Hey tattoo people, a question for you...

madelonism

after 45 minutes of work on my sugar skull between my shoulder blades the endorphins wore off and every second was what i like to call "bearable agony." i could take it, but it was awful. its a rather large peice. the collar bone tattoo i have tickled.

Girl_Bomb

I have a billion, they hurt, anyone who says they dont is a liar. Obviously pain is more or less for diff spots. Thigh was nothing, arms were nothing you can't handle, middle top of back hurt, ankles are death etc

DaneDillinger

It's usually a good idea to eat something before you go. I've been in the shop multiple times while the artist next to mine has had to stop because their client was about to pass out. Their first line of questioning is usually "Did you eat something before you came?" (The answer is always no.) Keep a bottle of water nearby, also.

As for the pain- it depends on the location. I have both of my feet done, and they didn't hurt at all. My right arm is now a dragon sleeve, and the spot where my forearm connects to my upper arm, that crook-of-the-arm area, hurt more than all of my tattoos put together. It's actually the only time I've felt "pain" while getting tattooed. Most of the time I've just felt a burn, like a sunburn, from the needle. It could also be possible that tattoos hurt more as you get older, which is what I've encountered- first 3 at 18, last one was a portrait done last year at 32.

Oh yeah, they're crazy addictive. You need to start mapping out your real estate now, and think of how one will incorporate into another. Do NOT go in drunk or "altered" in any way- drinking thins the blood, which will cause you to bleed more and have the artist spend more time trying to drill ink into an area... and the feeling/sensation of the tattoo is part of the whole experience. Why numb yourself to it? Embrace it- it's like therapy for the soul. You'll walk out of the shop at peace with the universe if you do it right...

nbeth901

I must be masochistic because i find the pain of getting a tattoo quite nice

Must be! I found my tats to be addicting! Heck.. I have had kids. Tats aint nothing!

PilotX

I love my tattoo getting my arms done very soon

lessofme150

Shoulders aren't bad at all. Barely felt it and that day and for a couple of days after it just felt like a sun burn. If they were too painful there wouldn't be so many people with multiples. I have 5 and don't regret any of them.

kwest_4_fitness

I got mine near the same spot, shoulder blade area. I dozed through mine. My sister, however, got hers on the top of the foot and cussed a blue streak through the thing.

muffinmaster

I have three tattoos,so I can tell you that it felt kinda like a hot knife I also enjoyed the pain be sure not to hold your breath

lessofme150

And I never ate anything before hand because I went right after work and ate supper afterwards. Didn't bother me at all not having any food.

kittiekat89

i love getting tattoos... there really isn't much pain but then again it varies by person so i wouldn't take what anyone here says cause it all depends on the day. It'll hurt more if you're tired so get plenty of sleep before

lorihalsted

My first was on my lower back on my spine. The first 3-5 minutes I was wondering what I got myself into because it felt like she was using a soldering iron on my back. After I got over the initial shock (and pain) I kind of enjoyed it. I picked a large tat for my first one and I am hooked too. It won't be my last for sure. Have fun with it!

RunawayUnderland

Its tolerable enough to make you want more
They are so addictive lol

The pain is way tolerable..
Even for people with lower pain tolerances.

acstansell

different places can change the hurt - your location should be okay. Closer to bone the more it can hurt.... from what I'm told. Also, flabby or softer areas (like under arms). The outline tends to hurt worse than the shading - shading feels more like some one scratching a sunburn.

When you hit a painful part in the outline, just breathe in deeply through your nose and out through your mouth slowly. Or swear - it's nothing they've not heard.

I need to get the two on my feet touched up and I have a few more I want... ah where's that money tree!

Best of luck w/your ink!

PS: did you research the shop, ask to see the back where you'll be getting the work done, their autoclave or sterilization stuff - is everything individually wrapped when you get there. Ask to see their inspection license... just some thoughts.

KeriW626

I don't find them painful. I rather enjoy the feeling. Although the collarbone wasn't a lot of fun. Any pain associated stops once the needle leaves the skin. You don't need to eat a huge meal, just your normal intake is fine. Enjoy it!

