How bad does a tattoo hurt?
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I have two and here is my experience (one on my left shoulder and another on my right ankle)
the more "meat" you have the less it hurts
Depending on the artist, it shouldn't hurt too much, will feel like someone scratching you (I say that cause I know some artists that dig the needle in too far and scrape the skin instead of gently gliding the needle over skin)
It does hurt a little more when close to a bone (it pinched when she was close to my spine)
Funny fact: you may feel the needle in a different place then it is. like if the needle is on your left shoulder you will feel it on your lower back
your body will adjust after a while (I fell asleep)
I found the healing time hurt more then getting the tattoo (feels like a sunburn...and I hate sunburns)0 -
It's funny that you ask because i have two and am actually going back today for my first touch up.
My first tattoo was on the top of my foot, i had heard it was extremely painful but since I had nothing to measure it by, i thought it went well all things considering. I am afraid this touch up today is going to hurt like a *()& so I'll let you know how that goes
My second tattoo is on the inside of my wrist, I have to admit it was extremely painful at times when going over the tendons, but totally worth it and it healed so much easier than my foot. the foot is tricky but was exactly where i wanted my first.
good luck and I think you should do it!!!0 -
I have 12, and am working on more... and it's different for everyone...
My most painful one? My chest piece... seriously, it hurt so freaking bad...
My foot- getting it done was easy, the aftermath/healing was terrible... I couldn't put my weight on my foot for a few days, which is why I'm waiting until winter to get my other one done.
Anything over bone won't be fun.
Here is a handy chart to help gauge the pain, but really, one could be painless for someone and totally hurty for another.
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When I was contemplating getting my first tattoo, I asked the same question. I was told it feels like one long, continuous scratch by a cat, or like someone dragging a needle firmly across your skin. For me, that was pretty accurate. There was some discomfort, but not "painful" so speak of.
But as mentioned, it all depends upon an individual's tolerance for pain.
ETA: I have a tat on my left breast, right hip and right shoulder. Also, I think if you feel comfortable with your decision to get a tattoo, feel comfortable with your tattoo artist, etc, you feel probably feel less discomfort. Apprehension about the whole procedure will increase the likelihood of discomfort/pain.0 -
I've several and each time they have hurt to varying degrees, but the tattoo's themselves were very important to me. Worst pain was lower back, and the one on my breast didn't hurt at all :-) As other posters have said, the fat/muscle/bone ratio does make a big difference.
The most awkward thing was me balanced on the chair for nearly 2 hours for the back one. My legs were dangling and really started to hurt after a bit!0 -
Like most have already said, it depends. Location, time, inks, etc. I've had tattoos (my kid's names on my wrists) that were done so fast that it was over before I realized it might hurt a little bit. I've had others (like a tribal piece on my leg) that was done in one eight hour sitting. Nice fleshy thigh, so it wasn't bad for the first five or six hours, but the last couple of hours were hard. If it takes more than an hour, the spray bottle will be your best friend in the world, but if it goes more than four or so, you'll hate it. The spray feels good, but when the artist wipes off the blood/ink, you'll want to throat punch him/her. :laugh: I've found that some colors burn a little bit, like reds and oranges, but I seem to be in the minority there. Some areas are more sensitive than others, like the closer the artist got to my wrist on my inner forearm, but places like the outside of my upper arms were hardly noticeable. If you've ever been shocked (electricity), that's about what it feels like to me when the needles first touch your skin.0
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I have a tattoo on my lower back that says "exit only". Wait for it...0
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I have a tattoo on my ankle. I took some Advil about an hour before I got it done. It hurt, but it wasn't unbearable. Bring a good book or your iPad - it's boring to have to sit/lie there and hold still.0
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I agree. Depends on where you get it. I have two. One on my back and a small one on my wrist. Both hurt, but bearable. I want more, but my husband objects.0
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Well since I was in my early 20s, I've wanted a specific tattoo. Now that I'm losing the weight, I feel that a reward when I get to my goal is to get the tattoo I've always wanted. I'm thinking about a few inches big, and either in the centre of my upper back or on my left shoulder. So my question is, how bad do they hurt? Lol
Just like real estate....location, location, location!! I have most mine in fairly meaty places( shoulder and biceps) and one on my forearm. To me none of them really hurt, I think it feels more like a razor cutting the skin. A small, very clean cut. After about 5-10 mins things start to kinda get numb and its really just being patient.0 -
Totally depends on your pain tolerence, where it is, colors used if you're sensitive, etc. For example, I have super sensitive skin, I can feel the difference in different color inks but my artist has only met a couple other people like that.
Yes, it hurts. If you don't mind pain, it can be relaxing. Hell, I find it enjoyable. My most painful one was probably the side of my thigh or behind the knee where everything is especially sensitive. However, my wrists, lower leg, heart, shoulder, behind ear, those didn't hurt. The behind the ear one did vibrate my entire skull, though, and the post-tattoo headache was worse than the actual tattoo.0 -
I got my right shoulder done (see profile pic), and it hurt like hell. I've heard that being skinny doesn't help, and that may be true. I had virtually no muscle on the spots I got tattooed, but the worst pain felt like the guy was tattooing my clavicle (the bone itself), and not my skin. I almost passed out at one point, but I got through it.0
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The pain could be said for the rest of your life... and will probably be most felt when you finally mature and the neat tattoo has taken on the appearance of a smudged mess on your wrinkly aged skin and is a long gone fashion !!!
Time would be better spent on perfecting make up and the manner in which you dress and present yourself which far too many women have neglected right down to the manner in which eat !!!0 -
All the way to your pocket book.0
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The motto at my tattoo shop is "Yeah, It F*ckin Hurts!"
