Dealing With Tattoo Pain

Tattoo pain is described in many ways. Men and women understandably describe pain differently as each sex has a different view and attitude about pain in general. Depending on the person you talk to, tattooing pain has been described like a cat scratching your skin, a hot needle being dragged across your skin, a sunburn and some even say it's like having your skin cut. On the other side some will tell you that it's more like a minor scrape or scratch or doesn't hurt at all.

While attitude and mental state play a major role of pain tolerence, there are additional factors that influence how much pain may be involved when getting a tattoo:

Like sugar and sweet, or fire and heat, tattooing and pain go hand in hand. Pain is part of getting the tattoo experience. For some the pain is moderate while others experience intense discomfort. The pain you feel is directly related to your attitude and emotional state. Some people relish tattoo pain as it is considered their red badge of courage and for them is what makes the tattoo experience memorable. Others won't even consider a getting a tattoo for fear of the pain.

With proper planning, you can reduce the level of pain you'll endure when getting a tattoo. First and foremost is the pain attitude you bring to the tattoo shop. If you're relaxed and void of fear, the pain you experience won't be much more than temporary discomfort. If you are committed to getting a tattoo, then you should accept the pain as a part of the process. Remember, the pain is just one small element of the experience of getting a tattoo. Millions of people have easily survived getting a tattoo, you will too.

Pain is subjective and varies from one person to another. This means that people feel pain differently based on their attitude or emotional state. For example, if you have an elevated level of anxiety about the pain causing event then you will most likely experience more discomfort than someone that is relaxed.

Much of your pain tolerance is driven by your mental preparation for the experience and your acceptance that getting a tattoo will hurt. Just how much does a tattoo hurt? If the worst possible pain like childbirth, kidney stones, compound fractures, severed limbs, 3rd degree burns, etc. were ranked at the top of the 1 to 10 scale then tattoo pain would range from 1 - 5 for most people.

Location of the tattoo - Certain locations on the body are more sensitive than others. Areas that are less fleshy like the ankles, feet or rib cage are often more painful when getting a tattoo.

Size of the tattoo - Large tattoos are not necessarily more painful, rather the pain is spread to a larger portion of the body giving the perception that it is more painful. Additionally large tattoos take longer to appy, so consequently the pain has to be endured for a longer period of time.

Tattoo complexity - Even small or medium tattoos can seem more painful. If the tattoo design is detailed with multiple colors, the time required to complete the tat is increased. Once again this will require you to tolerate the pain for a longer period of time giving the perception that it is more painful.

Dealing With The Pain of Getting A Tattoo