What Does Getting A Tattoo Feel Like?
When you are planning on getting your first bit of ink, you may wonder, what does getting a tattoo feel like? If you ask your tatted friends, they will describe it a dozen ways, but the majority will probably tell you it hurt. Yes, getting a tattoo is painful, but that does not tell you what the sensation is like, does it? So, if you are curious about what getting tattooed feels like, keep reading.
What Does Getting A Tattoo Feel Like?
The day of your tattoo is going to introduce you to a completely new experience. You can expect there to be butterflies in your stomach as you sign the consent forms and get taken to your seat.
The day of your tattoo is going to introduce you to a completely new experience. You can expect there to be butterflies in your stomach as you sign the consent forms and get taken to your seat.
Once you are seated and comfortable, your tattoo artist will clean the area to be tattooed with rubbing alcohol. Any hair that is present will be shaved away. This is usually not painful.
Next, using water or a moisture stick, the artist transfers the stencil onto your skin. This may happen multiple times so the placement ends up looking perfect. There will be some sensation, maybe a tickling or itch, but it won’t bother you too much.
After the stencil comes the outline, shading, and color. This varies depending on the design and size of your tattoo. It is during the line work and shading when people report the most pain.
With your tattoo session complete—again this depends on your tattoo size—the artist will cover the section with ointment and wrap it up. You will receive some aftercare tips, as well as what to expect during the healing process. Endorphins also rise and fall, dulling the pain at times.
For about a week or so, your tattoo will feel like a bad sunburn while it heals.
Describing Tattoo Pain
So let’s backtrack for a moment to the point of the line work, coloring, and shading. Personal experiences vary greatly at this point. If you are getting a tattoo on the top of your hand, it will be much different from the pain of a forearm or thigh tattoo.
Line work is often described as scratching or scraping against the skin, kind of like a cat’s claws. Other people have described it as pinching, pressure, or stinging. When it comes to shading, the needle may feel like being cut by a razor.
Here is the thing: The pain you feel depends on you. Pain tolerance also has a lot to do with it. Some people handle pain better than others, and your emotional and physical state also determines the level of sensation you feel.
The Most Painful Places To Get A Tattoo
If you have never experienced a tattoo before, or if you know you have a low pain tolerance, it is highly recommended that you avoid certain places for your first tattoo. Here are the spots to avoid:
- Bony parts, including the wrists, ribs, sternum, and ankles. If you are a thinner person, even the hip bones can be painful.
- Areas with thin skin, such as the elbow crease, rib cage, inner thighs, neck, chest, and the top of the feet.
- Damaged or scarred tissue.
- Areas with a lot of nerve endings, like the lips, ears, genitals, and nipples
- Anywhere ticklish
Conversely, some of the best places to get a tattoo to include the outer shoulders, biceps, outer thighs, calves, upper back, and forearms. Again, this all depends on your body type, the technique the artist uses, your skin sensitivity, and the style of the tattoo.
If you have questions about the pain level of a tattoo style or location, reach out to a professional tattoo artist. They are always happy to help you decide which location is best for your ink.
As a tattoo heals, it goes through stages that vary from person to person. If you got a small tattoo, you may not notice the pain. Larger pieces will throb and ache for a short while, but it tends to go away within a day or so. Sometimes, tattoos feel tight, like a sunburn, and may even scab as the layers of skin begin to heal from the trauma.
It is common for the skin to look a little red and feel itchy. Make sure you are using an unscented moisturizer to keep the skin from drying out too much. Avoid scratching or picking at the tattoo, as that could damage it.
Pain Is Temporary, A Tattoo Is Forever
What does getting a tattoo feel like? It feels painful, without a doubt. Yet, how you describe that pain, and the degree to which you experience it, is going to be dependent on a few things. Location, pain tolerance, and the style of the tattoo all alter the pain level. Don’t let the thought of pain stop you, though, as there are ways to dull it (like numbing spray).
Looking for a reputable tattoo shop with experienced artists? Come to Oracle Tattoo Gallery for an amazing first tattoo. Our professional artists can do nearly any kind of tattoo style. Contact us today to book your consultation.
