Will Getting a Tattoo Hurt?

It’s not the coolest question but don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone you asked. It’s a genuine concern amongst those who are considering getting a tattoo for the first time so allow us to inform you and hopefully put your mind at rest. The truth is, it depends on a number of factors.

Mainly it will depend on your personal pain threshold. Some people can tolerate pain better than others and therefore it’s impossible to give a blanket response to this question. Most people describe it as being scratched over and over again deeply with a needle. Funny that! It really depends on the complexity of the design and the depth of the lines that are being used. If the lines are quite long, chances are the pain will be more intense as the needle will need to do its thing for a little bit longer.

Line work is usually done using one fine needle, but shading and colouring work will require several different needles that are all part of the one gun, usually arranged in a line. The artist will use a vigorous back and forth motion to shade in areas of colour and this will probably be the part that smarts the most!

If your tattoo is fairly small then the needle work will be localised and you may even find that the area goes a little numb after a while so you might not be able to feel much after a certain point. However, if you’re going for a larger design, each area that the artist is working on may well go numb but by that point, they have moved onto a new location so there’s not much relief from the pain. If your design is particularly big, you may have to consider going back for several sessions to complete the design.

The pain factor will also depend on where you are having the tattoo done. Some areas of the body naturally have more fat than others and in these you may find it doesn’t hurt quite as much. However, on bony areas such as the wrist, you will find that the skin is more sensitive so it will probably hurt more.

If you have a fear of needles and/or blood but want a tattoo, you’re probably the most nervous! It’s worth remembering that the needles don’t actually penetrate the skin very far – only about 1/16^th of an inch. If even that won’t alleviate your worry, it’s best to choose a location for your tattoo where you cannot watch the work being done such as on your back.

If you are feeling anxious (especially if you have a fear of needles), the best way to prepare for getting a tattoo is by being informed. Most people who suffer with anxiety find that knowing more can help the situation. It won’t mean that the whole experience is totally pain free, but being prepared (not to mention researching the tattoo parlour thoroughly) will remove any nasty surprises.