Top 10 Most Painful Places To Get a Tattoo (2024)

If you consider getting a tattoo, one of the first concerns you will indeed have is, "does getting a tattoo hurt?" How painful the tattoo process will be is one of the most common questions, which is entirely normal. Even tattoo veterans who have several tattoos are concerned about discomfort before getting new art. The level of pain from each tattoo depends on the part of your body, and everyone's body is different, bringing different levels of pain. Let's get one thing straight: tattoos hurt. A tattoo machine pierces your skin with tiny needle groupings hundreds of thousands of times in a single session. Therefore it will hurt. There are no ifs ands or buts in this circ*mstance. That is, if you don't use a_**Pre Tattoo Numbing Gel** which removes over 80% of the pain associated with the tattoo procedure.

Top 10 Most Painful Places To Get a Tattoo (1)

Getting yourself inked involves thousands of needles repeatedly penetrating the skin, entering the topmost layer of your skin with a fine needle covered with color. Although there is no one-size-fits-all level of pain for all people, it will hurt. Based on asurvey, 38 percent of adults have tattoos in their life, carefully considering each piece of art and self-expression.

According to some collective statements, areas with the most fat, the fewest nerve endings, and the thickest skin are the least painful tattoo places. On the other hand, the areas with the least fat and the most nerves are the most painful to have your tattoo.

What Are The Top 10 Most Painful Places To Get a Tattoo?

Tattoos are great, but they are not pain-free. People differ on pain tolerance, so it is essential to consider which part of your body you will display your tattoo on.

Top 10 Most Painful Places To Get a Tattoo (2)

Here Are The Top 10 Most Painful Places To Get a Tattoo.

* Head

Migraine hurts. So, imagine when needles are constantly piercing your head, not a great feeling. According to tattoo experts, the head or area on the skull is one of the most sensitive places to have a tattoo. In general, having a head tattoo might cause scorching and stinging feelings. Individual experiences vary greatly, so considering your unique pain threshold may be a better way to determine how much your tattoo head will hurt.

* Rib Cage And Chest

Tattoos on the ribs and chest always look great, and they are generally big. However, it can bring quite a lot of pain. The ribs are regarded as one of the most painful areas to get a tattoo since the skin is thin and immediately over the bones. The skin surrounding your ribcage is fragile, with less fat than in most other regions of your body. The ribs have very little cushioning and are just underneath the skin. Thus the needle's discomfort will be felt by the nerve ends. Furthermore, your chest and ribs move while you breathe, making a tattoo here much more uncomfortable. The pain may be excruciating on the rib cage or chest. Be sure to bring a squishy ball to squeeze with you :)

* Stomach

Pain from stomach tattoos can vary from gentle to rigorous. The stomach may be a painful location to get tattooed since the stomach's skin is highly elastic and readily stretches. However, everyone has a unique physical form.

People who weigh more tend to have looser skin on their stomachs than those who weigh less. A person with tighter skin over their stomach is more likely to feel minor discomfort than someone with looser skin in this location.

* Nipples and Breasts

Getting a breast tattoo may be excruciatingly uncomfortable. Because nipples and breasts are susceptible regions with many nerve endings, tattooing can cause significant discomfort. In general, nipples and breasts are among the most sensitive areas of the body; having a tattoo on them is bound to hurt.

* Face, and Ears

Many nerve endings are located on the face and ears and can be aggravated during a tattoo that may cause significant discomfort. Furthermore, there is not much fat on the face, cheeks, or ears. Therefore there is no adequate cushion for the tattoo needle here. Face and ears are sufficiently erogenous to be called an erogenous zone. As a result, faces, ears, and nearby locations are regarded as harrowing places for tattoos.

* Lips

Lip tattoos are one of the most painful locations to get a tattoo done. Because the surface on the lips is relatively thin and flexible, with many nerve endings, the pain when being tattooed here is likely to be pretty intense. Furthermore, you will most likely bleed more than with other tattoos. Most people have described the sensation as stinging, while others have described it as "skin ripping." It is also conceivable that you will appear to have been punched in the mouth since your lips will bruise and swell.

* Hands, Fingers, Feet, and Toes

Tattoos are commonly placed on the tips and centers of the hands, feet, and fingers, and toes. They are, nevertheless, painful regions. As previously said, a large number of nerves in your hands and feet will be disrupted, resulting in painful spasms. Being tattooed on your fingers and toes may be excruciatingly painful. The skin here is relatively thin, and it holds various nerve endings that can create discomfort when a needle is penetrated. Furthermore, the skin on the extremities is thin. Another issue to consider is that it is pretty difficult for a tattoo artist to achieve a clean, accurate tattoo on parts that are so tiny and curved as the fingers and toes.

