To ask just how much a tattoo hurts?

[Giraffe31]

I know that obviously it does hurt but I'd really like to get one. Just a small one on maybe the inside of my wrist?

So how much does it REALLY hurt? I'm a complete wuss when it comes to pain but I have nothing to compare it to. So AIBU to ask what the level of pain is comparable to?
Thanks!

I have a tattoo on my wrist. It feels like being scratched - not like the deeper pain of an injection, more like getting caught on a bramble. No real pain afterwards.

Good luck! What design are you having?

It reminds me of being rubbed with sandpaper

I have tiny roman numerals tattooed down my spine and it didn't hurt too badly at all, it was uncomfortable, but no more than say having your legs waxed if that makes sense? I was quite relieved, DH had gone on and on about how much it would hurt being over bone but luckily he wass wrong.

That doesn't sound too bad!
I'm a bit of a Disney nut so I was thinking maybe just the outline of a Mickey ears, just something really simple that also shows a bit of my personality

It's loads of little needles stabbing your skin. It hurts but it's bearable

I have 3

It does get addictive though!

It feels very scratchy (think trying to write on skin with biro with no ink) then hot and afterwards it feels like sunburn.

It really depends on location too. A wrist will feel more scratchy but near bone like elbow it really hurts. Muscle areas can hurt some people and not others. It really is a personal thng

It hurts!! I have one around my wrist and was shocked how much it hurt and was really red sore and swollen after. I'd still have another though

Sort of scratchy, then like sunburn. But it really varies. I've sat for six hours, DH struggles with two!

Conversely, I've found that fleshy areas (like going onto my boob was the worst) are more painful than on bone.

Think it depends where you get it. I have one on my inner forearm, was painful but not that bad. I then had one on the top of my foot. It was a boney area, not much flesh and was excruciatingly painful!

Wrists are fine.

Fleshy bits are the worst. Stomach was agony.

X post with beyond..I guess everyone is different!

I have 5, one on each forearm and thigh. They didnt hurt at all. The one at the bottom of my back hurt like hell though

Haven't had one on wrist (a few on back) but I'd say it's uncomfortable but bearable. Never put me off getting more

I had my wrist done last year. It was a bit scratchy and pinchy. But no more than that. Make sure you eat before you go and take a chocolate bar with you.

I needed some serious sugar afterwards.

This maybe a cop out and I've never used it but you can get numbing cream if you're really bad with pain. The inside of my wrist was my first tattoo. I took a stress ball to squeeze with the other hand and chewing gum throughout helped enough. The trick is to concentrate on something else. Yes it hurts but don't look and your body quickly gathers endorphins and you cope better than you think.

I found it more irritating than painful. Totally bearable though. I'm going back some 20 years though.

If your nails are long enough then pinch yourself in tiny bits really quickly, it's like that. After its just hot and like sunburn. It's not comfortable but if it was that bad people wouldn't do it!

I have 6 tattoos, more painful than leg waxing, less painful than bikini wax. I found the top of my back very uncomfortable whereas I nearly fell asleep when they did my upper thigh! I wouldn't be put off if it's something you want.

Ref the numbing cream, I know of no decent tattooist who would knowingly tattoo someone using it. They will give you many reasons for this, but one is the need to see someone's bodily reactions to the pain including if their body can't take any more and they need to stop.

Inner thigh: fucking agony. I nearly fainted. Stick to sturdier areas of skin.

I don't even like it now though so it's a good job it's well hidden.

I had one on my boob- it was a lot more painful than having the remnants lasered off 20 years later (though at least you can't smell your own burning flesh): people said it would feel like a scratch - actually, it felt like scratching my bones, and I could feel it in my teeth. This was the main reason I had the remains removed instead of covered up-couldn't face the thought of it again.

I wouldn't say I'm a total wuss, either: I didn't use painkillers after wisdom tooth removal or an ACL reconstruction, because I was waiting for the pain everyone told me would be so dreadful, and didn't want to "waste" them Mind you, I'm not hard either 😁

Mine on my wrist and inner arm didn't really hurt. I've got my 3rd session of laser removal on Saturday....now that hurts!

I have a simple design that took about 40 minutes on my upper thigh. It was no more than slightly uncomfortable other than the long straight lines which were like a cat scratch.

If I wanted another tattoo I would certainly do it again.

Do make sure you find a decent artist though- I've seen lots of lovely designs that look dreadful because they are badly executed. Not all tattooists are the same! Go by recommendation if you can and look at their portfolios as well.

I had a small one on my arm, and the pain wasn't too bad.
But getting it removed was by far the most painful experience of my life. (Not to mention the vile burning flesh small mentioned above) I have had 2 babies without meds and I would rather have a third than get another tattoo removed!