Embarking on the journey to get a tattoo often brings up the question: “How much does a tattoo hurt?”
The answer isn’t straightforward as pain is a subjective experience, varying widely from person to person.
Factors such as biological sex, pain tolerance, and the area of the body being tattooed play significant roles.
An ink-filled needle puncturing the skin might sound daunting, and indeed, for many, the sensation ranges from discomfort similar to a cat scratch to the intense feeling akin to sunburn.
Painful parts of the body often include bony areas with thin skin and numerous nerve endings, like the ribcage or armpit, which can elicit a scream from even the bravest souls.
Yet, some find tattooing on fleshier parts like the upper or lower back a relative breeze.
Tattoo pain is tricky to measure, with most data being anecdotal, but general rules suggest that pain levels can also be influenced by technique and the experience of the tattoo artist.
Most And Least Painful Spots To Get The Tattoo
Most of the data on tattoos and pain is anecdotal, but general rules still apply.
The most painful places to get tattooed are typically areas with bony surfaces and little fat.
According to Gianna Caranfa, a New York-based tattoo artist, understanding these spots can guide your decisions.
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Most Painful Body Parts To Tattoo
The nerves, minimal fat, thin skin, and bones make certain areas the ouchiest tattoo zones.
Armpit
Tattooing the armpit, known for being super sensitive, is advised against by many tattoo artists due to its severity.
Ribcage
The ribcage, with its thin skin and protruding bones, creates a painful experience, often leading to a wince or cry from the sensation of vibrating pain as you breathe.
Ankles And Shins
Ankles and shins, with their proximity to bony areas and a thin layer of skin, rank high on the pain scale, akin to ribcage tattoos. These spots are notably vulnerable to the needle’s touch.
Groin
The groin area, characterized by delicate skin and a high concentration of nerve endings, presents a significantly painful experience.
Nips And Breasts
Nips and breasts, being tender areas loaded with nerve endings, often result in a heightened sense of discomfort during the tattooing process.
Elbows And Kneecaps
The experience of getting elbows and kneecaps tattooed can be likened to an uncomfortable knock or bump against your funny bone, with the needle’s vibration intensifying the sensation.
Behind The Knees
Behind the knees, featuring loose, soft, stretchy skin and a rich network of nerve endings, makes for a particularly sensitive tattooing area.
Hips
Hips, especially those with less fat around the hip bones, can elicit a strong reaction due to the needle’s penetration.
Neck And Spine
The neck and spine areas, noted for their bony structure and tender nature, along with numerous nerve endings, are among the more painful locations for tattoos.
Head, Face, And Ears
The head, face, and ears are sensitive due to neck nerve endings, little fat, and being delicate body parts.
Lips/Inner Lip
Lips and the inner lip offer a trendy yet potentially haunting tattoo experience with their dense nerve endings and tendency to bleed, swell, or bruise.
Hands, Fingers, Feet, And Toes
Hands, fingers, feet, and toes are packed with nerve endings, making tattoos here painful AF, with nerves prone to spasm under the needle.
Stomach
Stomach tattoos can range from high to severe pain, depending on skin sensitivity and tightness, making the process potentially less painful for some.
Inner Bicep
The inner bicep involves muscles that cushion pain but has tender, loose skin making tattooing here painful and healing more challenging than other body parts.
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Least Painful Best Place For A Tattoo On A Woman
For women, areas with ample fat padding, tighter skin, fewer nerve endings, and no bony surfaces offer a less painful experience, making spots like the upper outer thigh and forearm ideal for tattoos.
Least Painful Tattoo Spots Male To Get Tattooed
Men may find thicker skin and more fat regions like the outer shoulders and outer bicep to be less painful for getting tattooed.
Upper Outer Thigh
The upper outer thigh is celebrated for its fat padding and fewer nerve endings, ranking it among the least painful places to be tatted.
Forearm
Forearms offer a less prickly experience due to plenty of muscle, thicker skin, and fewer nerve endings.
Outer Shoulders
Outer shoulders are a less painful spot for tattoos, benefiting from thick skin and fewer nerve endings.
