With thicker skin and few nerve endings, upper and lower back tattoos tend to be one of the least painful spots to get a tattoo and rank on the low-moderate end of the tattoo pain scale. These back tattoos tend to be slightly less painful for females than for males.
Shoulder, bicep, calf, thigh, are all relatively low-pain areas. High-pain areas are tops of feet, inner arms, elbow/knee, and neck, so those aren't necessarily great places for your tattoo idea anyway.
The arm usually offers a more comfortable experience for newcomers, in terms of pain. It's generally less painful compared to the thin skin on the hands. Keep in mind, your hand has more nerve endings, which might make tattooing there a sharper experience.
You should avoid: stomach, lower back, and may want to avoid thighs, and chest if you are a woman. Lower legs, arms, hands, feet , neck and shoulders can all be decent places to get tattoos that won't be too affected by weight gain unless you put on a lot of weight or it fluctuates like mad.
The most painful places for women will be areas with more nerve endings like your nipples or breasts including between your breasts. If you're planning a sternum tattoo this can also be a painful spot, same as your ribs.
Some placements, like along the thigh as seen here, seem to be more popular with women getting tattooed, which gives them a “feminine” reputation. “I suppose the most common areas I get requested by women are on the wrist, ribcage, sternum, spine, tricep, hip, and top of the forearm,” says Ruiz.
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.
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.
HUSH Numbing Spray
Anesthetics are introduced to the skin by way of tiny drops or mists. It works immediately upon skin contact, making it a perfect product for keeping a painless tattoo while the artist concentrates on creating a mind-blowing masterpiece!
Those attracted to women saw a three-way tie between the upper back, shoulder and hips (with a 3.3 rating). The back: a top-rated tattoo location for women and men. The hip: a top-rated tattoo location for women. The upper arm: a top-rated tattoo location for men.
There are many benefits to using a tattoo numbing cream before getting a tattoo. They help reduce the pain you feel during the tattooing process and speed up the healing time. A tattoo without a numbing cream applied beforehand can take longer because you may need more breaks. The session can cause quite a bit of pain.
Tattoo needles are dull compared to syringes and needles, but the sustained soreness of getting inked is more painful.
For a tattoo to be both permanent and visually appealing, the needle must penetrate the dermis. This layer is approximately 1.5 to 2 millimeters beneath the skin's surface. Tattooing at this depth ensures the ink is deposited in a stable environment, leading to a long-lasting design.
With thicker skin and few nerve endings, upper and lower back tattoos tend to be one of the least painful spots to get a tattoo and rank on the low-moderate end of the tattoo pain scale. These back tattoos tend to be slightly less painful for females than for males.
Shoulders and Arms
An ideal location for a first-time tattoo, work on arms is usually the easiest because of accessibility, according to Tufariello.
So what are the worst places to get a tattoo on the body? Areas like the feet, hands, stomach, chest, elbow, lips, and inner ear are not good tattoo locations. It's essential to consider a few things when choosing a proper placement, such as pain intensity, practicality, and visibility.
Just remember to use numbing cream before starting your session; take breaks throughout; choose smaller tattoos over large ones; avoid sensitive areas; and use ice both during and after your session! With these tips in mind, you'll be on your way towards getting the perfect traditional tattoo in no time—painlessly!