tattoo pain chart
There are nearly one billion tattoos on the planet today. An astounding 38 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 29 are reported to have had at least one tattoo in their lives, according to a 2010 study.
"Does getting a tattoo hurt?" is a natural question.
The general consensus is that this is a question that is simple to answer, but in reality it can be complex.
Tattoos are created by repeatedly piercing the top layer of your skin with a needle covered with pigment. As a result, tattooing is extremely painful, although everyone experiences it differently.
A biologically male individual tends to feel, cope, and react differently to pain than a female individual. The pain associated with tattooing differs from place to place.
We gathered anecdotal information from people in the tattoo industry, but there isn't any scientific evidence that indicates which parts of the body experience the most or least pain when being tattooed.
Most tattoo artists agree that fat, fewest nerve endings, and thick skin are the least painful places to tattoo. Tattooing is most painful on skin that is thin, low in fat, and has the most nerve endings. It hurts a lot to have a bone removed.
Discover which parts will hurt the most and which will be least painful.
Tattoo pain chart
Least Painful Areas
Your buttocks are actually one of the least sensitive body parts to get a tattoo, but a tat in this area is not for everyone. The inside of your forearm and your shoulder are also the least painful areas for tattoos. In fact, the discomfort felt while having a tattoo done in these areas has often been compared to an itch or pinpricks.
Fleshy and muscular areas are often great tattoo locations to minimize your pain. This can include the upper arms, forearms, calves, and thighs (but NOT the ultra sensitive inner thighs.)
Moderately Painful Areas
If you’re feeling braver, you can attempt a tattoo on the back (the lower back is less sensitive than the upper portion), inside of your wrist, and just below the knees. This pain is comparable to cutting yourself with a razor while shaving.Â
Most Painful Areas
That leaves the rest of the body including the head, neck, ribs, armpits, knees, ankles, and feet. These areas are notoriously painful and can be unbearable for some tattoo customers. Your tattoo artist may have to take breaks to let you catch your breath if you receive a design on any of these body parts.
Also, any bony areas tend to bring on more pain because it can feel like the needle is repeatedly striking the bone. It isn’t uncommon for tattoo clients to actually pass out in the chair while receiving a tattoo in any of these ultra-sensitive areas.
If you’re unsure about where to receive a tattoo, a tattoo artist can offer some advice and guidelines. Now that you know more about what causes tattoo pain and what body parts you may want to shy away from, here’s some tips on how to minimize discomfort during your tattoo session.
How much does getting a tattoo hurt?
That depends on where you get it. Getting tattooed on some parts of the body hurts more than others, for a variety of reasons. Our tattoo pain chart will help you understand at a glance where getting tattooed hurts the most and the least.
We surveyed experienced tattoo artists and enthusiasts, asking them to rank tattoo pain level for each body part they’ve had tattooed on a 1–10 scale. We share our tattoo pain scale and discuss the results in this guide, so you’ll have a better idea of what to expect from your next tattoo!
TATTOO PAIN CHART
These tattoo pain charts provide a visual of where tattooing tends to hurt the most and least. Areas of the body that have more nerve endings and bones that are closer to the skin tend to hurt more than those with more padding and fewer nerves.
These tattoo pain charts provide a visual of where tattooing tends to hurt the most and least. Areas of the body that have more nerve endings and bones that are closer to the skin tend to hurt more than those with more padding and fewer nerves.