How much do tattoos hurt?

[cocolacroix]

 

[AllWeWant]

How much do they hurt?
Not nearly enough.

Depends on the location; ankles, stomach, neck & wrists tend to be more painful than other areas. Where the skin is thinner, the pain is more intense.

 

[Bandit58]

I would describe it as a burning, stinging sensation. I found it bearable but then I have masochistic tendencies.... It will sting more on bony bits than on more fleshy areas, and as the above poster said where the skin is thinner like inner thighs/arms.

 

[cocolacroix]

 

[simplegirl]

Pain is subjective, so it's hard to say. I had one done surrounding my ankle and I didn't find it hurt at all, despite many people saying it's a VERY painful spot. The next one on my ribs hurt like heck. Anything right over bone is painful.

The key is to be well-rested and make sure you eat that day! Too many people get tattooed on an empty stomach from nervousness and this just compounds the problem. Same as lack of sleep.

 

[cloudy]

They hurt, but as stated above, pain is subjective.

I have four, including a rather large one just over my spine. Oddly enough, it didn't really hurt all that much. I actually fell asleep before he'd finished, and he had to wake me up. Astonished us both, but then, I have a very high pain tolerance.

The worst was having one recolored after about fifteen years. Its a small one on my right shoulder-blade. Wasn't really all that painful the first time, but going through the scar tissue to have it recolored fifteen years later was bad enough to make me ask for a break about halfway through.

Inner thigh? That's gonna hurt.

 

[NALA CAYENNE]

I would describe it as a burning, stinging sensation. I found it bearable but then I have masochistic tendencies.... It will sting more on bony bits than on more fleshy areas, and as the above poster said where the skin is thinner like inner thighs/arms.

I rather thought it felt like someone constantly pinching you in the same spot- not painful but irritating. I have a stencil dragon on the back of my neck that I think hurt more just because it was my first one and I was nervous. My Maori Polynesian design on my lower back didn't hurt at all and I was rather disappointed- so much so that for my birthday this year I'm going to get something added to it

Guess I have masochistic tendencies also

 

[Chicklet]

I described my tattoo as feeling like a straight pin was just penetrating the skin, and scratching. the 'pain' came from the constant scratching, over and over right next to one another. it was more irritating than painful, and bearable, in my opinion.

 

[SubNebGuy]

it is subjective.

i have quite a bit of ink, and getitng more this evening.

to me, the lining needle is very stinging and sharp, while the shading needles are a dull, irritating scratching.

and the location as well as how psyched up I am can help reduce or increase the pain.

whatever you do, KEEP BREATHING. lots of people start holding their breath through between re-dipping in the ink-cap, and those are the people that pass out or get ill during a tattoo.

 

[artsmom]

Well, my tattoo is just below my left breast on my ribs...and I thought it hurt like hell. Like Sub said, the lining needle hurts more than the shading needle. I thought it felt like a knife blade cutting through me. Just when I was ready to say, "Okay, that's it, no more," he was done.

Even though it did hurt as much as it did, I love my tat...might get another one soon...

 

[buxxxom]

I only have one, and it's on my right hip. It wasn't as much pain as it felt like just someone scratching the same spot over and over. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, maybe a 3 with an occasional but very quick 6 as he kept shading one spot over and over. When I can make up my mind, I'll have another!

 

[gob5hite]

I have a good few tats thighs are relativly easy my worst was around my belly button my easiest was thighs/calfs.
Dont have a few drinks to calm the nerves it dosnt work!!!!
Do try to relax.
And be aware tattoos can be addictive

 

[revchev]

I've got a few and have described the pain as a decent sunburn. I'm fair skinned so my worst sunburn hurt a whole hell of a lot more than any tats. My work is on the shoulders/upper arms, many say ankles are the most painful.

Good luck!

 

[docisin]

They only hurt about 10 years later, when you wake up and go "What the fuck was I thinking?"

 

[cocolacroix]

 

[warrior queen]

the pain factor of getting a tattoo is directly proportional to how much you want it.

i have 10 - all were wanted, and none hurt more than a little.

 

[jadefirefly]

Strangely, I've also found that if I'm able to watch, it hurts less. I think because the surprise factor is lost.

I have a large back piece I just recently finished, and a 4-inch or so jobby on my upper thigh. The thigh one hurt at first because, since I'm actually afraid of needles, I didn't want to look. Then curiousity won out, I peeked, and it didn't really hurt much after that.

The back piece... hoo, doggie. I'm a pain wimp, really. Every bit of it hurt, most of it the grit your teeth and remember to breathe kind, but I really, really, REALLY wanted it. And that makes all the difference.

 

[BluEyes13]

How much do they hurt?
Not nearly enough.

My thoughts exactly.

And as someone else mentioned, pain is extremely subjective. When I got my ankle tat done, there was a woman there who was getting an ankle tat as well. She was in tears the whole time (which by the way for her tat was under an hour) while I just sat chatting with my friend for 2 and 1/2 hours.

Personally, I enjoy the pain from tattoos. It's soothing and erotic at the same time.

 

[gagginforit]

I had some done on my back. I'm quite soft skinned, and it felt like a red hot, vibrating scalpel was slicing me open. After forty five minutes I'd had enough. I think I'm probably too squeemish to have any done now.

 

[AllWeWant]

Dont have a few drinks to calm the nerves it dosnt work!!!!

Not only doesn't it work very well, it thins the blood considerably and will make you bleed far more than normal even if you indulged the night before.

 

[bobsgirl]

A lot of places won't even do a tattoo if they think you've been drinking.

I just got my first one about six weeks ago, and I'm already ready to get another one. Describing the actual tattooing as being more irritating than painful is pretty accurate. I wouldn't want to feel it all day, but it was certainly bearable for the time it took to have it done. After it's done, the discomfort is minimal, kind of reminded me of a slight sunburn.

 

[mdkddf]

i have 30

My sternum hurt quite a bit, my feet were pretty bad, the back of my arms were tender, but for the most part the tats are just like a stinging more than anything else, sometimes the bone hurts sometimes it's just alright, kind of depends on your pain tolerance, and I've noticed that the same spots on left and right of your body will feel different. my shoulder up towards my rotator cuff was pretty bad, but you forget about it after a few days and then you want another one.

 

[mdkddf]

oh ya

and getting the tats reminds me not to hurt myself, cause I get someone else to do it for me. but that's just a tendency I have, anyway.

 

[Prittypussy]

yeah i was thinking upper thigh

That was the WORST tattoo for me! And I have a bunch!!

 

[EbeneezerRomeo]

....

It really depends where you get it done as said above. But one thing I find hilarious is that the more you get done the more you begin to enjoy it, or is that just me? It changes from this weird pain that you arent used to, to this almost pleasant feeling, strange!