Do tattoos hurt? Yes, but pain levels vary. Factors like placement, skin type, and pain tolerance matter. Learn which areas hurt most and how to reduce discomfort.
Getting a tattoo involves piercing your skin repeatedly with a super sharp needle – so it makes sense that it tends to hurt. (But probs not as much as getting yourex’snamelaser-removed.)
The most painful body parts to tattoo are typically the bony areas and those with the most nerve endings, thin skin, and little fat. That’s why tattoos on your upper andlower backmight be a breeze, but your ribcage andarmpitwill make you scream 😱.
But sinceeveryone experiences pain differently, tattoo pain levels are tricky to measure. For that reason, there’s no straight-up scientific answer for how much tattoos hurt. So before you go under thetattoogun, here’s what to know.
What makes tattoos hurt?
Painis subjective, and when it comes down to it, tattoo pain is a very personal experience. Factors that may influence how people experience tattoo pain include:
The anatomy of certain body parts may also affect tattoo pain,including:
Tattoo pain chart
We’ll be real, this is anecdotal rather than scientific. But there are enough people withbody artto get a semi-consensus on the most painful tattoo points. Here’s the deal:
Most painful body parts to tattoo
With lots of nerves, minimal fat, thin skin, andbones– these are (more than) a few of the ouchiesttattoozones:
Least painful body parts to tattoo
Ample fat padding, tighter skin, fewer nerve endings, and no bony surfaces – these factors tend to make for a less painful experience. More bearable spots to adorn in tattoos include:
How bad does a tattoo hurt?
Again,pain is personal, so no one can tell you how bad it’ll hurt you. But within the tattoo community, there’s def some consensus on the types of pain you might experience.
How to reduce tattoo pain
If you ask us, taking steps to minimize pain doesn’t make you weak – it makes you smart! Here’s how to help relieve tattoo pain:
We’re not gonna lie – getting a tattoo hurts! But how much tattoo pain affects you is pretty personal. Factors like where you get the tattoo, biological sex, pain tolerance, and whether you’ve had one before might play a role in how it goes down.
To avoid undue pain andcomplications, pick a skilled, experienced artist with the certifications and portfolio to prove it. Prioritizingaftercarecan also help ensure that your new body art heals up beautifully and painlessly.
