Are you thinking of getting your first ink but scared of how painful it will be?
Lets look at the most painful place to get a tattoo (and the least painful ones too).
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Do tattoos hurt?
viaPenn Medicine
is a common question people ask before getting their first tattoo.
And youre probably going to have 20 different people saying 20 different things about that.
But the simplest answer isyes, it hurts!
The consensus is tattoos are very painful for some people while others feel less pain.
The level of pain experienced also depends on the body part being inked.
If youre still concerned about the pain, think twice about where you want to get tattooed!
What Does It Feel Like to Get a Tattoo?
It involves a handheld gadget with a pigment-covered sharp needle that pierces the top layer of the skin.
And theres no single way to describe what kind of pain comes with getting a tattoo.
It also depends on what the ink artist is doing.
However, here are some general sensations you might feel while getting inked.
Scratching Pain
It is the most common sensation you might feel when getting a tattoo.
This kind of tattoo pain feels like an intense scratching as the needle moves in your skin.
And if you dont know what that feels like, imagine a cat dragging its claws across your skin.
It can also hurt when adding shading tointricate tattoosbecause multiple needles are often used instead of a single one.
Stinging Pain
This pop in of pain is usually sharper and more intense than scratching pain.
Experiencing a stinging pain while getting a tattoo often feels enough to move away from the needle.
And its very common when the tattoo artist is adding very fine details and outlines to your tattoo.
This pop in of pain is common when more fat is beneath the skin.
And it feels like you have something very hot pressing on your skin for a long time.
Although burning pain while getting a tattoo isnt usually intense, it can be very irritating.
Youre likely to experience vibrating pain if you have less skin or fat over your bones.
But thankfully, vibrating pain isnt usually intense.
Someadrenaline addictsthink so too!
Its not actually a pain but a loss of sensation or feeling dullness while getting tattooed.
Tattoo Pain How Bad Does a Tattoo Hurt?
Theres no simple answer to that complex question.
Because as it turns out, the pain you experience when getting inked is very subjective.
It means older adults could experience less pain from tattooing than younger people.
However, older skin is more likely to bruise than younger skin.
Weight can also affect the amount of pain you might experience from getting ink.
People with very low body fat are usually more sensitive to tattoo pain.
Conversely, heavier people with looser skin might also feel more pain.
In this case, the mechanics of pain tolerance could largely be mind over matter.
Is It Your First Time Getting a Tattoo?
Meaning youre more likely to feel pain if its your first time getting a tattoo.
Pro Tip:Do a simple pinch test!
It can help you understand how much pain you might experience during a tattoo session.
Again, the level of pain and discomfort you might feel when getting inked depends on several factors.
But most importantly, most of it also depends on the body area youre getting tattooed!
Getting tattoos in bony areas of the body usually hurts a lot too.
This serves as your tattoo pain chart if youre concerned about how painful tattooing can hurt.
So, think twice before getting a tattoo on any of these body parts.
Hands and Fingers
Hand tattoos are very popular, but not because they dont hurt!
And that can hurt pretty badly.
Feet
If youre particularly concerned about tattoo pain, the feet are another bad location.
The top of your foot is particularly sensitive because of the large groups of nerves located in it.
Moreover, the skin is incredibly lean.
Ankle
Like a foot tattoo, getting ankle tattoos usually comes with intense pain.
Theres very little skin there, and it also sits right on the ankle bone.
Neck and Spine
The spine area, including the back of your neck, is incredibly sensitive.
And thats why spine tattoos are among the most painful to get.
Head
The head is one of the most painful places to get a tattoo.
For one, it has an abundance of nerves but lacks a good amount of fat.
If you need a better comparison, the sensation feels like someone is drilling holes in your skull!
So, essentially, getting a tattoo on the head doesnt only include physical pain but also psychological pain.
Its because of the abundance of nerves located on the lips.
Additionally, lips are very prone to swelling and bleeding during and after getting your tattoo.
Neck and Throat
A throat and a neck tattoo can sometimes be impossible to endure.
This is because large nerves and many of your important nerve endings are here.
The skin layer in this area of your body is also very thin.
And not to mention, some people develop adverse reactions from sustained pressure on their necks.
All these can make throat and neck tattoos hurt more than you would expect.
Armpits
An armpit tattoo sounds unusual, but some people have successfully gotten them done.
And only one things for sure armpit tattoos include so much pain!
Its because the axillary nerve is located in the armpit.
And not to mention, the skin around the armpit down to the inner bicep is super sensitive.
Ribcage
Getting a tattoo anywhere on your rib cage is particularly painful.
Meaning youre very likely to feel scratching pain from the needle more intensely.
Add that to your ribs constantly moving every time you breathe, and it all heightens the pain.
Elbow
Getting an elbow tattoo resembles the pain of rib tattoos for the same reasons.
Theres very thin skin in your elbow, and it sits directly over the bone.
And lastly, there is all sort of nerve endings in there.
It makes the skin more sensitive and will likely make tattooing more painful with just the wrong touch.
After all, its not close to the bone, and theres plenty of muscle and flesh.
But in reality, the insides of the thigh are about the most painful spots for a tattoo.
Thats because it isnt as exposed as other parts of the body.
Hence, its a very sensitive spot.
And even then, its best to prepare to endure aches during the session.
Especially if youre going for full chest tattoos, which usually take several hours-long sessions!
Just be thankful you didnt get your rib cage tattooed.
Forearm
Forearms are usually pleasant and plump and have very few nerve endings or sensitive bones.
And that makes it less sensitive for tattooing.
Outer forearm tattoos, especially, dont hurt as much as getting tattoos in other parts of your body.
These areas usually have thick skin, a bunch of muscles, and without many nerve endings.
Upper Outer Thigh
If you want your thighs tattooed, pick the upper outer thigh portion.
Its the most incredible location to get inked as its usually fat-padded and has little nerve endings.
Can You Make Getting a Tattoo Less Painful?
And dont forget to communicate with your tattoo artist.
If the pain starts to feel too much, dont hesitate to let your tattoo artist know.
If you want to take a break, the artist can let you rest for a bit.
Final Thoughts What Is the Most Painful Place to Get a Tattoo?
Feeling nervous about the pain when getting tattooed?
Thats pretty natural and understandable.
Tattoos are great, but unfortunately, they are not pain-free.
And if youre worried about the pain, choose the least painful areas to get a tattoo!
