How painful it is to get a tattoo and how to minimize discomfort

There is a theory that a person gets a tattoo at a certain time of his life - when he wants to change himself, the attitude of others around him and the world around him. Therefore, for him, in fact, it is not so important what kind of drawing it will be, in what place and how much it will hurt. It is rather an act of self-expression.

We talked with experts and found out what pain sensations depend on and how to minimize them so that the cherished tattoo does not cause much discomfort.

Why does it hurt to get a tattoo?

Often we can get a scratch or small cut without feeling any pain. Why doesn't it work with a tattoo? In this case, it all depends on the pigment: how exactly it gets under the skin and what path the dye molecules take to penetrate the tissue.

Human skin has two layers:

The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin that is less sensitive and constantly renews itself.
The dermis is the second layer, which is located under the epidermis and is not capable of noticeable renewal. The dermis contains various glands, hair follicles, blood and lymph vessels, as well as sensory cells and receptors that the epidermis does not have. They are responsible for the pain.

When dye molecules enter the dermis, receptor cells send pain signals to the brain, signaling that the body is damaged and that something is threatening our safety. This is a vital function. But it’s one thing when it’s a single signal (for example, a climber injured his arm by clinging to a rock), and another thing when this whole series of 80–150 pulses per second (during tattooing). In the latter case, for the brain, this is evidence of increased danger. And such a condition, by definition, cannot be painless for the whole organism. However, experts believe that the widespread opinion about unbearable pain is not entirely justified.

The depth of penetration of the needles under the skin is so small that a tattoo, in terms of the severity of damage to the skin, can be compared with an abrasion when falling on the asphalt. Many women say that hair removal is much more painful.

Alexander Maryshev tattoo artist, has been making tattoos for about 20 years

Where it hurts most to get a tattoo

Each part of the body reacts differently to the tattoo artist's needle. It all depends on the features of the structure of the skin and the concentration of nerve endings in it.

When choosing a place for a tattoo and trying to avoid acute pain sensations, they are usually guided by the principles that are applicable in everyday life. It hurts where bones and tendons are closer to the surface of the skin (ribs, wrists, knees, elbows) or where the skin is more delicate (armpits, folds of arms and legs, inner thighs).

Alexander Maryshev tattoo artist, has been making tattoos for about 20 years

Here are the most painful parts of the body for a tattoo:

ribs and chest;
head;
inner thigh;
the inner surface of the shoulder near the elbow;
Feet;
the inner surface of the wrist;
fingers;
armpits.

it hurts to get a tattoo: the most sensitive places

1. Ribs and chest

Tattoo artists and people with tattoos admit that this is one of the most painful places. The increased feeling of pain is due to the fact that there is no thick fatty layer or muscles on the chest that would soften the sensation of needle pricks.

Another reason for the increased pain is that the ribs move slightly with each inhalation and exhalation. Because of this, the discomfort increases every time the needle touches the surface of the skin, which does not get used to the pain after several injections, as on other parts of the body.

However, the worst begins after the session. If in most cases the discomfort disappears after an hour or two, then in this case they persist much longer. Sometimes people can experience constant pain for six or more hours.

Irina Saratova has been making tattoos for 15 years

It hurts the most on the ribs, nipples and, I think, the skull. I have a lot of tattoos, including on the ribs under my heart. It was in this place that it was most painful. I did not tattoo with a typewriter, like most people, but the old way - with a bamboo stick. Much depends on this too.

2. Head

The abundance of nerves and insignificant fatty layer makes this part of the body one of the most painful for a tattoo. Some salon clients complain that it feels like they are being drilled into your skull. For those who still want to decorate their head with a drawing, tattoo artists are advised to overcome psychological and physical pain barriers.

3. Inner thigh

Getting a tattoo here is painful for physiological reasons: when walking, one leg rubs against the other, which interferes with the rapid healing of the wound and causes irritation on the skin.

Contrary to popular belief, most women tolerate pain better than men. Probably, there are some mechanisms that help to transfer childbirth.

Alexander Maryshev tattoo artist, has been making tattoos for about 20 years

4. The inner surface of the shoulder near the elbow

In this place, two of the three main nerve endings of the human body are located, which is why it hurts like hell to get a tattoo here. Each time the needle touches a nerve, pain is felt throughout the arm. In other words, it seems that you get a tattoo on its entire surface at once, driving dozens of needles under your skin at the same time.

