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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask just how much a tattoo hurts?

92 replies

Giraffe31 · 01/03/2017 12:45

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!

OP posts:

SavageBeauty73 · 01/03/2017 13:21

Mine took 2 hours. The last 20 minutes was pretty unbearable but I have a low pain threshold.

amusedbush · 01/03/2017 13:29

I've very heavily tattooed and it varies from place to place. Wrist isn't bad at all, it's a bit like scratching sunburn. The pain also lasts only a few seconds at a time as the artist needs to dip the needle into the ink frequently so it's not constant pain.

My last sitting was five and a half hours and my adrenaline tanked somewhere around the fourth hour. I couldn't even bring myself to make polite conversation so I just sat in silence

FirstSeemItThenBeIt · 01/03/2017 13:38

I used numbing cream before I got mine, washed it off before I got there. I don't know if that's why, but it honestly felt fine. To be honest, what bothered me most was the constant wiping with a tissue, it began to grate after a while on my poor raw flesh!

It was totally fine though. You've now got me searching Pinterest for my next one....

amusedbush · 01/03/2017 13:46

Out of my many tattoos, I used numbing cream once and my tattoo artist wasn't thrilled, he said he really doesn't like it as it does something to the skin(?). I have had several sittings across the same (large) tattoo but I used the cream just that once, and I can definitely say that the ink is very patchy in that area.

I wouldn't suggest using it.

Mamadothehump · 01/03/2017 14:08

Wrist is fine, I found mine soon went numb and I couldn't really feel it. It's the long lines that are the worst. I have a 6 inch long one going down from my neck and that stung a bit!!

Original poster

Giraffe31 · 01/03/2017 14:17

Thanks for all your replies everyone. It sounds like its different for everyone though so i can't be sure how well I'll cope with it. I just need to do some research on good artists now and then bite the bullet i guess!

OP posts:

hollinhurst84 · 01/03/2017 14:24

I used ametop gel for two of mine and artist was quite happy, he's tattooed me before and said it doesn't change the skin compared to other numbing. It didn't last but it got me through the first two hours. The next two were OK, the fifth hour I was very grumpy

BlueBlueElectricBlue · 01/03/2017 14:26

I thought inside of the wrist was particularly horrible, it is bearable though. I have loads of tattoos, it's not pleasant to have them, but it is manageable pain

If you do go for it, here are my top tips:

Take ibuprofen and paracetamol about 30-45 mins before your artist starts tattooing.

Make sure you are warm. I'm sure the pain is worse when you are cold.

Make sure you're hydrated and take a drink (sugary) with you.

Eat something beforehand.

Some tattoo artists are gentler than others. it's worth looking at reviews to see if anyone mentions whether they are particularly gentle or not.

More colour, more pain. Going over areas is the most painful part. So a lot of shading or, if you like bright bold tattoos like me, you are going to have an artist go over one area several times to try and ensure good ink coverage.

Think of the end game. Particularly with a small tattoo. It will hurt, but it will also end, and sooner than you think.

You'll be grand.

Noodoodle · 01/03/2017 14:32

I had one on my wrist and passed out! Woke up with my head in my lap. Felt like lots of tiny cuts with avery sharp blade. Just make sure you eat first. I'm prone to skipping breakfast and the tattoist thought that was probably why I fainted.

KateDaniels2 · 01/03/2017 14:35

I had a 3 hour session last week. I was ready for it to finish by the end. Where the wrist meets the hand was the most painful but for me.

I took some ibuprofen and had a frappuccino after and was fine.

amusedbush · 01/03/2017 14:35

I'm prone to skipping breakfast and the tattoist thought that was probably why I fainted.

The disclaimer you signed probably asked if you'd eaten within the two hours before your appointment, it's very important to make sure your body is fueled for it - as you discovered!

Noodoodle · 01/03/2017 14:36

Just read other pp, no don't use numbing cream!!!! apart from them not being able to tell when it hurts too much and maybe going too deep, the numbing changes the "make up" if you like of the surface of your skin. The resulting tattoo would be awful, so I'm told. Which is why you'll never be offered it, if it worked everyone would have it.