* Neck and Spine

Since the neck and spine are such sensitive regions, neck and spine tattoos are most painful. Neck tattoos are unpleasant because the movement of the tattoo needle might stimulate big nerves on the back and sides of the neck. Also, the cervical nerve is positioned in the neck, and you may have discomfort spreading into your back. In addition, numerous nerves are running on your spine, and the bones are pretty near to the skin. As a result, having a tattoo along your spine might feel like the tattoo artist is whacking your bones with a hammer.

* Groins and Genital Area

The groin area has many nerve endings and lymph nodes beneath the skin, making it a compassionate place to tattoo. Even though the groin area above our nether regions appears to be a tiny meatier portion of the body compared to other locations, it is no less painful to have tattooed since the bundled nerves of the genitals go up through the entire groin area.

* Armpits

One of the most painful locations on the body to receive a tattoo is on the armpit. The axillary nerve travels through the armpit and is essential for shoulder and arm sensation and movement. Armpit tattoos are typically a solidnineon a scale of 1 to 10 for the pain level. The pain you will feel when getting tattooed here is excruciating. Because this is also the location of glands and lymph nodes, the healing process will be lengthier and more painful than with a typical tattoo. In fact, most tattoo artists advise their clients against having armpit tattoos.

Least Painful Places to Get a Tattoo

On the contrary, some places are considered the least painful to get a tattoo. You may consider getting inked on these body parts if you want to have a tattoo but are still a first-timer.

* Upper Outer Thigh

If you are worried about tattoo discomfort, one of the most incredible locations to be inked is on your top outside thigh. Having a tattoo on the upper outer thigh provides additional advantages. This region of the body is fat-padded and has fewer nerve endings. The upper outer thigh is one of the least challenging areas to acquire a tattoo, with most individuals experiencing discomfort that ranges from moderate to light. This is because this area of the body contains a thick layer of fat with few nerve endings.

* Forearm

One of the less sensitive areas to get tattooed is the forearm. The region is pleasant and plump, with little sensitive bone or nerve ends. Forearm tattoos usually do not hurt as much as other body regions, but they might cause some discomfort, just like any other form of body art tattoo.

* Outer Shoulders

Usually, shoulders have thick skin and few nerve endings, and they are one of the least painful locations to have tattooed. The process of getting the outside forearm tattooed is not particularly unpleasant. In fact, most patients rank it as a 2 or 3 on a 1-10 scale of discomfort. Since there are fewer nerve endings in this arm area, the needle's activity feels like a small but constant pinch—no significant issue. The discomfort of getting a tattoo here is typically mild.

* Outer Bicep

If you opt to be tattooed here, the entire outer-bicep region is typically reasonably pain-free. The outer bicep contains a bunch of muscle without several nerve endings, making it an excellent site for a painless tattoo.

* Calves

Anywhere with more muscle tends to hurt less because the muscle works as a trauma absorber, and the legs are usually pretty muscular. Since the calves have a bundle of fat and muscle and have fewer nerve endings, calf tattoos are usually uncomfortable.

* Upper and Lower Back

It might be one of the least painful tattoos you will ever have. Because your top and lower back skin is packed and has fewer nerve endings, placing a tattoo on your upper or lower back generally gives low-moderate pain. As the general rule goes, the farther you tattoo from the bones and veins endings, you will experience less pain.

Getting a tattoo will always be painful, and because everyone has a different pain threshold, the precise amount of discomfort will vary from person to person. As a result, it's difficult to estimate how painful your tattoo will be. If you want to prevent the pain, select a location for your tattoo that is not taut, over a bone, or in a region with many nerve endings. It would also be beneficial to get advice from professionals on taking care of or tips on how your tattoos can be less painful. Similarly, ensuring that you are receiving tattoo aftercare therapy guarantees that the long agony and investment in your tattoo are all worthwhile. Contact us today if you have any questions abouttattoo aftercare, tattoo products,tattoo tips, or any inquiry about tattoos!

Top 10 Most Painful Places To Get a Tattoo (2024)

FAQs

What spot hurts the most for a tattoo? ›

The most painful tattoo placements are frequently located at the extremities (head, face, hands, fingers, feet, toes), regions where there is naturally less body fat (ribcage, shoulder blade, collarbones, hips, ankles) or more nerve endings (armpit, groin or buttocks).

