Tattoos And Pain
Probably one of the biggest reasons people are put off having a tattoo is because of the pain. But does it really hurt and how much pain will there be?
Yes being tattooed does involve pain as it involves the skin being puncture, though not very deeply. But exactly how much you'll feel largely depends on your own pain threshold, where on your body you're having the tattoo done and your state of mind.
Pain thresholds vary widely between people. You'll probably have some idea about your own from personal experience. The sex you are seems to have little bearing on a amount of pain you'll feel. For most people the level of pain they feel seems to vary between mild discomfort to unpleasant but bearable.
The outling process is usually the most painful part as this is when the needle penetrates the deepest. The pain you feel will be a sort of hot scratchy sensation - unpleasant rather than painful. After the first minute or so of the tattooing process most people find it's not as bad as they expected and their bodies adjust to cope with the discomfort.
Of course where you're having the tattoo does make a difference. If you want to go for the minimum pain choose a part of the body that is a nice layer of fat and muscle covering the bone. The upper arm is a good place to start, as is the back.If the area is particularly fleshy like the stomach then the sensation is more like pinching than scratching.
Places like the wrists, ankles and chests have only thin layers of fat covering the bone and so will be more painful. The more boney the area the more discomfort their will be. Also the tattooing process will cause the bone to vibrate which, although not painful, can feel very weird especially if you're not expecting it.
How you feel at the time will also lower or increase the amount of pain you'll feel. If you're feeling unwell, unhappy or overtired, expect it to hurt more. Don't consume alcohol or drugs before getting your tattoo done in the belief it will deaden the pain - it won't and the tattoo artist may refuse to do the tattoo.
If you're really looking forward to have your body art even if you think it may hurt you'll find it much easier to cope with the pain. Listen to some of you favourite music and remember tattoos don't have to be done in one session. You can take a break if it's getting a bit much or come back a few days later.