Outer Bicep
The outer bicep, with lots of muscle and not a lot of nerves, is typically less painful to tattoo.
Calves
Calves have plenty of fat and muscle, plus few nerve endings, making them a location of low to moderate pain for tattoos.
Upper And Lower Back
The upper and lower back are typically not too much trouble to tat, as long as you steer clear of bony areas like the spine, hips, or ribs.
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How Much Does A Tattoo Hurt?
When contemplating how bad do tattoos hurt, it’s clear there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
The pain you feel while getting tattooed can vary greatly, with individuals reporting a wide range of experiences.
According to Channelle Charest, a California-based tattoo artist and Co-founder of the tattoo scheduling platform Tatstat, the experience of getting inked is often comparable to the feeling of a cat scratch or sunburn.
However, long periods of irritation and tenderness contribute more to the discomfort than the sensation of the tattoo needle itself, which is dull compared to a syringe needle.
Prolonged tenderness while being tattooed and individual nervous systems and pain thresholds mean that pain is a highly personal experience.
Within the tattoo community, there’s consensus on certain types of pain one might experience, but it’s essential to remember that pain is subjective, varying from person to person.
1. Burning Pain
Experiencing burning pain during a tattoo session is common when an artist works on the same area of the body for an extended period.
The skin may feel raw and inflamed, leading to a burning sensation especially in areas with more fat.
Despite being intense, many find this type of pain manageable.
2. Dull Or “Background” Pain
Dull or background pain is characterized by a needle that buzzes, revs, and pricks the skin, prompting the body to produce stress hormones like adrenaline to counter the pain.
This sensation can dull after a couple of hours, with distractions such as chatting with the artist, watching TV, or distracting the mind helping the pain to fade into the background.
3. Scratching Pain
Scratching pain is often compared to a cat repeatedly scratching you, creating an intense pain that might make you hiss.
This type of pain is more common away from bony or ultra-sensitive areas, especially when an artist uses multiple needles for shading.
4. Sharp Or Stinging Pain
Sharp or stinging pain is felt in sensitive parts of the body with more nerve endings and thinner skin, such as the wrist, where cat scratches can escalate to feeling like bee stings.
This intense pain can feel like the needle is digging deep, particularly when an artist is etching fine details, but beware of stinging that suggests the needle is too deep.
5. Vibrating Pain
Vibrating pain occurs when the needle vibrates against bones, reverberating through the body.
This vibration is notably intense on the outer wrist, elbows, ribs, and ankles, especially when the needle is moving fast over areas with less fat over the bones.
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Other Factors That Could Affect Pain During Tattooing Include:
Age And Weight
Age and weight significantly influence pain sensitivity; studies show that aging tends to decrease pain sensitivity, leading the elderly to experience less pain when tattooed.
Conversely, heavier people may have looser skin, which could be more sensitive to tattoos, while those with low body fat might feel more pain.
Sex
Sex also plays a role, with biologically female individuals often experiencing greater pain intensity, a lower pain threshold, and lower tolerance for induced pain than their biologically male counterparts, although research in this area is still emerging.
Psychological Expectations
Psychological expectations can affect how much pain you feel; studies suggest that those who are anxious or catastrophize pain before a procedure often experience higher levels of pain intensity and distress compared to those with neutral pain expectations.
Experience
Experience with tattoos can alter pain perception, with individuals who have been tattooed before possibly having a higher pressure pain threshold than those who have never had a tattoo.
Important Note
It’s important to note that people might experience increased sensitivity to pain during menstruation, adding to the discomfort felt while being tattooed.
The sensation of the needle and subsequent soreness, swelling, and itchiness in the days following are typical but not debilitating.
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Tattoo Pain Scale 1-10
| Area | Score |
| Head | 9 |
| Face | 7 |
| Neck | 7 |
| Shoulder/Outer Arm | 4 |
| Inner Bicep | 6 |
| Armpit | 9 |
| Elbow Ditch/Outer Elbow Tattoo | 8 |
| Forearm/Lower Arm | 3 |
| Forearm/Lower Arm | 8 |
| Upper/Middle/Lower Back | 5-8 |
Detailed Tattoo Pain Area Descriptions
1. Head Tattoo Pain – 9 Out Of 10
Getting a tattoo on the head is often very painful due to the huge number of nerves, little-to-no fat, and muscle in that area.
