A Few Questions First Timers Frequently Ask and Wonder About?
Beyond a doubt the number one question that people ask about getting a tattoo is: “How much does is hurt?" I always say, “That depends." It depends on a number of different things.
It depends on a person’s pain tolerance for instance. For most people the sensation is not that bad. They are surprised that it was a lot better than they had originally feared. I have heard people liken the sensation to “slight burn", “fiery scratch", “annoying" and “not so bad". If you are one of the rare individuals who has super sensitive skin, than you may experience something different than this; but most people find that it is tolerable.
The reason for this is that the tattoo needles do not penetrate more than 1/16 of an inch into your skin. Yeah, that really is nothing. You can easily stick yourself with a sewing needle at least a couple of times deeper than that.
If you are not the sensitive type and still experience lots of pain, it could be that the tattoo artist is going too deep. You will see evidence of this in the work that has been done. Look for bumps of ink that appear under the skin and outside of the tattoo outline. Some people refer to these as “shadows". You may get scarring because of this too. In addition to this you will have more bleeding. Bleeding is usually very minimal (if at all in some cases) if the tattoo artist is applying the piece correctly.
Another reason for heightened pain may be due to the location of the tattoo. Certain areas of the body will be a lot more sensitive. Areas with little skin, such as the wrist, may be more sensitive. Of course parts that are considered private will rank high in sensitivity as well.
Let’s not forget that an uptight person will experience more pain than a person who is relaxed. Breathing regularly and not holding your breathe will lessen the pain that is experienced. When you hold your breath, your muscles will tighten and contribute to heightened pain sensitivity. You can help yourself to relax by understanding the reality of pain being described here and by others who have undergone the process. You can also decide to not watch while the tattoo is being applied. Simply turn away and daydream for awhile. I have even recommended that people do some meditation or self hypnosis for relaxation before coming into my shop. You can check out my site for more information.
Self hypnosis for relaxation is far superior to any topical numbing applications such as Emla (which takes a while to work after it is applied, wears off in less than an hour and may cause the skin to be harder to work with). Once you learn it you can use it time and again for your next tattoos or any other time you get uptight.
Some people worry about fainting during the process of getting a tattoo. Fainting is most likely tied up with shallow breathing and is not a problem if a person can relax. Another way to prevent this is to make sure that your blood sugar is not too low – so eat at least a half hour before you get your tattoo done.
Another important question that people ask before they get their first tattoo is, “Should I ask to see the artist’s portfolio?" You would not believe how many people simply skip this step either out of embarrassment or fear that the tattoo artist will be offended. Some people never even think about asking. Think of it this way. Your tattoo needs to be the piece that you will be happy with and proud about for the rest of your life. This is not the time to be shy or negligent. A good tattoo artist will be proud of the work in the portfolio and will be glad to share it with you. If you detect any reluctance on the part of the tattoo artist to do this – run for the door. When checking the portfolio look at the quality and style of the work. If you see “shadows", poor outlines, scarring or a style of art that you do not like, keep shopping. You have to do your homework in order to get what you really want. This is not the time to take shortcuts or look for discounts. You will get what you pay for and it may be more painful to both your wallet and skin (if the artist is inexperienced and goes too deep).
Also, you must carefully check out the shop where work will be done to make sure that it is clean –really clean. Seriously, you do not want to pick up some nasty blood borne pathogen. Proper sanitation will assure that this never happens. Just make sure you and the shop you choose realize that cleanliness is not optional.
Matt Bennett has been creating tattoos for more than 16 years. His shops have been award winning. Today Matt lives in southwest Florida where he specializes in doing intricate tattoos of all kinds. He has created a tattoo course for beginners through intermediate level that gives the real deal on what a person seeking a career in tattoo needs to know.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