5. Feet

There is no fat or muscle on the feet, and in most places the skin covers the bone. As a result, the nerves in this area are exposed and especially sensitive.

6. Inner surface of the wrist

Most people choose word tattoos or designs that require constant contact of the needle with the flesh. And this is not the most pleasant experience.

7. Fingers

This is one of the trendiest places for tattoos, but to make even the smallest drawing on your fingers, you have to endure a lot of pain. There are many nerve endings in the hands, since the main purpose of this part of the human body is to feel the world around us.

8. Armpits

Here, many people want to have a tattoo, since if desired, it can be easily hidden from the eyes of others, showing the drawing only when you want. But the problem is that the skin here is especially delicate and sensitive, which increases the painful sensations.

It is undesirable to choose one of these places as the first tattoo, as this experience can be sad. Beating a tattoo on especially sensitive parts of the body is for experienced tattooists who perfectly understand what they are doing. Beginners are better off choosing other locations.

Where is the least painful to get a tattoo?

Getting a tattoo on the softest place (we're talking about your buttocks, of course) is the most comfortable option. But most people are not ready to decorate this part of the body with a pattern, so let's move on to those places where the tattoo looks more advantageous.

Someone with a reduced pain tolerance will experience a tattoo on the following body parts less painfully:

outer thigh;
forearm;
caviar;
back.

1. Outer thigh

In this place, there is a thick layer of fat and coarser skin, which minimizes pain.

2. Forearm

Perhaps one of the most popular places for tattooing. Filling a pattern on the shoulder is not very painful: you quickly get used to the unpleasant sensations, and the process of wound healing in the vast majority of cases is quick and without complications.

There is a misconception that small drawings are much less painful than large ones. I disagree, because in the first case, the master has to work with one small area, which makes the skin on it more irritated.

Alexander Maryshev tattoo artist, has been making tattoos for about 20 years

3. Caviar

This part of the body consists entirely of soft tissue, which acts as a kind of buffer when the needle is pricked.

4. Back

The skin on the back is thick and there are not as many nerve endings as in other areas. Moreover, lying on his stomach, a person relaxes, which also reduces pain during a tattoo session.

If the tattoo involves a small amount of work, then in fact most of the body is quite tolerant of injections: arms, legs, stomach, back. Here you need to understand that everyone has a different pain threshold: what is damn painful for one person, for the other is just a light injection. For me personally, the most painless places are the buttocks, calves and forearm. When I make a tattoo there, it feels like it's my cat just slowly and tediously scratching the same place.

Irina Saratova has been making tattoos for 15 years

How much pain will have to endure during a tattoo session

As we mentioned at the very beginning, pain sensations are directly related to the time during which receptor cells send pain signals to the brain. It is in your best interest to keep the session as short as possible. However, its duration is also influenced by the complexity of the work, the qualifications of the master and other external factors.

There are generally accepted rules: a professional will not give you a tattoo for more than three or four hours. If it is not possible to complete all the work within this time, he will schedule additional sessions.

A tattoo is often more scary than painful. In the process of applying the sensations are sharp for the first 10-15 minutes, then the body gets used to it and for the next three hours it suffers quite calmly "suffering". Therefore, the session usually does not last longer than four hours, although everything is individual.

Alexander Maryshev tattoo artist, has been making tattoos for about 20 years

To reduce pain during the session, it is recommended to use pain relievers (eg TKTX, Dr. Numb, Painless Tattoos Cream). They are suitable if you are tattooing a large size. Before buying, be sure to consult with the master - he will tell you which tool is suitable in your case.

The right attitude also helps to feel less pain. During the session, you need to calm down and breathe deeply. You can call a friend for support or listen to your favorite music - all this will help you feel more at ease.

How long will pain be felt after a tattoo session?

The most severe pain of having a special ink injected under your skin usually lasts during and a few hours after the tattoo. Perceptible pain can persist for several days (up to a week). It should get easier after that.

If after seven days the pain does not subside, and the part of the body on which the tattoo appeared is pulsating and looks reddened, this is a cause for concern. You should see your doctor as soon as possible to make sure there is no infection or allergic reaction and take action if necessary.

Follow these simple guidelines and the process of creating a tattoo will be as painless as possible for you.