How Painful are Tattoos? (2024)

FAQs

How Painful are Tattoos? ›

Tattooing tends to be a painful procedure because tattoo artists use needles to inject ink into the dermis layer of the skin. The injections cause localized swelling and damage to the skin. Once the tattoo procedure is over, the area may be sore for about a week before the swelling goes down.

Some people describe the pain as a pricking sensation. Others say it feels like bee stings or being scratched. A thin needle is piercing your skin, so you can expect at least a little pricking sensation. As the needle moves closer to the bone, it may feel like a painful vibration.

But if you're wondering what type of pain to expect, Caranfa says the experience is comparable to the feeling of a cat scratch or a sunburn. "Long periods of irritation and tenderness are what make you feel any discomfort," Caranfa says.

You might feel stinging or burning when the artist outlines or details your design. If you're getting a bony spot inked, you might feel a vibrating sensation. The most common feeling, however, is a low-grade pain that's moderate enough for you to be distracted from by talking, watching TV, or listening to music.

Anyone who has ever had an injection understands that getting needles inserted into the skin is not pleasant. Tattoo needles are smaller than syringes, but when you get a tattoo between 1 and 20 of these needles are inserted into the top layer of your skin thousands of times.

Needles used for lining are the least painful. Whereas magnum needles used for shading and coloring have larger tips and can be applied a bit deeper into the skin to get the desired effect. Areas with more nerve endings and less flesh feel more painful.

Different kinds/styles of tattoos can also cause a change in discomfort level. Bold, solid lines may hurt more than dotwork or stick-and-poke tattoo styles.

Lidocaine can block pain signals, causing you to feel less discomfort when you get a tattoo. It won't be completely painless, but most people find that over-the-counter lidocaine tattoo prep gels and topical anesthetic creams can significantly reduce the pain they feel during a tattoo.

Why don't tattoo artists like numbing cream? Here's one of the primary reasons. Some tattoo artists say that numbing creams can alter the texture of a client's skin, making it “spongy” after the cream is applied. Others report that it makes the skin not stretch evenly, become mushy, or form raised hive-like bumps.

It depends on who you ask. There are some Christians who believe it is a sin. The verse in the Bible that most Christians make reference to is Leviticus 19:28, which says,"You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord." So, why is this verse in the Bible?

What is the most painful place to get a tattoo for a girl? ›

However, there are certain areas where tattoo pain is more intense for females than males and vice versa. Tattoo pain for females is often more intense in the breast and stomach regions than it is for males. However, tattoos done on the back, hip or groin area rank higher on the pain scale for males than for females.

Once the procedure is complete, the tattoo artist should provide self-care steps and explain how to deal with any pain after the procedure. The pain should decrease with time and resolve after about a week. If the pain persists or worsens, the person may need to see their doctor.

“The most common answer is that it feels like a cat scratch on a really bad sunburn,” Olivia says. And for Trinity: “Getting a tattoo feels like when you pet a cat's belly, and the cat grabs your hands and kicks, scratching you with its claws,” she says. “It's not aggressive. But it does hurt, at least a little.”

Tattoo artist JoJo Roman compares the sensation of getting a tattoo to the feeling of a constant cat scratch (all my cat people out there know what she means). Other people say getting a tattoo feels like someone is continually scratching a hot needle across your skin—because that's kinda what's happening.

What's the pain level like? Based on anecdotal evidence from experts, the pain is a 5+ on a 10-point scale. But it's not the most painful body part to get inked.