"Does it hurt?" is the question tattoo artists hear more than any other. Yes, it hurts, but almost always less than you feared. More importantly, the pain depends on where on your body the tattoo goes. The difference between the outer thigh and the ribs is so big they feel like different sports. That makes choosing the placement the best pain relief you can arrange before you ever set foot in the studio.
Why does a tattoo hurt, and what does it actually feel like?
A tattoo machine drives the needle into the skin in a fast back-and-forth motion and deposits pigment into the middle layer of the skin. The sensation is not a single sting but a steady scratching or burning feeling. Most people describe it as a cat scratch or someone rubbing a sunburn. You get used to it faster than you would expect.
Beyond placement, many things affect the pain. Thin skin and spots close to bone feel it more. Session length matters, because pain accumulates: after three hours, even the same spot feels rougher. Fatigue, hunger, and a hangover all lower your pain threshold noticeably. Technique plays a part too, since dense color packing feels different from light shading.
Pain chart: the easiest spots
These areas have thick skin, muscle, and fat between the needle and the bone. They suit a first tattoo and long sessions well:
- Outer thigh, in many artists' opinion the easiest spot on the body
- Upper arm and shoulder, the classic first-tattoo location for good reason
- Calf, you feel it but it rarely crosses into truly uncomfortable
- Outer forearm, popular and very tolerable
- Upper back and shoulder blade area, as long as you stay off the spine
Pain chart: the middle tier and the toughest spots
The middle tier includes the inner forearm, the front and back of the thigh, the upper chest, the back of the neck, and the back of the hand. It clearly hurts, but most people manage without much drama.
Then the tough ones. In these areas the skin is thin, the nerves are dense, or the needle runs straight over bone:
- Ribs, most commonly named the most painful area: thin skin, bones right at the surface, and your breathing moving the whole time
- Spine and sternum
- Ankle and top of the foot, bones and tendons right under the surface
- Elbow and the back of the knee
- Armpit and side, for many the worst of all
- Neck, fingers, palm and sole of the foot, where the ink also wears out quickly
You can still get tattooed in the painful spots, and thousands of people do every year. Prepare yourself mentally, keep the sessions reasonable, and tell your artist when you need a break.
How can you make the pain easier?
The best methods start the day before, and they are the same as preparing for tattoo day in general: a proper night's sleep, a solid meal a couple of hours beforehand, and water throughout the day. Tired and hungry, the same session feels twice as bad.
Alcohol and blood-thinning painkillers (aspirin, ibuprofen) do not belong on tattoo day, because they increase bleeding and can weaken the final result. Paracetamol is a safer option if needed, but ask your artist about it in advance.
During the session, your most important tool is calm breathing. A tense muscle amplifies pain, and many people find that when you simply let the sensation come, it settles into tolerable background noise. Headphones and a good podcast carry your mind elsewhere in a long session. You can and should ask for breaks, and a piece of chocolate works small miracles now and then.
Numbing creams are always the artist's call, so discuss them beforehand. Some artists do not use them at all, because they can change the texture of the skin and make the work harder.
How long does a session take, and can it be split up?
A small design is done before the pain even properly gets going. Bigger pieces are done in 2-4 hour sessions, and large projects are split across several visits. Your body's stress response grows as the session drags on, and skin heals more cleanly when it is not pushed to its limits in one go. That is why many artists themselves prefer several shorter sessions.
If you are planning a big piece in a painful area, talk about pacing already at the design stage. At Nero, sessions are always sized to the client. In a long session it pays to start with the most painful spot, while your tolerance is at its best.
Frequently asked questions: tattoo pain
What is the least painful spot for a tattoo? The outer thigh, upper arm, and calf are generally considered the easiest areas. They have thick skin and plenty of soft tissue.
What is the most painful spot for a tattoo? The ribs, armpit, sternum, spine, and top of the foot come up most often. Individual differences are large, though.
Can I get a tattoo with numbing? Numbing creams exist, but their use is always the artist's decision. Some creams affect the skin in a way that can interfere with how the ink takes.
Does shading hurt more than the outlines? Many people find the outlines feel sharper and the shading feels like a broader, grinding pain. In a long session the shading gets heavier, because the same area is worked over repeatedly.
Why does a tattoo hurt more towards the end? Your body tires and the adrenaline drops, so the same needle feels worse in the evening than in the morning. An experienced artist takes this into account when planning the session.
How long does the pain last after a tattoo? The area feels tender like a sunburn for 2-4 days. If the pain gets worse over the days or the area starts throbbing, check the signs of infection.
Nero Tattoo is located at Hämeenpuisto 14, Tampere. Bookings and details via Instagram @tatuointistudionero.