It really depends on where you get it, and the person, as some have a higher tolerance for pain than others. For instance I have both sides of my outer arms inked and those didn't hurt at all, whereas I know someone who got the same area tattooed and he said the pain was awful (personally I think he's a wuss). :-)0 -
I didn't find the actual tattoo as painful as the itching of it healing afterward!0
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I had mine done a few years ago. The infamous "tramp stamp" before I knew that they were called that it hurt terribly. I would like to think that I have a relatively high pain tolerance but it sucked and it has held me back from having my second one.
I want one on my foot which I hear hurts bad. I am waiting until I hit my next goal and deciding.
Good luck!
I have one that took about two hours on my foot, i did not expect to be able to sit that long i thought it would hurt way more... it was fine... I will be getting another on my other foot eventually 0 -
I have quite a of my back covered, they don't hurt in my experience. Now some parlors are using numbing cream too. So that's always an option
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Well since I was in my early 20s, I've wanted a specific tattoo. Now that I'm losing the weight, I feel that a reward when I get to my goal is to get the tattoo I've always wanted. I'm thinking about a few inches big, and either in the centre of my upper back or on my left shoulder. So my question is, how bad do they hurt? Lol
Not as much as it will hurt to get it removed when you are 50.
I've always wanted the same design...I thought of that lol, but it's been 6 years and I still love the idea and design
And thanks everyone again...I'll be going for it for sure. You all described what I wanted to know perfectly!0 -
Well since I was in my early 20s, I've wanted a specific tattoo. Now that I'm losing the weight, I feel that a reward when I get to my goal is to get the tattoo I've always wanted. I'm thinking about a few inches big, and either in the centre of my upper back or on my left shoulder. So my question is, how bad do they hurt? Lol
Not as much as it will hurt to get it removed when you are 50.
I've always wanted the same design...I thought of that lol, but it's been 6 years and I still love the idea and design
And thanks everyone again...I'll be going for it for sure. You all described what I wanted to know perfectly!
People are always going to tell you that you'll regret it. If you've been rocking the idea for 6 years I'd say you're good to get it. Just go into it with some realistic expectations and RESEARCH for a good artist. Look for portfolios and examples of their work in the style you want your piece. Then actually talk to them ebcause, as I've learned, feeling comfortable with the artist goes so far with the whole experience.0 -
Well since I was in my early 20s, I've wanted a specific tattoo. Now that I'm losing the weight, I feel that a reward when I get to my goal is to get the tattoo I've always wanted. I'm thinking about a few inches big, and either in the centre of my upper back or on my left shoulder. So my question is, how bad do they hurt? Lol
Not as much as it will hurt to get it removed when you are 50.
I've always wanted the same design...I thought of that lol, but it's been 6 years and I still love the idea and design
And thanks everyone again...I'll be going for it for sure. You all described what I wanted to know perfectly!
People are always going to tell you that you'll regret it. If you've been rocking the idea for 6 years I'd say you're good to get it. Just go into it with some realistic expectations and RESEARCH for a good artist. Look for portfolios and examples of their work in the style you want your piece. Then actually talk to them ebcause, as I've learned, feeling comfortable with the artist goes so far with the whole experience.
Thank you for the advice. A reputable place and comfortable place is definitely important to me 0 -
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I have 8, it definitely depends on your level of pain tolerance, where you're getting tattooed, and the size/complexity of the tattoo. I've had ones that didn't hurt at all like the ones on my arms. My most recent was an 8 hour straight session for my back tattoo, at some points I thought I was going to black out from exhaustion and pain. So it really varies. I'm addicted though lol so the pain doesn't stop me from planning my next piece of beautiful new ink! :-)0
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I also find them to be relaxing depending on where it is. The ones on my back didn't hurt too much...except near my spine. The one on the top of my forearm was a piece of cake...and the one on my ribs....well, that one was a living hell.0
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It really depends on the location, and your real tolerance to pain.
I remember getting my first (on my right shoulder blade).... everyone told me since I have a high tolerance for pain it wouldn't be bad. The worst part was going to be the outline because that felt like a cat scratching sensation. They were correct, the outline was the most annoying part... but that was pretty quick with what I got, and really after the first few lines, even that wasn't bad. The coloring/shading, that was nothing at all, because by the time the outline was done, the area was kind of numbing to the sensations.
Now when I got my ankle done, that was a bit different. It all felt pretty similar to my first until they hit the actual ankle bone, then it was a bit painful, and the first round I actually jumped a bit. Thankfully the artist that did it knew what he was doing, and had done my first piece, so he was prepared and had another artist come and help him hold my foot in place when it came time to go near the bone.0 -
Pain is a matter of where are you getting the tattoo done and your pain tolerance. For me the inner bicep, ribs, arm ditch (where they take blood samples from), elbow and wrist hurt like a mofo. My pain tolerance is low, yet I can't seem to stop getting tattooed lol
About those idiots who will always say, what will you do when you get older.... Here's a basic example of what to think about.
When you get old you shouldn't worry about your tattoos... You should worry about how you will look when you look old.
IT IS ALL RELATIVE
And vice versa
Older man with tattoos
Older man without tattoos
Older woman with tattoos
Older woman without tattoos
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I don't really call it pain - I call it a burn and it feels great (in a way) xXx0
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Mu dentist usually hurts more then when I had my tattoo done...0
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Mu dentist usually hurts more then when I had my tattoo done...
WTF kind of dentist are you going to?
All tattoos hurt. Location determines the amount of pain. For me, my right ribs/by my hip hurt most and my chest was much less painful.0
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