The least painful places for a woman to get a tattoo are areas with less nerve endings and thicker skin like the outside of your shoulders or the outside of your upper thighs.
Scratching pain.
Getting a tattoo is often compared to a cat repeatedly scratching you. Though it's not the most intense pain ever, it might make you wanna hiss – especially if your artist uses multiple needles, like when shading. This also tends to happen away from bony or ultra-sensitive areas.
Contrary to what you might expect, many people report that the shading hurts significantly less than the outlining of the tattoo. If you've already made it through your line work, pat yourself on the back. You've likely conquered the most painful part already.
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.
Anywhere on your body that has a little more muscle would be the best spot for the first tattoo. Generally speaking, an area will feel less uncomfortable the more body fat there is in that location. Therefore, some good spots to target are your calf, bum, bicep, and thigh.
Our skin becomes thinner as we age and its elasticity also reduces. The more exposure you've had to the sun over the years, the thinner your skin may become, and this can affect how painful it is to get a tattoo. Aim for your stronger or fattier areas of your body to help ease any discomfort.
"Numbing cream is typically considered safe to apply before tattoo treatments, especially in areas that are particularly sensitive," she says. "However, the numbing cream may or may not be effective depending on the type of ingredients used.
You do not want the scabs picked off. The scabbing stage can last a few days. The tattooed area is unlikely to still feel sore after about two weeks.
Expect about half an hour to an hour for a simple, small tattoo. Keep in mind, however, a small tattoo with lots of color, line work, details, or a tricky placement could take several hours. Small tattoos are great for people who don't want to go through a lengthy tattoo process, but still want some cool ink.
How Much is a Small Tattoo? A smaller tattoo often costs just $50 to $150, although this depends on other factors like complexity. Getting a simple outline of a star will typically cost less than a watercolor flower, for instance.
Drink a lot of water during the week; avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before getting tattooed. Please do not shave the area; we will do it for you at your appointment. Avoid aspirin or blood thinning medication at least 24 hours before your tattoo; ibuprofen, acetaminophen, & other NSAID pain relievers are OK.
In general, tattoos tend to hurt more than piercings because the needles used for tattoos are larger and go deeper into the skin than the needles used for piercings.
You can expect it to be uncomfortable, of course, but just how uncomfortable depends on the hand and skill of your artist, the location of the tattoo, and your pain tolerance. You can expect to feel more than a pinprick when you get a tattoo, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to handle it.
In general, the least painful spots are those with the biggest fat content, fewest nerve endings, and thickest skin. The most painful spots to get tattooed are those with the least fat, most nerve endings, and thinnest skin. Bony areas such as ribs or hips or chest usually hurt a lot.
While no tattoo will be completely painless, Wiwi points out that fine line tattoos hurt less as they use small needles. However, Boyle points out that placement can greatly affect how much getting a tattoo hurts, not to mention the skill level of the artist.
What does tattoo pain feel like? Even though needles produce tattoos, it doesn't feel like you're getting stabbed. It's nothing like getting a shot, either. The artist is actually drawing on your skin, so it feels like that — but more burn-y.
For those worried about pain, Lavriv says tattoo newbies should start small. "I always recommend getting a smaller piece — under an hour — as a first tattoo," she says. "Tattoo pain is a very subjective thing and while it can feel like not a big deal to some people, it can be excruciating for others.