The head is rich in cranial nerves that connect the brain to the head, neck, and facilitate sensation.
This part of the body is described by many as feeling like the skull is being drilled into, not an experience for the faint of heart.
The reason head tattoos are seen as the least socially acceptable area for ink is not just cultural, but also due to the intense pain associated.
It’s on the lower end of the pain threshold spectrum, making it a top spot on any tattoo pain chart.
2. Face Tattoo Pain – 7 Out Of 10
Face tattoos might not be as painful as you think, depending on the area. With heavy detail and saturation, common beliefs about face tattoos might sway.
However, opinion varies as face tattoos, simplistic or design-wise complex, have depth and detail.
Pain on the face can vary heavily depending on the specific part being tattooed; the forehead, chin, nose, and mouth are less painful compared to the cheek bone and especially the eye lids, which are the most painful.
Tattoo artists must stretch the skin more and sometimes go deeper with the needle.
3. The Neck – 7 Out Of 10
The front of the neck is more painful than the back and sides. The neck in general is one of the more nervy places on the body, with skin that’s tough compared to other areas.
The front neck tells a different story; it has less muscle mass than the back, with thinner skin, more nerve endings, and cartilage and bones close to the surface of the skin.
This makes the front neck a high torsion area, often brushed or rubbed a lot, making healing a tattoo here more uncomfortable and difficult than usual.
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4. Shoulder/Outer Arm Tattoo Pain – 4 Out Of 10
The shoulder/outer arm is not painful and is a relatively great spot for a first tattoo if you aim to minimize pain while getting a tattoo to maximize visibility.
The fat and muscle act as protectors against tattoo pain, making the shoulder and outer arm an ideal location for people looking for an easier tattoo experience.
5. Inner Bicep Tattoo Pain – 6 Out Of 10
Tattoo pain in the inner bicep is fairly painful. This area, from the inner bicep to the elbow, is a host to sensitive nerves that run along the underside of the arm.
The combine of thin, sensitive skin on the inner bicep makes it a tender area for tattooing.
The large culprit for discomfort is healing, as sleeve or quarter-sleeve tattoos on the inner arm are filled with challenges due to constant rubbing and friction against the body.
Using a shear-reduction tattoo bandage, like Saniderm, can make healing easier.
6. Armpit Tattoo Pain – 9 Out Of 10
The armpit is very painful and difficult to heal, scoring high on the pain scale.
The skin in the armpit is incredibly sensitive, and lymph nodes may swell immediately during and after the tattoo process, making healing extremely painful.
The enormous amount of nerve endings makes tattooing this skin, and even the surrounding areas, painful.
Healing has an added level of difficulty due to high friction areas. A breathable bandage like Saniderm reduces shear and friction, aiding in healing.
Avoid wearing deodorant, tight shirts, or shaving the tattooed armpit for weeks to minimize difficulty.
7. Elbow Ditch/Outer Elbow Tattoo Pain – 8 Out Of 10
Tattoo pain in the elbow region is very painful. The area is fraught with nerves that run directly beneath the elbow ditch, where the elbow provides the least padding against the tattooing needle.
Nerves can feel like they’re being pinched, which can happen when getting a tattoo, leading to numbness or increased pain in the arm.
The outer elbow ranks high on the pain scale but avoids some of the nerve issues encountered in the elbow ditch, dealing more with the needle meeting bone.
8. Forearm/Lower Arm Tattoo Pain – 3 Out Of 10
The forearm/lower arm is one of the less painful areas to get a tattoo, making it an ideal canvas for both the wearer and the tattoo artist.
Pain-wise, the outer forearm is less painful to be tattooed than the inner portion of the forearm, where the radial nerve runs closer to the inner arm.
9. Hands/Fingers Tattoo Pain – 8 Out Of 10
Hands and fingers are quite painful locations for tattoos. These bony areas are where major nerve endings of the body conclude, making hand and finger tattoos significantly painful.