What is tattoo pain comparable to? ›

But if you're wondering what type of pain to expect, Caranfa says the experience is comparable to the feeling of a cat scratch or a sunburn. "Long periods of irritation and tenderness are what make you feel any discomfort," Caranfa says.

Do throat tattoos hurt? ›

It's a common question: do throat tattoos hurt? The truth? Yes, they can be quite painful due to the sensitive skin and proximity to bones. However, pain tolerance varies, so it's best to prepare mentally and discuss pain management options with your tattoo artist.

Do wrist tattoos hurt? ›

"The inner wrist near the palm is going to be the most sensitive," says Nick. Kabadurbak agrees, noting that this spot "can be one of the more painful ones on the body." Conversely, the outer or inner sides of the wrist, or the top of the wrist, won't be as bad in comparison.

How to make tattoos hurt less? ›

5 Ways to Make TRADITIONAL Tattoos Less Painful
  1. Use. a. numbing. cream. If you're worried about pain, one of the best things you can do is to use a numbing cream before your tattoo session. ...
  2. Take. breaks. during. your. session. ...
  3. Choose. smaller. tattoos. over. large. ...
  4. Avoid. sensitive. areas. like. ribs. ...
  5. Use. ice. during. and. after.
Nov 3, 2023

Do color tattoos hurt more? ›

In Summary. Color ink is not inherently more painful than black or grey ink. Getting a tattoo with color canbe more painful than a black or grey tattoo because some colors require more ink, which means thicker tattoo groupings and more passes over the same spot with the tattoo gun.

What tattoo needle hurts most? ›

Needles used for lining are the least painful. Whereas magnum needles used for shading and coloring have larger tips and can be applied a bit deeper into the skin to get the desired effect. Areas with more nerve endings and less flesh feel more painful.

How bad do stomach tattoos hurt? ›

Pain Level: 6

The stomach tends to have a lot more cushioning in the form of fat or muscle than many other body parts. And, of course, there are no bones to worry about, which also makes the stomach a less painful place to get a tattoo.

Do ear tattoos hurt? ›

Ears can be classified within the most painful areas, and this is because as it is pure cartilage with many nerve endings, the chances of having a hard time are obvious. Areas where the skin is very thin and in close contact, whether with bone or cartilage, are always going to be prone to suffer severe pain.

Is it a sin to get a tattoo? ›

The Bible makes no specific references to tattoos as we understand them in modern times, but some Christians believe tattoos to be immoral because of a particular verse. Leviticus 19:28 Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves.

How much does a tattoo hurt on a scale from 1 to 10? ›

Tattoo Pain Chart
AreaScore
Thigh4-7
Knee Ditch/Knee10
Calves/Shins6
Feet/Ankles/Toes9
16 more rows
Jan 16, 2023

Do laser tattoo removal hurt? ›

Rest easy — while laser tattoo removal can hurt, chances are it won't hurt as much as getting the tattoo did. Tattoo removal pain is comparable to the pain of a bad sunburn, and the laser pulses feel like a rubber band snapping against your skin. Cringe-worthy, yes, but tolerable.

What hurts more, a leg or chest tattoo? ›

"Wherever the most fat and [fewest] nerves are, the less pain you will feel," says Forte. As such, "meaty" parts of the body—like your legs and forearms—will generally be the least painful places to get inked. Do tattoo artists use numbing cream? Some, but not all, tattoo artists do make use of numbing creams.

Do tattoos hurt more on bone or skin? ›

The most painful body parts to tattoo are typically the bony areas and those with the most nerve endings, thin skin, and little fat. That's why tattoos on your upper and lower back might be a breeze, but your ribcage and armpit will make you scream 😱.

Where is the best place to get a first tattoo? ›

The location of your tattoo can significantly affect your experience and the tattoo's visibility, not to mention the level of comfort during the process. As a starter, consider areas like the outer forearm, thigh, or shoulder blade — places with ample muscle and fat, which can help mitigate any discomfort.

What tattoo areas bleed the most? ›

Shoulders - Prone to bleeding and blowouts, the skin here is stretchy in multiple directions and tends to swell easily. Inner Bicep - Sometimes slower to tattoo due to thinner skin. Inner Elbow - Prone to blowouts and minor swelling from the soft stretchy skin, this area is difficult to heal.

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