Tattoos - can I take the pain?

Dont worry yourself with the pain. Thats nothing. Concern yourself with the itching. Thats hell.

It really depends – tattoos don’t hurt me much but hurt others…I also don’t itch or anything, am a very fast heal…you might be like me

Honestly, it’s a little of both – at least in my opinion. When they first start, it’s definitely more of an instant, acute pain. But once they get into it a little bit, it’s more dull and continuous – with every once in a while – little bursts of instant and acute.

Don’t be too scared. It’s not horrible, not even close.

Well. That depends.

Are you the cute little baby in the cauldron and scarlet chef’s hat?

The funny thing about tattoos, the sound of the gun is scarier than the pain. And @uberbatman is right, the itching is hell. I would suggest getting your first tattoo somewhere you can easily reach. Never scratch a tattoo, just slap it, or run cool water over it.

The pain is something like a bee sting, but more continuous. After several hours, it can get rather unbearable, if you aren’t used to it. Just be sure you really want the tattoo because the laser treatments to remove a tattoo are about $50 a square inch, and it hurts much more than the actual tattoo. I would compare it to having someone use a welding gun on you. It burns and is not at all pleasant. And then it burns for several hours afterwards.

I like the feeling of being tattooed, as it releases endorphins, but the feeling of the laser removal just SUCKS.

@evelyns_pet_zebra for me, as the tattoo goes on, it gets easier…the pain is worst in the beginning

Just so long as its not right on bone or big nerves, its not that big a deal. I chose a bad place for mine… Right on the hip bone and with a nerve running down the middle. Whenever the girl got to the middle, I squirmed because it became acute where it was dull most of the time comparatively. I got used to the dull continuous deal.

Of course with removal being $50/sq in and mine being about $100 for a removal treatment if I decided that I needed ‘em, it wasn’t that big a deal for me.

Just as was said before, the itching is the worst part. And pain also depends on placement. My tattoos on my arms were nothing, but when I got my feet done it was the worst pain I’ve ever dealt with thus far. The back isn’t too bad, especially away from the spine. Just keep talking to your artist to distract yourself from any pain. Mind over matter!

In the grand scheme of things tattoos are no more painful than a gnat to an elephant. Your tolerance to pain begins in your head. If you think “OMG this is going to hurt so bad” it will hurt more than if you just relax.

I dealt with the pain the best in the beginning, and I didn’t have any problems with itching. After a while I really regretted not bringing a book or a game boy, because I couldn’t find anything else to distract myself with. Its kind of boring, and it being painful makes it feel like it takes forever.

I’ve been told its okay to ask for breaks. They were getting ready to close when I got mine, so I toughed it out.

If you are good with ignoring pain, bring something with. A MP3 player, a book, Game Boy or PSP, even a laptop.

@NaturalMineralWater I agree. It is a mind of matter thing. Sadly, I can’t just tell my mind to forget about it. I just can’t control my mind that way, even when it comes to food or germs or textures.

So, I trick it with distractions. I ran out of things to think about though.

@evelyns_pet_zebra The sound of the gun was the best part for me. Its a sort of white noise that relaxes me. I fell asleep listening to it after mine was finished and I was waiting on my husband.

I got my first tattoo about a year ago. It’s on my mid-back, across the spine and it did feel a little like a cat was sharpening its claws on my back or someone giving me a backrub with sandpaper, but you know it’s coming, you know why you’re enduring it – it’s part of the process, that’s all.

As people have said previously, It’s all about location. I’ve had ones that have hurt worse than others. It’s a pain you can forget easily, which is why people become addicted I think. I think you’ll be fine. I do bad with piercings, but I can tolerate tattoos. As you are sitting there your body almost gets used to the pain, and you relax and it will hurt less. Plus, every tattoo artist I have went to has started off by just drawing a small line before they jump right in to make sure you are ok with it. The way I have always described the feeling to my friends is like a brush burn feeling. Also, and I’m sure they will tell you, do not itch your new tattoo when it is healing. Itch around it or tap it to get it to stop. Itching can potentially ruin the tattoo.

Scrolling past above posts
The pain is nothing to worry about , what you should concern yourself with is . Is it a good artist with proper ink and hygiene , after you get the tattoo use Bepanthen it will reduce the itch some people get it also reduces the heal time and scabbing . Thus making more ink stay in the arm and leaving you a clearer better tattoo .

well pretty much my whole body is covered in ink… I don’t think it so much hurts just annoying after awhile, like take a pin and push semi-hard on your skin and drag it…. after a few hours of that ur pretty much numb, the itching is the worse!!! there are some parts of the body that don’t feel good at all but mostly its the boney areas not just cuz the pain but cuz you feel that bone vibrating and its uncomfortable. if your worried about it ask ur artist to do a ink free run on you so you can feel what its like, most will comply cuz they want you to be comfortable with it, plus its extremely annoying tattooing someone who’s crying/complaining

Thanks to everyone! This has been very helpful. Are there specific things I should look for in the artist I choose?

@avengerscion look at his portfolio. If you like what you see, go for it, if not, leave, there’s plenty of other artists out there and this is something permanent going onto your body. You want to make sure its going to look good.

Also make sure they’re clean

If you know someone with one – or several – tattoos you think are well made, ask them who they went to. Also, go to the artists studio, look around, see if it’s clean, maybe watch them tattooing someone else.
Once you have an artist your considering, why not google for reviews?

yes!!! dont just go to someone cuz their a friend or a friend of a friend. do your research!!! check portfolios, if you can see the artists work on someone first hand after its all healed and done do that, it may look incredible right after its done but you wont see the true result till its healed over completely. also if you get a bad vibe from a shop like “it feels dirty to you” or ” the person isnt interested in your personal choice” DONT GO THROUGH WITH IT!!! look for someone with an open mind, that will be happy to tatt anything you want with out judgement. some artists are ass’ and if they dont like it they do shitty work. also dont let them change your idea, unless you agree with it, dont let them pressure you, if they’er like that go somewhere else cus once its on your skin its there forever and you want to make sure you love it.

It can be a bit painful but it sin’t bad. I would rather get a tattoo done then to accidently cut myself with a knife. There is a constant dull pain sometimes but it isn’t bad at all and the sound of the gun isn’t that loud. If you are that afraid it will hurt then I don’t think you are ready to get one.