Are Tattoos Painful? What Is the Best Spot?
In this post we’ll walk through if tattoos hurt. Short Answer, yes. However, tattoos come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and body placements. Different types of tattoos will hurt more than others mainly depending on where the tattoo is placed on your body. It is wise to pay attention to the different pain levels of tattoo placements because different people have different pain tolerance levels. Knowing which area will hurt most or least can help you decide where the best place for you to get your tattoo is, based on your personal experience with how you handle pain. It’s important to know yourself and your limits.
The Least Painful Tattoo Locations:
The least painful areas to have tattoos include body parts such as upper arms, forearms, shoulders, outer thigh, calves, the outer back, and the backside of your arms. These areas are some of the least
painful due to them being the areas our bodies store most of our cellulite and fats, and have generally thicker skin than other areas with more taut or thin areas of skin. They also are the parts of our bodies with the least nerve endings and some of the most protection from muscle. Thus, the skin, fats and muscle act as a protectant to the few nerves in those areas, so many times the tattoo will just feel like a buzz. Similar to the sensation of your arm or foot falling asleep.
Intermediate Pain Tattoo Locations:
Before we get to the most painful areas to get tattooed, there are some areas in the middle. These are the intermediate pain level areas. It’s not just 0% pain or 100% pain it can be anywhere between. These areas include the front side of your calves, backsides of your thighs, chest, inner back, stomach, or hips. These areas are somewhat more painful because they may have thinner skin, less fat, or are bonier. They also are denser in nerve endings and may have less padding from our body’s muscles. Their tattoos would generally feel a bit sharper. Like a deep grinding or rattling sensation. Similar to the feeling of getting pinched really hard.
The Most Painful Tattoo Locations:
As for the most painful areas to get a tattoo. These areas include elbows, the neck, palms of your hand, tops of the hand, knees, feet, anywhere on the head/face, ribs, glutes, back side of the knee, nipples, or any crotch area. These areas are the most painful body parts to have tattooed due to them being in areas that are extremely boney, have incredibly thin skin, high nerve density, and less fats or muscles to protect the nerves. Pain for these areas would generally feel especially sharp and would feel like a very painful ongoing sting. Like a deep scratch, or some people say they feel a burning sensation in certain areas.
Why Does Knowing Pain Levels Matter?
Knowing what level of discomfort your tattoo will be, and your personal pain tolerance, can be very important when getting a tattoo, especially if it’s a first tattoo or a larger project. Not being prepared for your tattoo can lead to avoidable outcomes like immense anxiety, being caught off guard during your session, having an unexpected bad experience, and in many cases fainting. Alternatively, preparing yourself and doing your research on your tattoo’s pain level can help you manage any anxiety and prepare mentally for the tattoo. This makes it easier for you to have a good session and the artist to complete the session positively without any mishaps.
If you’re unsure about your tattoo, feel free to consult with an artist, and do your research on your tattoo! And most importantly, know yourself and your ability to take the pain.
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