We all know that tattoos hurt, but which parts hurt the most you may not know. In this article, I have compiled the pain levels for each area. If you intend to get a tattoo, I believe that you will find the right location for your tattoo according to your pain tolerance level after reading this article.
Detailed tattoo pain level description
In this section, I will describe the pain levels and causes for each area in detail, describing the pain levels for each location on a 10-point scale.
- Head Tattoo Pain- 9 out of 10
It is impossible to describe the pain of a head tattoo as if something is drilling through the skull and then penetrating and extending. With complex nerves in the head and little to no fat or muscle to buffer the pain, you can imagine the pain level of getting a tattoo in this area. Therefore, we don’t recommend tattooing in this area for people with low pain thresholds.
- Facial Tattoo Pain -7 out of 10
Facial tattoos are not as painful as the head, but the pain level is not bad either. Compared to the head, many areas of the face are saturated and have a certain amount of fat as a buffer. But there are also parts of the pain than the head, such as the eyelids and cheeks. Because in these two areas of the tattoo, the tattoo artist will pull the skin to make the tattoo needle deeper.
- Neck Tattoo Pain-7 out of 10
The pain level of tattoos on the front side of the neck and the back side of the neck varies greatly. In general, the pain is more intense on the front side of the neck. The front side of the neck has a smaller amount of muscle and more nerve endings, which makes the pain more sensitive. Tattoos on the front side of the neck will experience more friction and repairing the tattoo on top is more uncomfortable and difficult. Compared to the back and side of the neck, pain thresholds are a little lower.
- Shoulder and Outer Arm Tattoo Pain- 4 out of 10
This is a good place to get a tattoo for the first time and is less painful compared to other areas. The first time you get a tattoo, you have a much lower tolerance for pain, and the muscles in this location you can mitigate the pain very well, making it the ideal tattoo location for most people.
- Armpit Tattoo Pain- 9 out of 10
The armpit is one of the most painful places to get a tattoo. This part of the skin is very thin and sensitive, containing a large number of nerve endings, and it is difficult to heal. Armpits also exist in the lymphatic system, if the tattoo is on this, the chances of inflammation are very high. Inflammation of the body will cause serious damage. Even if you find a professional tattoo artist, we do not recommend tattooing here.
- Inner Bicep Tattoo Pain – 6 out of 10
An inner bicep tattoo is very painful since many sleeve tattoos don’t fill the inner arm it. This location is thin and sensitive skin, in addition to the distribution of several sensitive nerves, tattoo pain with the feeling is more obvious. And the inner side is easy and the body is constant friction, resulting in tattoo healing difficulties.
- Elbow Ditch Tattoo 8 out of 10
This location tattoo is a very painful area. The arm has two nerves directly through this location, and less muscle, where the tattoo will also cause numbness or pain in other parts of the arm.
- Forearm Arm Tattoo Pain- 3 out of 10
This location is one of the less painful areas to get a tattoo. It is recommended that your first tattoo can start here.
- Finger Tattoo Pain 8 out of 10
This location is very painful to tattoo, mainly the nerves are well developed and there are more bones since the tattoo will feel more pain. The hand tattoo will also experience more wear and tear, resulting in the tattoo needing frequent repair and refinishing.
- Back Tattoo Pain 5-8 out of 10
Avoid the spine and scapulae, that’s the advice I give. The bones will amplify the pain of the tattoo, so it will be very painful.
- Chest Tattoo Pain- 7 out of 10
The sternum is similar to the rib cage in that. There is no muscle or fat in the area to cushion the pain, so the pain is felt more severely than in other areas. If a woman receives a sternum tattoo, it is recommended that she doesn’t wear a bra for 24 hours after the tattoo in order for the tattoo to recover better.
- Rib Tattoo Pain- 9 out of 10
The rib pain level is considered to be on par with the armpit in terms of pain level. The skin on this area is very thin, with little muscle or fat, and the pain from the tattoo can spread and extend throughout the area.
- Hip Tattoo Pain- 8 out of 10
Although the buttocks have a lot of fat to cushion the pain, the tattoo practice proved that this area is still very painful. And the contraction of the buttocks muscles make tattooing more difficult to a higher level.
- Thigh Tattoo Pain 4-7 out of 10
The front side of the thigh is a less painful location compared to the inner and back sides of the thigh. If you have low pain tolerance, you can choose the anterior side for tattooing.
- Knee Tattoo Pain- 10 out of 10
Came to the most painful of tattoo locations. Here in the knee. There is the largest nerve in the body sciatic nerve. And because of the flexion and friction of the bones, this area is also difficult to heal.
- Calf Tattoo Pain -6 out of 10
If the tattoo doesn’t touch the shin bone, it’s not the worst. The side of the calf between the top of the ankle and below the knee is a good place to get a tattoo, this part has some fat coverage and is less painful than other parts. On the back of the calf, especially closer to the knee, it is extremely painful to get a tattoo on this part.
- Ankle Tattoo Pain- 9 out of 10
Tattoos in the ankle area are considered to be one of the most fragile areas. The constant friction between socks and shoes makes it difficult to heal tattoos in this area. In addition to this, the nerves in the foot are more developed and the nerve endings are more sensitive to pain.
Factors affecting tattoo pain
- Sex
Physiologically girls generally experience more pain than boys and therefore have a greater tolerance when it comes to tattoos. Some experts also believe that this is related to the male physiology, where male testosterone is said to suppress pain effectively in response to injury and extreme pain.
- Age
The benefits of younger skin elasticity are evident here. As we age, our skin thins significantly and becomes progressively less cushioned against the needle, and the tattoo requires more pressure to achieve the same results. Younger people are better able to handle tattoo pain.
- Weight
Overweight people with loose skin cause them to suffer more tattoo pain; people who are underweight also need to feel more pain when getting a tattoo because there is less fat to cushion the needle.
- Tattoo experience
Pain tolerance can also be improved by more tattoo experiences. If you have been tattooed multiple times, less likely you are to feel pain.
- Tattoo artist
A professional tattoo artist will not only present the work more perfectly but also reduce the pain of your tattoo. Extensive tattoo experience allows the tattoo artist to understand what manipulation is more effective in reducing the pain of the client. If you are a person with a very low pain threshold, even if you pay a high price to find a professional tattoo artist for your tattoo.
- Endorphins
When the body feels pain during the tattooing process, the body releases endorphins that can reduce the pain you feel during the tattoo.
FAQ
- What Is The Most Painful Place To Get Tattooed?
The knee is the first. Bony areas such as ribs, spine, fingers, and shins are some of the most painful places to get tattoos.
- What is the Least Painful Area To Get a Tattoo?
Locations that contain more muscle and fat, where tattooing is less painful. For example, the outer shoulder, the front of the thigh, etc.
- How to reduce tattoo pain？
Choose a tattoo artist who is equipped with professional tattoo equipment. Replenish and hydrate your body ahead of time.
