Before getting my first tattoo, it was pretty clear that I had a mild needle phobia. My dislike for it was almost as great as my feeling when I saw blood, disgusted. Of course, becoming a doctor or even a nurse wasn't in my future at the time.
Today, of course, is very different. I owe a large part of this change to the commitment when finally getting a tattoo.
Years ago I decided to get oneI tattooed the most painful places on my bodythe edges of my bony chest. If I could handle that, I could certainly handle any other body. At least that's what I told myself at the time. Sitting in the chair, I watched the needle pass under my skin.
The stinging and burning wasn't all that bad; it was easier than I imagined. Then the needle began to pierce my bone, up and down, repeatedly. Shit just got real. Of course, blood and plasma also leaked from my body. Truly beautiful.
However, with each jab and stab, I got more comfortable with the process. A few hours later, my artist was ready. At the end of the day, I left the shop with a brand new tattoo. Everything I expected was very different from the reality of getting a tattoo.
Of course, it was a little painful, but it was more of an irritating feeling overall. I didn't pull my hair, pass out, puke, close my eyes, much less die. Funnily enough, I enjoyed the process as much as I enjoyed my new tattoo. When people ask me if tattoos hurt, my answer is still:"Yes, of course, but not as much as you might think."
Since then, I've done a lot of research over the years that I want to share with you today. Below is a tattoo pain scale, exceptional advice, and more. If you're nervous about getting a tattoo and the noise of pain worries you, the best advice I can give you is"Do not be!"
1. Definitive Tattoo Pain Table
I have compiled an accurate tattoo pain chart for your viewing pleasure. While it may sound simple, there are still a number of things to consider before jumping to conclusions. I will explain all of this in more detail as you continue reading.
Remember that your personal pain tolerance and threshold will determine what hurts the most and what hurts the least. Some areas sting and burn, others throb with intense pressure.
2. Major nerves in the body
Here is a breakdown of where the nerves run in the human body. As you can see, there are many areas that are sensitive when tattooing.
When looking at this chart, just think about the amount of muscle and skin that covers each area of the body.
3. How much do tattoos hurt?
While it depends on the placement, things like your health, pain tolerance, attitude, and state of mind are also factors. The truth is, getting a tattoo is more of a nuisance than a painful experience. Yes, it hurts, nobody likes it when a sharp needle sticks in the skin.
However, many people make this a huge ordeal when it really isn't a cause for concern in the first place.
In some places on the body, you may want to pluck the hair. While others just sting and burn a little. Keep in mind that people also have different pain tolerances.
For example, your friend may have told you thearm tattooit was excruciating. Getting the same spot in ink feels like a pie walk.
At the end of the day, there are many factors to consider. Your tattoo artist can be very clumsy or light and gentle. Even eating breakfast or a big meal before getting a tattoo can help reduce your pain.
The underlying structure of the nerves and bones and the cushioning of all that fat and muscle also play a very important role. I will explain this further below.
4. How does it feel?
Honestly, a tattoo will look different on every part of the body. Certain areas are much easier to wash than others. Areas like the ribcage are bonier, while areas like the butt are much meatier.
In other words, some places have a lot of padding and some just don't. Which, as you guessed it, greatly affects how you feel. Of course, it's also important to note where all the important nerves run through your body.
For fleshier areas, it will feel like someone is dragging a needle across your skin, and let's face it, they literally do. However, it is not like a doctor's injection. A tattoo needle doesn't penetrate that deeply into the skin.
You can compare the feeling to being scratched by an animal's claw or, to some extent, stung by a bee. It definitely burns a little. Expect it to feel like a tiny, sharp needle poking you repeatedly.
Most of all, you will feel a burning sensation. The tattoo needles keep going up and down which creates a lot of vibration and heat. You may end up feeling the burn more than the sting.
For bonier areas like the ribs, you'll feel all that and more. When the needle hits close to the bone, it feels like it was poked with a blunt metal object. Press your fingertips hard against your chest, that's how it feels.
When it comes to large nerve endings, your sensitivity will increase. It will test your pain tolerance as the discomfort builds more and more.
5. The most painful tattoo stains
This includes any part of the body with an abundance of bone and nerve endings. When it comes to nerves, there are large clusters in places like the hands, neck, nipples, genitals, face, solar plexus, etc.
For bony areas like ankles, hands and wrists, feet, spine, ribs, collarbone, kneecaps and elbows, etc., it will be quite painful.
