Which Tattoo Placements Are the Most and Least Painful?
All tattoos hurt to some extent, but some placements are far more painful than others. If you're a newbie to being tattooed, you may want to consider less painful placements. For example, maybe don't choose your knee for your first tattoo.
There is no objective answer to the question, "Which placement is most painful?" Every person you meet will likely give you a different answer. Pain level and tolerance are subjective - what is extremely painful for me may not be to you. However, there are some general guidelines about which areas hurt more than others.
THE MOST PAINFUL TATTOO SPOTS
In general, the most sensitive areas of the body are the most painful to have tattooed. Areas where the skin is thinner or directly over the bone are especially painful. The most painful areas to have tattooed include:
Feet
Palms
Ribs
Armpits
Head
Knees (front and back)
Chest
Throat
Inner bicep
Elbows
Bony Areas - Feet, Hands, Knees, Elbows, Ribs, & Chest
Bony areas are usually pretty painful to have tattooed. For example, feet have very little fat and are commonly known for being an extremely painful placement. Due to the lack of cushion, you can feel the tattoo needle coming into closer contact with the bone. The same goes for knees and elbows.
Your hands are another area that possess a minimal amount of fat. They also have tons of nerve endings because they are used to touch and feel things. Hand tattoos may look cool, but it will be a tough session to sit through.
Armpits
While you may wonder why anyone would ever get their armpit tattooed, it's quite common. The axillary nerve runs through the armpit, making it a painful spot to have tattooed. Additionally, the armpits are one of the sites where your body contains lymph nodes, making the healing process for this area longer and more taxing than others.
Head
Your head has tons of nerve endings, leading to intense pain when being tattooed. Many people who have had their head tattooed explain the pain as someone drilling into their head. That doesn't sound fun. People with low pain tolerance should stray away from head tattoos.
Thin Skin Areas - Back of the Knee & Inner Bicep
I like to refer to these areas as "baby skin" because the skin is thin and delicate. Try pinching your inner bicep. It hurts, doesn't it? You can imagine how it might feel to have needles running over that skin. Keep this in mind if you're planning a sleeve on your arms or legs.
THE LEAST PAINFUL TATTOO SPOTS
When an apprentice is learning how to tattoo, they're usually only allowed to tattoo arms and legs, not including complicated areas such as knees, elbows, etc. This is because arms and legs are the easiest places to tattoo. They are also the least painful areas to have tattooed.
Every tattoo is going to hurt but that doesn't mean you have to get your tattoo in the most painful spot on the body. Areas on the body that are considered less painful include:
Outer arms
Thighs
Forearms
Calves
Butt
Meaty Areas
These areas are considered less painful because they are thicker areas on the body that hold more muscle and fat but fewer nerve endings. For example, your thighs are much thicker than your hands, feet, knees, or elbows. These areas are less sensitive in comparison. Most people report low to medium pain when having arms, thighs, and calves tattooed.
The butt is nearly painless to have tattooed because there is an abundance of fat to absorb the shock of the needles. However, the healing process can be difficult because it's not an easy area to air out, especially if you have to work or run errands.
FACTORS THAT AFFECT TATTOO PAIN
Several factors impact tattoo pain levels, which is why you'll receive different answers from everyone you ask about what spot is most or least painful.
Placement
The greatest factor is which part of the body you choose. Areas with more fat and muscle are typically less painful. Bony areas are going to hurt.
Size
If the tattoo is large, your session will be longer and tax your body more. With significantly large tattoos, you'll likely be tattooing over a combination of very painful areas and not-so-painful spots. Big tattoos require more lining and shading, resulting in more pain.
Style
Fine line and stippled tattoos are far less painful because the styles are simply more delicate than Japanese or American traditional tattoos. With traditional tattoos, the artist is packing a lot of pigment into the skin and has to go over it many times.
Pain Tolerance
Everyone experiences pain differently and the artist can't be held responsible for your pain tolerance. Many things can impact your pain tolerance, such as:
Sobriety
Age
Gender
Medical conditions
FINAL THOUGHTS
Getting a tattoo is an exciting and nerve-racking experience. When planning a tattoo, you should consider the placement before consulting with an artist. It'll be much easier to plan a tattoo with an artist if you're aware of your pain tolerance and can use that information to decide on placement.
If you're new to getting tattooed, considering a less painful area on the body will improve your experience. You don't want to start the tattoo and not be able to handle it 20 minutes in as this will make the process much more stressful for you and the artist.
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