ink (yup it bleeds, its breaking the skin of course) so thats really nice too b/c it cools it down.

All i can say is dont eat too close to havin it done, but do eat a snickers or something really sweet like a mars bar bout an hour half an hr before, just to keep your sugar levels up!
An after dont rub it if it gets wet...but they'll tell you all the after care once you've had it done. Oh an use Germolene after as it helps it heel alot better its designed for cuts etc, so it wont dry it out but itll keep it clean from infection and help it heel. Good thing about germolene is it lets it breath too, which vaseline doesnt.

Answer 8

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RE:
first tattoo? where does it hurt the least? what's the pain like?
i'm getting my very first tattoo (late starter..lol) and only getting a small one (a name or initals) but not sure where to get it. guess i'm a bit scared so where would it hurt the least?

Answer 9

People have different pain thresholds so what may seem painful to one person wont seem painful to another.When I had mine done I took a lollipop with me so when it got to the tender parts I just bit down on the stick but it wasn't really all that painful.I have one on the top of each arm and the left one was more painful then the right which I can't really explain.To me it felt like the shape was being scratched on but not as bad as being scratched by a cat lol

Answer 10

I have to agree with Finance. I have found that the more "meat" there is, the less pain there is. I am all skin & bone on my chest, & when I had work done there, I was fighting the artist all the way! It wasn't consciously, the twitching was compleatly involuntary. As for how it feels: I think the analogy I would use would be: have you ever been burnt by a cigarette? Focus past the pain, on something else.