5 Ways to Make Traditional Tattoos Less Painful — Certified Tattoo Studios (2024)

FAQs

5 Ways to Make Traditional Tattoos Less Painful — Certified Tattoo Studios? ›

If you're really worried about pain, you might opt to use a numbing cream. Remember to avoid NSAIDS or drink alcohol prior to being tattooed as they can thin your blood and cause excess bleeding, making it harder for the tattoo artist to do their job.

If you're really worried about pain, you might opt to use a numbing cream. Remember to avoid NSAIDS or drink alcohol prior to being tattooed as they can thin your blood and cause excess bleeding, making it harder for the tattoo artist to do their job.

Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, may help ease the pain following a tattooing procedure.

Tattoos artists from around the US and beyond have mastered the iconic traditional tattoo design. These types of tattoos have distinguishing features, which include: Bold and clean black outlines in a 2D finish (looks like a drawing) Highly saturated colors of red, green, yellow, and lots of black.

American traditional tattoos may possibly hurt more due to the amount of ink used for bold lines and color packing techniques. However the pain of any tattoo is also dependent on its design, size, and placement.

Sometimes we all need a little extra help. Emla numbing cream is a trusted brand that can help you through your tattoo appointment.

Factors That Affect Tattoo Pain

Being heavier can make tattoo pain somewhat worse, as excess weight stretches out the skin more, which makes it more sensitive. Age can have a similar effect, making the skin thinner. Skinny people can also experience higher pain levels, as their bones have less padding.

Some people describe the pain as a pricking sensation. Others say it feels like bee stings or being scratched. A thin needle is piercing your skin, so you can expect at least a little pricking sensation. As the needle moves closer to the bone, it may feel like a painful vibration.

With that said, don't take painkillers before getting a tattoo either. Painkillers like Advil and Ibuprofen also thin the blood, which will lead to similar issues that alcohol has. Acetaminophen may potentially be fine to take, but should be discussed with the artist beforehand.

What does the gypsy girl tattoo mean? ›

Aside from representing the Romany gypsy way of life and the freedom of travelling, these tattoos also symbolize luck, independence, good fortune, desire and living life. The female face or head has been the centre point of traditional renderings in the tattoo scene since the Jerry days.

For traditional American tattoos the black shading should be about ⅓ of the design. ⅓ of the tattoo should be color or black and grey shading ( not solid black), filling most of the remaining design space. In the beginning, Traditional American tattoos were only done with black, and up to three colors.

As we mentioned before, traditional tattoos age very well. The thick black lines and simple colors hold up over time better than any other tattoo style. If you want a tattoo that will look as good in 50 years as it does today, then a traditional tattoo is the way to go.

If some swelling/redness is present the day after your tattoo, and it is uncomfortable or bothering you, it is appropriate to use ice (20 minutes) and/or an NSAID (ibuprofen, Advil, aleve, naproxen) to help bring the swelling down.

“Placing an ice pack or ice on the tattoo area will numb the area and make the procedure less painful. Make sure to put a washcloth or towel between your skin and the ice. This will prevent irritation or redness of the skin.” What you do after each appointment matters, too.

It varies from person to person, but on average it takes about 2-4 weeks for the tattoo to stop hurting.

Healing a tattoo fast is all about the scabs. Keeping them on until they are ready to fall off naturally are numbers 1, 2, & 3 at the top of the importance list. Baths, hot tubs, lakes, oceans, and any water you would submerge yourself in will make your scab soft and spongy.