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Original poster

talk to me about tattoos

73 replies

thehappyegg · 03/06/2019 16:19

Not whether you like them or not (if you hate them, there are plenty of threads trashing them I'm sure!) - but the pain.

I really want a tattoo, I've wanted one for years, I've just turned 30 and I feel now's the time to do it. But I am SHIT scared of the pain. My pain threshold is low.

Those of you who have them - I know it depends on where you get them and how large they are, but how much does it hurt? I have heard people compare them to being scratched by a cat. I have high tolerance for that as I have two cats with claws sharp as needles who like to knead me painfully at any opportunity.

I don't mind needles, I'm ok with blood tests and injections.

Any tips/experiences welcome!

OP posts:

unicornsrule · 04/06/2019 22:35

What are you getting?

I got my ideas from pin interest

Fortheloveofscience · 04/06/2019 22:39

I jumped in at the deep end, my first tattoo took 12 hours in 2x 6 hour sessions. It was a half sleeve and only bit that really made me flinch was the underneath of my upper arm - sorer the closer she got to my armpit. Top of arm wasn’t really painful at all, and I spent some of the time dozing and some watching her work.

happyhillock · 05/06/2019 15:49

I hate tattoos there awful especially on women, if your worried about the pain simple don't get it done

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Beauty General health

dustarr73 · 05/06/2019 15:59

@happyhillock Wow bet thats a weight lifted off you now.

I found it felt more like a scratch.Like if you scratched your hand off a wall.My sorest one was the bingo wing area,felt really weird.And over my knuckle bone was a bit of a bitch alright.

Otherwise the rest where alright,you get in to it and get used it.

dottyboxes · 05/06/2019 16:17

happyhillock

Oh well, if you hate them then that's it, isn't it!!

I'd be more worried about the fact you can't differentiate between your/you're and there/they're personally, but each to their own ey.

CodenameVillanelle · 05/06/2019 16:22

*they're
*you're
You're welcome!

HoobaHooba · 05/06/2019 16:25

I have a hand poked tattoo on my side upper leg. It didn’t hurt as such, was actually quite a nice feeling but after an hour or so as the artist scraped over previously done area my nerves started to make my leg jump badly. Every scratch from then on made my leg jump and that was awful, like a bad case of restless legs.

DuMondeB · 05/06/2019 16:54

I hate tattoos there awful especially on women

I hate judgemental people, especially those that judge women more harshly than men.

Keeoe · 05/06/2019 20:23

@happyhillock I hate judgy people...especially those who are sexist judgy people. And I think the words you meant to write are they're and you're. HTH.

dustarr73 · 05/06/2019 20:27

I hate tattoos there awful especially on women
Nobody cares

Moominfan · 05/06/2019 20:31

Hoobahoobah I had the worst pains in my legs from a shoulder tattoo. Ached for days afterwards. Really bad shooting pains, just needed to move.

Moominfan · 05/06/2019 20:32

Happyhilcock

No fucks given. Take your judgments and caste them over men

scaryclare666 · 05/06/2019 20:53

I don’t think you should get a tattoo, it is far too addictive 😂. You won’t stop at one, I’ve got six and I want so many many more! It’s not that sore, I’m sure you will be fine.

SweetPetrichor · 05/06/2019 21:00

I have three handpoked tattoos and I found the pain negligible. One has thin lines and honestly I only felt the pain the first time she went over the line. As she went back and forth to fill enough dots to make a solid line I found you stop feeling it. This was on my inner arm. My other two are smaller but have thicker lines and I did find that thicker 'needle' hurt more. They were on the upper side of my wrists. I've never had a machine tattoo...yet! I really loved the experience of getting a handpoked tattoo. It's very chill and you feel very connected to the experience of creating the image because it builds up slowly.

Givemeamartini · 05/06/2019 21:03

I have 6 tattoos and the only way I can describe the pain is like a burning sensation. The pain is completely bearable, it just feels as if someone is dragging something hot along your skin. That’s the feeling I get anyways!

DrPeppersPhD · 05/06/2019 21:07

I want my first tattoo to be on my upper right arm, but I am a bit freaked out about the pain because I've had injections there and it hurts way more than on my inner arm/elbow.

Fstar · 05/06/2019 21:11

I have one on lower back, small and on stomach, medium. I didnt think it was painful, was more like scratching. Waxing is defo more painful for me

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 05/06/2019 21:13

So, if I had four short words (total of 9 letters) on my inner forearm, how much would it hurt and how long would it take?

BearSoFair · 05/06/2019 21:24

I was just going to say they feel like a cat scratch! That's how I've always described the feeling, it isn't really like anything else but that's the closest I can think of.

I have three, two small ones on my inner arms (one each side) and one much bigger (9 inches) on calf, just touching down by my ankle. That was the only bit that really hurt, where it's close to the bone. I'd probably think twice before getting another tattoo on a bony area. I'd say 8/10 for pain. The soft bits, maybe 4/10, I found I kind of tuned it out after the first 20 minutes or so and was only really aware of the vibrations rather than the scratching if that makes sense.

IHeartKingThistle · 05/06/2019 21:26

I have a smallish one on my thigh in colour. The black outlines were sore, especially when she did a long line in one go, but I could hardly feel the colouring in bits.

Rightwayup · 05/06/2019 21:34

Wrist. Every time I felt the pain was getting unbearable he moved on wise man. And for the person who hates them on women mine is a forget me not with my murdered sisters initials hidden in it. Easily covered by my watch. She is therefore with me everywhere I go

ShitArmBadTattoo · 05/06/2019 21:40

I have many tattoos (they are ALL bad) and it’s very difficult to describe the feeling but as others have said the longer you’re there the more it hurts. It’s weird though because endorphins kick in and it’s ok for a bit, then they wear off and it hurts again, and it goes round like that.

Take sugary drinks/sweets to eat while you’re there, it helps with the shock.

OnlyYellowRoses · 05/06/2019 21:46

I've got 5 so far, the least painful was also the biggest which covers my whole calf and took about 4 hours. It's nice and chubby there though so no bony bits to go over 😁 I just played on my phone and chatted to my friend, it just feels like hot scratches but mainly towards the end, it's really nothing horrendous.

Worst was a lower back across the hip bone, just felt like little electric shocks which made me jump.

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