Noodoodle · 01/03/2017 14:39

amusedbush I don't remember signing one but if I did it probably said that but tbh I was 19 and most likely didn't read it properly! Haven't had one without eating first since then that's for sure!

KateDaniels2 · 01/03/2017 14:51

Yeah definitely eat first. I have made that mistake before.

It was on the disclaimer i thought 'it will be fine'.....it wasn't

Footyfan16 · 01/03/2017 14:54

To all of those saying that numbing cream ruins the tattoo - this is not true. There are several types of creams you can buy and sprays which can be used whilst being tattooed. Always make sure you speak to your artist beforehand. I have had many many tattoos, some without numbing, and some with (cover ups can be exceptionally painful)

EmeraldScorn · 01/03/2017 15:07

I have two (both very sentimental and designed myself), one is on the inside of my wrist and the other at the back of my neck.

Wrist - I found it very relaxing and it wasn't sore at all.
Neck - Slightly uncomfortable but not painful.

mrsBeverleygoldberg · 01/03/2017 15:20

My big tattoo on my shoulder/arm hurt when the final white shading was blended into the other colours. It's a watercolour tattoo. It was like sandpaper rubbing a graze. It made me flinch. I found the first 48 hours really painful when rubbing the cream on and having to put my coat on, or taking tops off over my head. Eye watering.
The one on my wrist hurt way more.
Get ametop cream to take the hot feeling away, you will still feel it. Also I was allergic to bedpanthen as it has lanolin in it, so check before you go.
I listen to music to pretend it's not really happening.

mrsBeverleygoldberg · 01/03/2017 15:21

I took nurofen an hour before I went for big tattoo.

SaorAlbaGuBrath · 01/03/2017 15:21

I have one running down the bone in my forearm, and the only bit which hurt was when it hit my wrist bone briefly. It's scratchy like other posters have said but not sore.

TheCatsMother99 · 01/03/2017 15:23

I've got three, one with a machine and two by bamboo.

I prefer the healing of a bamboo tattoo but they definitely hurt more than a machine tattoo in my experience.

RiverdaleJughead · 01/03/2017 15:24

My mum said it didn't hurt , my sister said it's like irritating little pins and mine felt like I was going to throw up and faint at the same time - like needles scratching my bones ( mums was ankle, sister inner wrist and mine was ribs ) x

DJKKSlider · 01/03/2017 15:25

It's not the needles that hurt IME, its the wiping of the skin to rt rid if the ink.
I have a tattoo on my neck that was all done with the lining needle, the needle was fine, but the artist had to keep wiping my necknwith a tissue somshe could see. After 30minutes of rubbing moist tissue on my neck it began to hurt a little.

I also have one in the back of my neck, base of my skull. I fell asleep whilst the artist did that one. The vibration into my brain made me snooze. The artist poked me to make sure I hadn't passed out.

The ones circling my wrists were okay, under the wrist was a bit tender for a few days but not painful.

RiverdaleJughead · 01/03/2017 15:25

Apparently it's like labour though ... you forget the pain straight away and want another

Hannahbanana1725 · 01/03/2017 15:26

I'm a complete wuss with pain as well, but I have a fair few tattoos. My most painful was on my ribs (about 4 hrs worth of tattooing) and i cried the whole time, it was agony!.
The one behind my ear was probably the least painful. (10mins)
Back of thigh was alright, more painful with dotwork but i didn't cry that time!
Foot was a bit more painful than thigh but no where near as bad as ribs 😊
I think it depends on how big you want the tattoo as well and where on the wrist. On the bone is going to be painful but theres not much fat on the wrist anyway so its naturally going to be more painful!

Littlelegs19 · 01/03/2017 15:29

Giraffe- I think I love you! Haha Im a massive Disney nut and would love to have that design done! I have tattoos I want to remove first though!
The only one I had that hurt was on my ankle, the rest just felt like scratches

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