Is It Going To Hurt?

As tattooists and people who work in the industry one question we hear a lot is, is it going to hurt? Usually from people who are getting their first tattoo. There’s nothing wrong with this question. It’s totally valid to want to know what you’re getting yourself into and you want to make sure you can take it so you don’t have an unfinished tattoo because you couldn’t sit. This is just such a common question that I thought a blog post on it would be helpful!

The short answer is yes, but there is a lot that may affect this, and things you can do to help! To start I want to quote Bryan, I think he has such an eloquent way of explaining things like this, he says,

“it all hurts but it’s all bearable, just get what you really want.”

@blue.s.ink

If it’s something you really want and are really passionate about getting, it’s going to be a few hours of pain for a lifetime of that awesome artwork and we think that’s totally worth it. There are some pointers we can give you to help you feel your best for the tattoo though:

1. Don’t drink the night before
   • Alcohol is a blood thinner, it will make your tattoo bleed and swell more which in turn is more painful. Drinking after a tattoo shouldn’t really affect it because it’s already clotting and forming a scab.
2. Eat before your appointment and/or bring a snack – especially candy
   • Making sure you have enough energy to sit though the tattoo can really help the sit. If you don’t have enough sugars you can start to feel sick, or light headed and have a more difficult time sitting. It actually takes a lot of energy to brace yourself through a tattoo, having enough energy to get finished is a big part of sitting.
3. Breathe
   • Holding your breath during a tattoo can actually make it feel like it hurts more. In addition if you’re breathing evenly your artist can get used to how your body is moving and plan their movements accordingly. Focusing on breathing also draws your attention away from the tattoo and not focusing so hard on the pain can make it feel less intense. Some people use breathing to get in a meditative space and separate themselves from the pain. 
4. Prepare
   • Everyone has their own process for getting tattooed. Some people can mentally prepare themselves to get through a tattoo in the week(s) leading up to the appointment and sit for longer that way. Personally I just white knuckle through them but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. At least be aware of your placement and what you might expect – this is easier if you have a few other tattoos than a first timer.
5. Be hydrated
   • In addition to being good everyday advice, hydration will help you get through a tattoo in a lot of the same ways that eating can. As an aside many people experience dry mouth while getting tattooed, and obviously water helps mitigate that. 

There are definitely some spots that hurt more than others but as I get into that keep in mind what Bryan said, “they’re all bearable.” This chart is generally correct. Everyone is different, some people find the spots that are supposedly the worst to be painless and the supposed easiest spots to be more difficult so one rule definitely doesn’t fit all. Generally the spots that bend or don’t see sunlight much are likely the most painful. Things like the front or back of the knee or the elbow are notoriously painful (but bearable!). Stomach, ribs, and feet are also infamous for being trickier spots. Easier spots can be things like  the mid forearm, thighs, things that are more fatty and less close to the bone generally can hurt less. 

Disclaimer: These charts are just a general guide to give you an idea of what to possibly expect. I wouldn’t say this is 100% true by any means but it’s the best estimate I could find based on my experience and what I’ve heard.

There are a lot of factors that can go into pain though and we are strong believers of just get what you want where you really want. Things like your artist, the style of the piece, the size of the needle can all factor into pain but that doesn’t mean these are things to avoid. Unless you’re not going to a reputable artist, pain from someone with poor technique can mean they’re going too deep and scarring but as long as you’re going to a reputable shop this is very very unlikely. To learn how to recognize a reputable shop checkout my other post: How To Spot a Safe Tattoo Shop. 

All in all does it hurt? Short answer: yes. Long answer: yes but it’s worth it.

Pictures: 

https://www.insider.com/tattoo-pain-chart

Gatekeeper

Hi there! I'm Taylor, you may know me as Sterling Skull reception, or gatekeeper, or most recently Tater (thanks Chris). I love writing, creating and I love tattoos; so what better way to use my passions than to bring you a personal experience of our studio via a blog! Welcome, please stay a while!