How painful are tattoos??

[Pippyls67]

Ds 18 has booked to have a big tattoo done on his upper arm. He’s got his A levels coming up and there’s only a month between the tattoo and the first exam. He’s struggling revising already and can’t concentrate so surely this is only going to be a bigger bloody distraction? He says they’re not that painful. He’s never had one before though so he has no actual experience of what it’s like. It’s a cuff tattoo all around the upper arm and about an inch and a half wide. What are the experiences of those of you who have them already? Am I being unreasonable to think the timing of this is a really bad idea?

On the upper arm it will be fine and not really painful at all.

I have a mild case of needlephobia and despise injections/giving blood as it causes my body to react weirdly.
But getting my tattoo was pretty easy and chilled out. I spent the time sat talking and watching what was on the tv.

It might be a bit sore for a couple of days but not enough to impede normal activities. I ran 20 miles the day after my last tattoo (on my calf), for example.

I've got 12 tattoos. I almost fell asleep with my arm sleeve tattoos. The first few scratches are the most painful part...and its literally just scratching so not even particularly painful, just noticeable.

I also had zero pain or itching after any of them...good aftercare is key. The cocoa butter that comes in a tub rather than bottle (like a balm more than lotion) smothered on morning and night stops it itching and helps it to scab and heal nicely.

I had a five hour arm tattoo sitting and was crawling about in a soft play centre the next day with a toddler and had dogs jumping all over me with my full leg pieces. Revising after a small tattoo will be absolutely fine ...

Well now why the heck didn’t I think of that?!!

I find the upper arm isn’t very painful. The worst I have ever had is the back of my calf that was horrendous!

I've seen tiktok videos from tattoo artists that it 'hurts more' for men than women (or they feel it more/make more of a fuss/deduce what you will). The men are struggling even if they're pretty stoic while the women are chill, read a book or even fall asleep! My point is that asking here probably won't give accurate answers - women are so used to period pain and cracking on that he might get a bit of a shock if you go purely by the female perspective...!

He says it’s so high up that even a short sleeve shirt would pretty much cover it.

That’s probably a very good point 🤣!

Then it can’t be very big? How long is it meant to be taking? Unless it’s a big piece (5+ hours) he isn’t likely to be bothered at all by it the next day.

I only have one but scratchy is how I would describe it.

I actually didn't mind the feeling at all. Had a bit of a chat with the artist. Was fine afterwards

Not sure if it’s sarcasm or not but anyway this would be my approach.
😉

No I’m genuinely wondering why I didn’t think of it!

I don't think they hurt at all. I'm currently nursing a new one on my forearm and wrist. I have a half sleeve on the other arm, calves, thigh, back, ribs, bit of my hand. I can talk and laugh throughout the process easily, and afterwards it's just a bit stingy/mild sunburn-like.

By day 4 it gets itchy, but a wash and some Palmers cocoa butter sorts that out. Not remotely enough to distract me!

My pain threshold is low, BUT I don’t find having tattoos done painful at all - I have a large piece on my upper arm following around to my back where the shoulder blade is.

He will be fine as long as he follows the aftercare routine.

Probably depends where you have them. I don’t have one on my upper arms so can’t say. I find everyone saying how painful foot tattoos are. I have one on my foot and didn’t find it painful at all. With my inner wrist tattoo though I went sweaty and pale😬

He'll be alright. Arms are a peace of piss.

It hurts at the time but not that much. It doesn’t hurt afterwards, just itches for a few days.

The level of concern about A levels on here is wild to me! It’s a two-hour tattoo a month before an exam 😆

I've had 2 and they weren't painful or difficult to heal but you never really know how you will react to them until you try. I know people who have had loads of piercings with no issues yet I'm plagued by every single one of mine for forever after. One of them is still causing me trouble 18 months down the line, tattoos I've had for a similar length of time, no issues whatever.

I haven’t had my arm done but I did have my hip/thigh done (note that I am bony too!) and it didn’t hurt at all. It was more relaxing than anything. It became slightly irritated towards the end because of the needle going back over so many times but it was more like tiny cat scratches. The aftercare was worse as it was red and sore from healing but it was fine within a day or so.