So, do wrist tattoos hurt? Yes, they can, thanks to thin skin, nerve endings, and proximity to bones.
It will be fairly quick and only mildly painful. You can handle it. It sort of feels like something scrapping across your skin with a slight burning quality to it. Some areas are more sensitive than others even on the same side of your arm between your wrist and elbow. Some artists can be rougher than others as well.
Getting tattooed on the arm and upper back is only moderately painful compared to the head, armpit, and rib cage. While you should still expect to feel much discomfort, getting inked in these areas is tolerable for most people.
Wrist tattoos typically do not harm your veins. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind: Proximity to Veins: The wrist is an area with a lot of blood vessels close to the skin.
I honestly would recommend waiting until you can get the tattoos you really want. But if you definitely want the wrist tattoos, then I'd say go for it! Wrists are not weird for a first tattoo. I also got two tattoos my first go around - one on each upper arm.
"I've had some clients who are new to tattoos share concerns about the pain or 'dangers' of a wrist tattoo because you can see veins in this area," she told Insider. "But generally, tattoos over veins don't happen to be more painful than other places and pose no greater risk than tattooing elsewhere on the body."
"In terms of pain, the chest and the ribs are the worst. If those are a 10 on the scale, I would say most places on the wrist will be a two, with the area near the palm being more like a four." Pain is anything but objective, though, so consider your typical threshold for discomfort when considering a wrist tattoo.
Get a tattoo design that you're sure will look good on the inside of your wrist. If you're going for a simpler design, it'll look good on the outside as well. So, you can either go for a simple design facing in or a complex design facing out.
Not all tattoo artists are opposed to numbing creams, but some avoid them, primarily because of their effects on the skin. The last thing a tattoo artist wants is to trigger an allergic reaction in a client or compromise the quality of their ink.
How bad do tattoos hurt? There's no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to how much pain you'll feel when getting tattooed. 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.
Sometimes we all need a little extra help. Emla numbing cream is a trusted brand that can help you through your tattoo appointment. Emla can also be used to numb the skin before laser tattoo removal.
Long-term care: A wrist tattoo can fade or blur over time, especially if it's exposed to the sun or if you don't take proper care of it. Be sure to use sunscreen to protect the tattoo from fading, and moisturize the area regularly to prevent dryness and cracking.
Most of the time, the itching is caused by the healing process and is completely normal. There are some other things that might make a tattoo itch, however. These might include an allergic reaction, infection, an underlying skin condition, or environmental factors.
Generally speaking, areas with few nerve endings and more fat and muscle, such as the thighs, lower back, shoulders, and upper arms tend to be less painful when getting inked. Although these spots may still be uncomfortable for some people, they generally cause less discomfort than more sensitive areas of the body.
With that said, don't take painkillers before getting a tattoo either. Painkillers like Advil and Ibuprofen also thin the blood, which will lead to similar issues that alcohol has. Acetaminophen may potentially be fine to take, but should be discussed with the artist beforehand.
As with tipping waitstaff, 20-25% percent is a good standard. An easy way to include tipping in your budget is to add it in when getting the estimated costs for having your work done. So, if your tattoo is expected to cost $200, with a 20-percent tip, that's $240.
Outer wrist tattoos will hurt less than inner wrist tattoos, where there are a lot of nerve endings and the skin is particularly thin. Wrist tattoos done closer to the forearm will be less painful than pieces done closer to the wrist bones. The smaller the design, the less your wrist tattoo will likely hurt.
Tattoos are generally accepted in the workplace as long as they're not offensive, unprofessional or distracting.
Your Wrist
Most female customers will choose the wrist as the location for the first tattoo. It's the perfect placement for a tattoo that is delicate and dainty. But be warned! The wrist has a lot of nerve endings, making the tattoo itself more painful than in other more cushioned areas of the body.
Numbing your skin with Emla before the tattooing starts helps reduce the pain making the whole experience more tolerable and less stressful. Less pain generally means less flinching. Being fidgety or moving about during tattooing can cause problems.