I have one on my shoulder, it didnt really hurt. My daughter took the camera so she could catch mom in pain, it didnt happen. I dont know what to compare it to, just a constant stinging for a while. After car was painless. I used aquaphour and kept it covered for a few days, then just coated it three or so times a day.
I am getting one on the top of my foot, to celebrate my 50 lbs weight loss. It will only be about 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches.
Good luck.

gauchogirl

The pain is only when getting it, so only lasts that long. My tattoo artist says it feels like "kitten kisses" and we all laugh and go, yea, whatever. Ones on less fat areas hurt more (like boney/thin areas). When it starts, for me, it kinda feels good. As time goes on, I get to a point when I think, OK, I can't go much longer, and happily, it ends about then anyway. I describe myself as having a high-tolerance to pain also. I've had three kids with no drugs, kidney stones 5 times, a broken hip, a replaced hip, a fully blown disc in my back, later repaired, a hernia, also repaired, knee surgery, a hysterectomy, yadda yadda, I could go on. I can't take pain meds (heavy duty ones) because I'm allergic. So I focus a lot on getting through pain, like with breathing, and I get through. I bet you'll do great and can't wait for your next one! Welcome to the club

anels449

Never had a tattoo there, so I can't rightly say pain wise, but I have 7 so far and 4 of them are on my feet (inners and outers). The way I think about it, no matter how much it hurts it's worth it. If you like the tattoo enough, go through the pain. It's part of the process of getting a tattoo.

As far as a meal goes, it's really what your body is comfortable with. A big concern that the artist should have is you fainting, so having a good meal beforehand helps. I came in for my 4th last Friday eating nothing, so I grabbed a small snack and was perfectly fine. If you're worried about it, have a meal within 2 hours of the tattoo.

Good luck and enjoy it! The pain is worth a beautiful piece of artwork you get to have for the rest of your life!

lamanderanna

They are wicked addicting... I don't think they hurt at all really, but it does depend on how hard the artist hits your skin. I started falling asleep during a session with one artist, but the guy I went to after my original artist moved made me wanna jump outa my skin. Anything that is over a bone will hurt more than others, but it'll be totally worth it.

Eat a normal sized meal a couple of hours beforehand. Eat too much, or just before you head to the shop, and you run the risk of tossing it back up depending on how your nerves are. Eat too little and you could pass out. Don't overthink it. If you're hungry, eat.

NinjaBeth90

Honestly I dont find they hurt too bad - It depends more on where you get them.. Ive got 6 now and i really enjoy the feeling. If im honest it's kind of addictive (i find so anyway)... You dont need to eat loads before but it is good to eat something substantial..

renwicker

Most important, dont psych yourself out too much. Have fun! The pain is not really bad at all. I would compare to a semi-bad sun/rug burn. Since yours is so small it likely wont take long, and the skin wont have much time to get tender. Your body will adjust to the pain quickly. For my bigger pieces...the pain the next couple days far outweighed the pain of getting it. It will be sore to the touch, but you have to lightly scrub it with soap several times a day while its healing. Just make sure you take care of you new tat and you wont regret it. A clean and moisturized tattoo is a happy one. I still put lotion on mine daily and they look brand new.

As most others have said, it's addicting....so you have that to look forward to. I got my first one about a year and a half ago. I've got 2 since and am planning on another before the year is out. haha

319tokona

Tats are way cool and worth the pain of getting them. I think running marathons is really cool and worth the pain so you might not wanna listen to me. hehe

Ashlee2421

I have the Sacred Heart on my shoulder blade. It was my first. Honestly, I almost fell asleep in the chair. The only part that hurt was the healing. Make sure you keep it out of the sun! It burned a little, then they get itchy.

Hoover8it

I have 4 tattoos. One of them is on my shoulder it was a small cat I got in my twenties. When I turned 40 I had a lion tattooed on top of it and you can't even tell. I tell my friends when I turn fifty its going to be turned into a cougar (lol)
The pain is like a annoying cat scratch.

Dtho5159

My first one is in the same place you are describing and that one hurt less than my other 2. for me, it just felt like a pinch. ive tried both eating before and not and id recommend eating before only because i got lighteaded and queasy when i didn't eat before.