They endure significant wear and tear, making hand and finger tattoos among the hardest to heal and most prone to infection due to constant contact with external contaminants like handshaking and door handles.
Additionally, tattoos in these areas tend to fade rapidly and may require multiple sessions and touch-ups.
10. Upper/Middle/Lower Back Tattoo Pain – 5-8 Out Of 10
The spine is very painful due to bones and nerves with the spinal cord close to the skin, making it a highly painful area to be tattooed.
Shoulder blades are fairly painful; when tattoo needles hit the bony areas, the pain level jumps.
However, everywhere else on the back is not bad, making the back a prime canvas for large pieces with heavy saturation and detail.
For those concerned about pain, an artist can place designs to the side of the spine, making getting tattooed on the back a more comfortable process.
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11. General Back Tattoo Pain- 5 Out Of 10
In general, the back serves as a prime canvas for large pieces with heavy saturation and detail.
The intensity of pain experienced during a back tattoo is low-moderate, as the skin on the back is thick with few nerve endings, especially in the upper and lower back areas.
This makes for a moderate amount of pain compared to other body parts.
12. Chest Tattoo Pain – 7 Out Of 10
For a chest tattoo, the experience can differ significantly between a man and a woman.
Women might find the padding in the area of the chest makes it a less painful spot to be tattooed, compared to men, who might find it worse due to less additional cushioning.
However, the decent number of nerve endings in the chest and bony areas like the collarbone can be unpleasant, with nipples being very painful to get tattooed, placing it top on the tattoo pain chart.
13. Rib Cage Tattoo Pain – 9 Out Of 10
The rib cage is a notoriously painful area, a reason why it’s high on the tattoo pain scale.
The heightened sense of pain comes from the ribs being covered by only a soft, thin layer of skin, fat, and muscle, with little separating the tattooing needle from the rib bones.
Pain tends to linger in this area longer than others, akin to the inner bicep, which also features softer, thinner skin.
14. Under Boob/Sternum Tattoo Pain – 7 Out Of 10
The under boob/sternum area is quite painful, with an uncomfortable healing process.
The sternum is covered with soft, thin skin over the ribs, with little muscle or fat to cushion the area.
This leaves little separating the tattoo needle from the sternum bone, making sternum tattoos that extend over the ribs a painful experience.
For women receiving a sternum tattoo, it’s recommended to wear no bra for the first hours after receiving and to stay braless for a week to aid healing.
Using a shear-reduction tattoo bandage like Saniderm is also recommended to minimize rubbing and friction during sleep, which can cause unwanted issues in healing.
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15. Stomach Tattoo Pain – 5 Out Of 10
A stomach tattoo is relatively not bad compared to other areas, as everyone has extra padding in the stomach area, with no bones or cartilage to worry about.
It offers an easy surface for tattoo artists to work on, making it a good choice for larger tattoos for those with mid-to-low pain tolerance.
However, for a stomach sleeper, healing can be tough due to the potential for rubbing and friction.
16. Groin Area Tattoo Pain – 8 Out Of 10
The groin area is a very painful and difficult to heal location for a tattoo.
This area, especially surrounding the genitals, is packed with sensitive organs and a massive amount of nerves that run into the immediate groin area and spread throughout the vicinity.
Lymph nodes in the groin also add to the pain level and healing difficulty. The healing process for groin tattoos can be tedious and unpleasant, with underwear and pants that rub the area constantly.
Going commando for a few days post-tattoo and wearing super-soft, cotton sweatpants for weeks is advised for those brave enough to get tattooed here.
17. Butt Tattoo Pain – 8 Out Of 10
Originally thought to be one of the parts of the body less painful to be tattooed, it’s now known based on various information and the complete experience that getting the butt tattooed is absolutely original in its pain rating.
The low expectation was overturned by the reality of an extremely painful and difficult area to tattoo, with a strong tendency for butt muscles to flinch or clench during the process, requiring immense concentration from the artist to place the ink where it’s supposed to go.
