Everyone asks. Here is the honest map, without making it sound scarier than it is.
Where there is muscle or fat between the needle and the bone, it hurts less. Where the skin sits straight on bone or over a lot of nerve endings, it hurts more.
Most people describe a normal spot as a hot scratch. Annoying, very manageable, and easier than they built it up to be beforehand.
Your first tattoo is a bad time to pick the worst possible spot. Start somewhere forgiving and you will have a much better time.
Outer arm, forearm, thigh, calf, shoulder. Good places to start.
Ankle, inner arm, upper back, collarbone. Noticeable but fine.
Ribs, spine, sternum, feet, hands, inner wrist, neck. Save these for later.
Tell us where you are thinking and we will be straight with you about what it feels like.
Ask us anything, freeOuter arm, forearm, thigh, and calf. There is enough padding between the needle and the bone to take the edge off.
Ribs, sternum, spine, feet, hands, and neck. Skin sits close to bone in all of those with little padding.
Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen, they thin your blood. Eat a real meal instead, it helps far more than people expect.
Any time you want. Nobody here is going to rush you through it.
It helps for some people, especially on tender spots. Tell us in advance so we can plan for it.