6. The least painful place for a tattoo
The same place you probably don't want a tattoo, your butt. Although the upper thighs, calves, forearms, etc. also have a lot of muscles. Basically, any area with a lot of padding and a lack of nerve endings and bone will result in the least painful experience for most.
However, there is one thing to consider before jumping to conclusions here. Some people prefer deep throbbing pressure to the stronger stabbing sensations created by ink in muscle-rich areas.
7. Will it hurt to get a tattoo on that particular spot?
Pulse:Not the worst. Generally,wrist tattoosthey are just average on the pain scale. However, when it comes to the sleeves and ink on the sides of the wrist, things can look pretty brutal.
Turn back:One of the least painful spots, depending on where you're painting. In other respects, however, these can be major annoyances. You know how a professional back massage feels so good?
Now imagine someone running a sharp needle over it. His back is already tender at first. Of course, this doesn't apply to highly sensitive areas like the spine. For theupper backand shoulders, you will find that the higher you climb, the pain level increases.
Perna: When it comes to thigh tattoosThere's plenty of meat, but they're still above average on the high end pain chart. you can compare themcalf tattoos.
As you move closer and closer to your inner thighs, the pain increases a lot. This is especially true and much more evident as you move down to the groin area. These areas are downright painful. If you go down to the knee, you will find that this is one of the most painful spots on the body.
Late:Very painful. Remember that a very small amount of skin covers a large area of bone here. With each dip of the needle, you'll feel it skewer your bone.
ribs:Another area of intense pain. Interestingly, painting the spaces between each rib bone feels like a mixture of tickling, burning and poking with a sharp needle. However, when you move on to the bones themselves, it becomes painful. You will feel the needle poking your bone over and over again. It's a mixture of pain, burning, intense pressure, and strangely, a really annoying tickling sensation.
Breasts:Generally average until you move towards the collarbone and sternum. As far as the pain scale goes, the sternum won't make you bang, but you'll be looking at your wrist in a lot of pain. You can compare it with the elbow and knees. Another part of the breast to consider is the nipple area. Some gentlemen are faced with an extremely high level of sensitivity in this area, others simply are not.
Elbow inside:Undoubtedly one of the most painful places on the body. Worse than the already harrowing exteriorelbow tattoo.
clavicle:Very painful. Interestingly, getting a collarbone tattoo while all the vibes are going on can actually feel like getting one on your neck.
calves:Often a cake walk; Average.
Forearm and forearm:Pretty average and comfortably tattooed without hesitation.
Genitals:Extremely painful.
Throat:One of the worst places to get a tattoo when it comes to pain.
Hands:Like the foot, there is a lot of bone and little skin to cover it. Hand tattoos are just as difficult for artists to do as they are tattooed while sitting in the chair. The same also applies to the fingers.
Ankle: When it comes to ankle tattoos,it's a toss between average and horrible horrible. Due to the bony location, you can still expect severe pain regardless of your tolerance.
Kopf:Extremely painful and made worse by the fact that you can hear the whole process just inches from your ear.
Inner Biceps:Average until you move towards the armpit. The armpit is in a world of its own; Needless to say, it is extremely painful.
column:I miss another.
Hips:Certainly well above average. Remember that, as with ribs, there is a lot of bone here.
behind the ear:I miss another.
Shoulder:High on the pain scale, but slightly above average for some.
Magen:Very tolerable with some points above average and others below.
Genetic:High level of pain.
Lips:Difficult to color, let alone very uncomfortable to achieve.
Cinnamon:Often sensitive to pain with severe pain in the scales. It varies from man to man. Some have iron shins, some don't.
upper arm:Clearly average.
Palma:High pain and very difficult, if not impossible, to color. Fading and wear are easy to expect considering how much the palm is used on a daily basis. Even people with full-body tattoos will leave that area as it is, as the effort isn't always worth it.
Knee:As bad as the elbow and armpit. Easily one of the most painful places to get a tattoo. Both the outer kneecap and the inner areas will be extreme.
Finally
Remember that everyone's pain level is very different. Don't be put off if a place has a reputation for being associated with extreme pain. What hurts someone else may very well result in not hurting you.
In other words, not all bodies have the same sensitivity or tolerance for pain. If you really want a tattoo in a specific location, go for it!
The pain doesn't last forever, but the cold ink you get does.
Consider incorporating the discomfort of sitting in a chair into your tattoo's meaning. If you care so much about something, make a small sacrifice; it will definitely be worth it in the end.