18. Thigh Tattoo Pain – 4-7 Out Of 10
Thigh tattoo pain varies significantly depending on the area of the thigh.
Tattoos on the thigh range from relatively mild to quite painful, with major nerves that make their way through the thigh contributing to discomfort.
The inner thigh is more sensitive and ranks as one of the least painful areas to be tattooed, while the region on the top of the thigh, near the quadriceps and hips, falls likely somewhere between on the pain scale.
Those with low pain tolerance should avoid the inner and back of the thigh, particularly near the bony hips.
19. Knee Ditch/Knee Tattoo Pain – 10 Out Of 10
The knee ditch or knee area is arguably the most painful place to get a tattoo.
Expect to see stars as the sciatic nerve, one of the largest individual nerves in the body, runs straight down to the back of the leg and through the knee ditch.
With only a thin layer of skin separating the sciatic nerve from the tattoo needle, the knee area is extremely thin and incredibly difficult to heal, due to flexion and rubbing.
For these reasons, the knee ditch and knee area occupy a top spot on the tattoo pain chart.
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20. Calves/Shins Tattoo Pain – 6 Out Of 10
Calves/Shins tattoo pain is not the worst venture, but the shin bone can offer a lower pain tolerance spectrum.
The side calf, between the ankle and knee, is a decent place to get a tattoo, while the back of the calf, especially closer to the back of the knee, can be a rather painful experience.
Shins, with their sizable nerve presence and obviously very bony nature, along with a number of nerve endings and close-to-the-surface bone, make the shins a very tender area.
21. Feet/Ankles/Toes Tattoo Pain – 9 Out Of 10
Feet/Ankles/Toes are very painful, delicate areas to be tattooed, and hard to heal due to constant rubbing against socks and shoes.
Nerves in the feet, toes, and ankles are unique to the body, primarily focused on motion and balance, making nerves in the feet tactile and particularly sensitive.
With absolutely no fat or muscle padding, the area’s nerves are exposed to the tattoo needle.
Furthermore, the Achilles’ tendon and arch of the foot bring more nerve endings into play, making ankles especially unpleasant during healing.
For foot tattoos, a shear-reducing bandage like Saniderm is strongly recommended.
How To Reduce Tattoo Pain?
Taking steps to minimize pain doesn’t make you weak; it actually makes you smart. Here’s how you can help relieve tattoo pain:
1. Pick A Quality Pro
Choosing a quality pro and checking their past work, reviews from previous customers, and certifications can significantly minimize the risk of undue pain, complications, or infections.
2. Take Breaks
Don’t hesitate to take breaks if you’re struggling. A compassionate artist will understand your need, especially for larger tattoos that are often broken into several sessions.
3. Stay Sober
Staying sober is crucial as alcohol thins your blood, which can cause bleeding, bruising, and excess pain during the tattooing experience, making the outcome messy. Quality tattoo shops won’t take boozed-up customers.
4. Get Sleep And Minimize Stress
Getting sleep and minimizing stress before getting tattooed might help ease the pain on the big day. Breathe in, breathe out to relax.
5. Consider A Numbing Product
Considering a numbing product like creams or sprays can take the edge off, especially in sensitive spots. It’s important to talk to your artist about it beforehand, as some tattoo artists may have a personal preference against tattooing people who use them.
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Final Thoughts
In conclusion, navigating the realm of tattoos involves understanding the nuanced spectrum of pain experienced by individuals.
Knowledge shared by experienced artists like Charest emphasizes the importance of selecting a communicative, honest artist and taking steps to prepare for the process.
While tattoos may not be a pleasant experience for everyone, being well-rested, hydrated, and wearing comfortable clothes can help alleviate some discomfort.
Additionally, considering options like numbing cream can provide relief for those worried about pain.
However, it’s crucial to remember to avoid NSAIDs and alcohol prior to getting tattooed, as they can thin blood and lead to excess bleeding, making the tattoo artist’s job harder.
Ultimately, how much does a tattoo hurt is subjective and varies based on individual nervous feelings, but with proper preparation and communication, the tattooing experience can be more manageable and fulfilling.